Romans Chapter 1:1-6

"Paul communicates with clarity and power what all leaders in the body of Christ need to keep on declaring to the world. All of us - from the greatest to the least - are sinners who deserve God's eternal judgement. But God has lavished His grace on every one of us through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ - and the key to accessing that grace is faith." From John Maxwell's Leadership Bible, NKJV.

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Romans Chapter 1:1

A Bondservant?

The Passion Translation Footnotes

The Greek word doulos signifies more than a servant; it is one who has chosen to serve a master out of love, bound with cords so strong that it could only be severed by death.

What does bondservant mean?

Answer from www.gotquestions.org

A bondservant is a slave. In some Bibles the word bondservant is the translation of the Greek word doulos, which means “one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a slave.” Other translations use the word slave or servant.

In Roman times, the term bondservant or slave could refer to someone who voluntarily served others. But it usually referred to one who was held in a permanent position of servitude. Under Roman law, a bondservant was considered the owner’s personal property. Slaves essentially had no rights and could even be killed with impunity by their owners.

Be Right - How to be right with God, yourself, and others – By Warren W. Wiersbe

Page 18 – In the opening verses of the letter, Paul introduces himself to the believers in Rome. Some of them must have known him personally, since he greets them in the final chapter, but many of them he had never met. So in these first seventeen verses, Paul seeks to link himself to his Roman readers in three ways.

  • He presented His Credentials (Romans 1:1-7)
  • He expressed His Concern (Romans 1:8-15)
  • He affirmed His Confidence (Romans 1:16-17)
  • He presented His Credentials (Romans 1:1-7):
    • He was a servant of Jesus Christ (v.1a). Page 18 - The word Paul used for servant would be meaningful to the Romans, because it is the word slave. … In loving devotion, Paul had enslaved himself to Christ, to be His servant and obey His will.
    • He was an apostle (v 1b) – Page 18 – This word means “one who is sent by authority with a commission.” … One of the requirements for an apostle was the experience of seeing the risen Christ (1 Cor 9:1-2). Paul saw Christ when he was on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9), and it was then that Christ called him to be His apostle to the Gentiles.
    • He was a preacher of the gospel (vv 1c-4) Page 19 – Gospel means ‘the good news.’ It is the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again, and now is able to save all who trust Him (1 Cor. 15:1-4). It is ‘the gospel of God’ (Rom 1:1) because it originates with God; it was not invented by humans. It is ‘the gospel of Christ’ (Rom 1:16) because it centers in Christ, the Saviour.
      Jesus Christ is the centre of the gospel message. Paul identified Him as a man, a Jew, and the Son of God. He was born of a virgin (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18-15) into the family of David, which gave Him the right to David’s throne. He died for the sins of the world and then was raised from the dead. It is this miraculous event of substitutionary death and victorious resurrection that constitutes the gospel, and it was this gospel that Paul preached.

John Maxwell's Leadership Bible, NKJV

Romans 1:1 – The attitude of a Leader

Paul beings Romans by profiling himself as a servant of the Lord Jesus. Before he is an apostle or a preacher of the gospel, he is a servant. This is the most comprehensive picture of leadership in the New Testament. Paul uses the Greek word doulos, which most often signifies a servant who has willingly and legally bonded himself to a master (Phil 1:1; Titus 1:1).

Wendy's thoughts and related scriptures

Romans 1:1 NKJV - Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ

Matthew 20:25-28 NIV - Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Romans 1:1 TPT - He called me to be his apostle and set me apart with a mission to reveal God’s wonderful gospel

The Great Commission...

Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Romans Chapter 1:2

Wendy's thoughts and related scriptures

Romans 1:2 NKJV - which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures

How many times was Jesus prophesied in the Old Testament?

Answer: https://yourbreathinme.com/my-case-for-god-my-case-for-christ/the-prophecies-about-jesus/

Here are some of the over 400 Old Testament prophesies that Jesus FULFILLED:

Prophecy: The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Genesis 49:10)
FULFILLED: Jesus’ genealogy comes through the tribe of Judah. (Matthew 1:1-16)

Prophecy: The Messiah would be a descendant of King David. (Jeremiah 23:5, Psalms 132:11)

FULFILLED: Jesus was a descendant of King David. (Matthew 1:1-16)

Prophecy: Micah 5:2 says that the one true Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

FULFILLED: Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-6)

Prophecy: In Isaiah 7:14, it says that the Messiah would be born of a virgin.

FULFILLED: Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:22, Matthew 1:23, Luke 2:7)

Prophecy: Psalms 2:7 says that the Messiah would be the Son of God. “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’”
FULFILLED: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” (Luke 1:35)

Prophecy: Isaiah 53:2 says the Messiah would grow up in poverty. “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

FULFILLED: “‘Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3)

Romans Chapter 1:3

MacArthur Study Bible Notes

Romans 1:3 born. Jesus was conceived in a virgin’s womb by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35; cf. Is. 7:14), and was delivered normally. This word emphasizes that He is an actual historical figure. Many well known ancient writers, including the Roman historian Tacitus (Annals 15.44), the familiar Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities, 2.18.3), and Pliny the Younger (Letters 10.96,97) verify Jesus’ historicity.

Romans 1:3 seed of David. The OT had prophesied that Messiah would be in the lineage of David (2 Sam. 7:12, 13; Ps. 89:3, 4, 19, 24; Is. 11:1–5; Jer. 23:5, 6). Both Mary, Jesus’ mother (Luke 3:23, 31), and Joseph, his legal father (Matt. 1:6, 16; Luke 1:27), were descendants of David. John makes believing that Christ has come in the flesh a crucial test of orthodoxy (1 John 4:2, 3). Because He is fully human—as well as fully God—He can serve as man’s substitute (John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:21) and as a sympathetic High-Priest (Heb. 4:15, 16).

Romans Chapter 1:4

The Passion Translation Footnotes

Romans 1:4 TPT – miraculously set apart

TPT Commentary – Or “marked [appointed] as God’s Son immersed in power.” The Greek word for “set apart” comes from horizo, meaning “the horizon.” It means “to mark out the boundaries,” “to decree,” or “to define.” The horizon we move toward is Jesus!

MacArthur Study Bible Notes

Romans 1:4 declared. The Gr. word, from which the English word “horizon” comes, means “to distinguish.” Just as the horizon serves as a clear demarcation line, dividing earth and sky, the resurrection of Jesus Christ clearly divides Him from the rest of humanity, providing irrefutable evidence that He is the Son of God (see note on 10:9).

Romans 1:4 resurrection from the dead. His victory over death was the supreme demonstration and most conclusive evidence that He is God the Son (see note on 10:9; cf. Acts 13:29–33; 1 Cor. 15:14–17).

Wendy's thoughts and related scriptures

Romans 1:4 KJV - And declared to be the Son of God with power,

Thinking about the disciple Peter’s declaration of who Jesus is …

Matthew 16:15-20

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

God can reveal to people who Jesus is, anyway He wants to, He doesn’t need us – dreams, visions, encounters.

Romans 1:4 AMPC - by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Thinking about the disciple Peter’s declaration of who Jesus is …

Matthew 16:15-20

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

God can reveal to people who Jesus is, anyway He wants to, He doesn’t need us – dreams, visions, encounters.

Romans 1:4 NLT – He is Jesus Christ our Lord

Jesus Christ – is Lord, is our Lord

Luke 2:8-11 NIV - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Philippians 2:9-11 NIV Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans Chapter 1:5

Be Right - How to be right with God, yourself, and others – By Warren W. Wiersbe

Page 18 – In the opening verses of the letter, Paul introduces himself to the believers in Rome. Some of them must have known him personally, since he greets them in the final chapter, but many of them he had never met. So in these first seventeen verses, Paul seeks to link himself to his Roman readers in three ways.

  • He presented His Credentials (Romans 1:1-7):
    • He was a missionary to the Gentiles (vv 5-7) Missionary is the Latin form of “apostle – one who is sent.” …. There were probably several assemblies of believers in Rome and not just one church … There were both Jews and Gentiles in these fellowships, because Paul addresses both in his letters.
      Page 20 – Salvation is not something that we do for God; it is God who calls us in His grace (2 Thess 2:13-14). When you trust Christ, you are saved by His grace and you experience His peace.
      Paul’s special commission was to take the gospel to the Gentiles (the word nations means Gentiles).

Wendy's thoughts and related scriptures

Romans 1:5 AMPC - It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favour)

We are all sinners, and God’s grace is available to all of us …

Romans 3:23-24 ESV - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

And God’s grace is sufficient for us …

2 Corinthians 12:9 CEV - But he replied, "My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.

Worship Songs

Romans Chapter 1:6

MacArthur Study Bible Notes

Romans 1:6 called. See note on 1:7. Always in the NT epistles the “call” of God refers to God’s effectual call of elect sinners to salvation (cf. 8:28–30), rather than the general call to all men to believe (cf. Matt. 20:16).

Be Right - How to be right with God, yourself, and others – By Warren W. Wiersbe

Page 18 – In the opening verses of the letter, Paul introduces himself to the believers in Rome. Some of them must have known him personally, since he greets them in the final chapter, but many of them he had never met. So in these first seventeen verses, Paul seeks to link himself to his Roman readers in three ways.

  • He presented His Credentials (Romans 1:1-7):
    • He was a missionary to the Gentiles (vv 5-7) Missionary is the Latin form of “apostle – one who is sent.” …. There were probably several assemblies of believers in Rome and not just one church … There were both Jews and Gentiles in these fellowships, because Paul addresses both in his letters.
      Page 20 – Salvation is not something that we do for God; it is God who calls us in His grace (2 Thess 2:13-14). When you trust Christ, you are saved by His grace and you experience His peace.
      Paul’s special commission was to take the gospel to the Gentiles (the word nations means Gentiles).

Wendy's thoughts and related scriptures

The Chosen Ones

Romans 1:6 TPT - And you are among the chosen ones who received the call to belong to Jesus, the Anointed One.

1 Peter 2:9 AMPC - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.

Romans 1:6 The Message - You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ!

Jesus – the light in us

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 TPT - For God, who said, “Let brilliant light shine out of darkness,” is the one who has cascaded his light into us—the brilliant dawning light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ. We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours.

What's Next?

Some questions to consider:

1. What did God say to you when studying this passage?

2. What does that mean for how you live your life? (Ie Is there something you believe God wants you to do differently?)

3. How can we as a lifegroup support you?

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