Notes on Thanks and God's Righteousness

Romans 1:8 - 17

In verses 8 to 15 Paul is giving thanks. In 16 and 17 Paul states the essence of this letter, that he is proud to teach the Gospel and particularly the righteousness of God

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

  • First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
    • (Christians were seen as heretics by the Romans for not accepting the divinity of Caesar. So the Christian community in Rome was noteworthy to all Christians. The vast majority of Christians lived within the Roman Empire at the time this letter was written. )

Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

  • For as God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without fail I pray for you.

Romans 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

  • I always pray as I pray now that now at last by God's will I will be able to visit you.
    • (Travel was particularly difficult at this time. Travel to Rome would take months and there was no guarantee of living through the trip much less getting there. On his journey Paul encounted poisonous snakes, bad weather, and even ship wreck.)

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

  • For I long to see you, that I may give to you some spiritual gifts, to get you established;

Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

  • So that I may be comforted with you in our mutual faith together.

Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

  • My brothers I want you to know that many times I planned to come to you (but have always been prevented) so that we may have a harvest in you as we have had among other Gentiles.
    • (Paul was key in "harvesting" or evangelizing Gentiles. Until Paul the outreach of the infant church was overwhelmingly to the Jews.)

Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

  • I owe a debt to the Greeks and the Barbarians, to the wise and to the foolish.

Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

  • To the best of my ability, I am ready to preach the gospel to those of you in Rome.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

  • I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, it is the power of God for salvation to everyone that believes; first to the Jew, and then to the Greek.
    • (Paul emphasizes that the Gospel is for the Greek as well as the Jew. This is an important point for Paul to sell since the Mosaic Covenant was only for Jews and to enter into that Covenant one had to become a Jew including if male to even undergo a circumcision.)

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

  • For there is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

1 Corinthians Chapter 8 - Full Text

References in Scripture

Romans 1:8 - 17


Romans 1:8 - 17

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.


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To Understand my faith better I have decided to construct these pages. They are strictly educational, non-commercial and to foster scholarly discussion. All Bible quotes are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated. I use the KJV because while not a perfect translation it is literal and out of Copyright. All mistakes are my own and if you differ from my thoughts I welcome your comments. J. Barry O'Connell Jr.