Some Key Words (5/26/00)

Paul (Paulos [3972]):

small or little

Bond-servant (duolos [1401]):

slave, one in permanent servitude to another, his will consumed by the other's; bondman, man of servile condition, one who gives himself up to another's will, devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests; a slave - either voluntarily or involuntarily - in the sense of subjection or subservience; Vine's: this does not carry the idea of bondage, for - especially in this case - the binding to his Master is a choice of will

Called (kletos [2822]):

called, invited, welcomed, appointed, one called to an office, the called ones are those who receive the divine call; invited by God to obtain eternal salvation through Christ, called to some office, divinely selected and appointed; invited, appointed, a saint

Apostle (apostolos [652]):

sent forth, one sent, an ambassador, refers both to the special - now discontinued - office of apostle as instituted by Christ for the Twelve, and in a more general sense to the ambassadorship inherent to all believers; a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders - specifically the Twelve, but also used of other teachers such as Barnabus and Timothy; a commissioner of Christ (with miraculous powers); Vine's: The office was seen as requiring one to have accompanied Christ throughout His ministry, as described by Peter (Ac 1:21-22). It also had a wider usage, in being applied to many teachers within the early church: Paul, Barnabus, Silas, Andronicus, and others.

Set apart (aphorizo [873]):

to define, to separate locally, to separate out of society as wicked, select to some office or work, the root of the name Pharisees - the separated ones, perhaps behind Paul's thoughts here; marked off from others by boundaries, to limit, appoint, set apart for some purpose; to limit, exclude, appoint, divide, separate, sever

Gospel (euaggelion [2098]):

reward for good news, coming to mean the good news itself, the news of salvation through Christ, the understanding of the basic facts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, and of their significance; good tidings, the news that the kingdom of God is coming soon, that Messiah has come, that salvation has been made available, the proclaiming of this message; a good message

Descendant (sperma [4690]):

seed - both for sowing and springing, descendants as the seed of man, the work of God in the believer as it brings spiritual growth; seed containing the germ of future plants, the germ of a new race, children, progeny, the operation of the Holy Spirit in regeneration; something sown, offspring, a remnant

Son (huios [5207]):

son, signifying relation to the parent whereas teknon refers more to the simple fact of birth, used of legitimate offspring, demonstrating lineage by character, teknon points only to the fact of rebirth for believers, whereas huios speaks of a degree of maturity, in the case of Jesus, teknon is never used, but only huios; offspring of men, descendant, a pupil or follower, those who in character resemble God, united in affectionate intimacy, and obedient to the will of the Father; kinship

According to (kata [2596]):

motion from a higher to a lower place, tending toward a particular object; down from, throughout, according to, toward, along; down in place or time, by means of, about, as, before, concerning, etc.

Lord (kurios [2962]):

Lord, wielding authority for good; he to whom a person belongs, master, owner, prince, chief, a title of honor, respect, and reverence from servant to master; supreme in authority, controller

Grace (charis [5485]):

joy, favor, acceptance, a kindness granted, a benefit, thanks, gratitude, a favor done without expectation of return, absolute freeness of God's lovingkindness to men, unearned and unmerited favor, the opposite of works; that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, loveliness, good will, favor, the merciful kindness of God in turning men to Christ, and by which he keeps us in faith and virtue, the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace, proof of grace, benefit, thanks, reward; graciousness of manner, the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflections in the life, including gratitude

Faith (pistis [4102]):

being persuaded, belief in general, knowledge of, agreement with, and confidence in divine truths, the doctrine promising justification and salvation to lively faith, the Christian religion, faithfulness, assurance; conviction of the truth, belief, respecting man's relationship to God - trust and fervor being joined with it, conviction as to the existence of God as creator, ruler, and author of salvation, belief in Jesus as Messiah and means of salvation, Christian beliefs, belief joined with trust and confidence, faithfulness as a character trait; persuasion, credence, moral conviction of truth, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation, constancy in profession of belief, the system of religious truth

Beloved (agapetos [27]):

beloved, dear; esteemed, favorite, worthy of love; dearly beloved, well loved

Peace (eirene [1515]):

peace, rest, absence of strife, a state of undisturbed well-being, such a peace as is brought about by God's mercy, freedom from the distresses of sin, a Messianic blessing brought about by the grace of God, the new relationship between man and God brought about by the atonement; a state of national tranquility, harmony amongst individuals, security, safety, prosperity, the Messianic peace of salvation, the state of a soul assured of salvation, and so freed from fear of judgement, content with one's earthly lot, the blessed state of the dead in Christ; unity, quietness, rest

 

Paraphrase: (5/26/00)

1 Paul, called into service by Christ to preach the good news, 2 the promise of which is the point behind the Old Testament, 3 and the subject of which is Jesus. He was born of the lineage of David, 4 but shown to be of God's lineage by His resurrection by the Spirit to become our Lord. 5 It is by His appointment that I bring His message to the Gentiles. 6 You are amongst these Gentiles whom Christ has called. 7 Blessings upon you who are in Rome, for you are beloved of God our Father and Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Key Verse: (5/26/00)

1:5 - This verse shows that all is by God's hand (through whom grace and apostleship), and points to faith as the means, as well as pointing to Christ and God's glory as the reason.

People Mentioned: (5/26/00)

Paul

references to him would be too numerous to cover here, but his heritage is well enough known: citizen of Rome, descendant of Jews, trained well in the ways of holiness by one of the best teachers Israel could offer, zealous for God, called by Christ, changed by the Spirit to reach the Gentiles.

 

Some Parallel Verses (5/26/00)

 1:1

1Co 1:1 - Paul's apostleship is by Christ's call and God's will. 1Co 9:1 - His apostleship is confirmed by his having seen Jesus. 2Co 1:1 - Apostleship again noted as God's will. Ac 9:15 - Ananias confirms Paul as having been chosen specifically to minister before Gentiles, as well as before others. Ac 13:2 - Together with Barnabus, the Spirit declared Paul set aside for a specific work. Gal 1:15 - Paul was set apart even before birth, although it took him awhile to catch on. Mk 1:14 - Jesus came after John's imprisonment to declare the good news of God's kingdom. Ro 15:16 - which Gospel, Paul preached to the Gentiles.

1:2

Ti 1:2 - The promise of eternal life was made by God long ago. Lk 1:70 - Zacharias prophesied, and in his prophesy confirmed that all prophecy had pointed to Christ Jesus. Ro 3:21 - The righteousness of faith is in accord with all that the Law and Prophets said. Ro 16:26 - What the prophets spoke of has been made manifest in Christ Jesus.

1:3

Mt 1:1 - Jesus' lineage is from David. Jn 1:14 - The eternal Word of God took on flesh to live amongst man. Ro 4:1 - Abraham is the physical forefather of all Israel. Ro 9:3 - Paul, as an Israelite, is physically kin to all Israel. Ro 9:5 - Christ, born to Jews, is also an Israelite. 1Co 10:18 - Israel, by physical act, became joined spiritually to idolatry.

1:4

Mt 4:3 - Satan attempted to get Jesus to sidestep God's process and show Himself as Son of God.

1:5

Ac 1:25 - The remaining apostles prayerfully seek to know how to fill their ranks in the place of Judas. Gal 1:16 - Paul assumed the role of apostle only after Christ revealed Himself to him. Ac 6:7 - Discipleship grew, and obedience to faith in Christ was occurring amongst the Jewish priesthood. Ro 16:26 - Christ's manifestation in fulfillment of prophecy has brought many to obedience. Ac 9:15 - Paul's special calling by Christ was to reach the Gentiles.

1:6

Jd 1:1 - Written to those called and kept by Christ Jesus. Rev 17:14 - The Lamb overcomes with the called beside Him.

1:7

Ro 5:5 - God's love has been poured out upon us in the Holy Spirit. Ro 8:39 - Nothing can separate us from that love. Ac 9:13 - Ananias was concerned about Paul's reputation as a persecutor of the saints. Ro 8:28-30 - Predestined, called, justified, and glorified, all things working to the good of the saints. 1Co 1:2 - Sanctified by Christ, called as saints in His name. 1Co 1:24 - The saints are called from both Jew and Gentile by God's wisdom and Christ's power. Num 6:25 - The great blessing: May God be gracious and give you peace. 1Co 1:3 - The blessing sought for those in Corinth, as well. 2Co 1:2 - And again... Gal 1:3 - Also to Galatia, Eph 1:2 - Ephesus, Php 1:2 - Philippi, Col 1:2 - Colossi, 1Th 1:1, 2Th 1:2 - and Thessalonica.

 

New Thoughts (5/27/00)

First, I'd like to put our definitions back into the verses:

1 Small, one whose will is consumed by the will of Christ Jesus, appointed as an ambassador, separated and selected for the work of proclaiming the good news of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His legitimate Son, who was born amongst the progeny of David as concerns the flesh, 4 who was declared the legitimate offspring of God - as evidenced by His resemblance to God, and reflecting His affectionate intimacy with, and obedience to the will of, the Father with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Master - to whom belongs all honor, respect, and reverence, 5 through whom we have received joy, favor, and acceptance and ambassadorship to bring about the obedience found in knowledge of, agreement with and confidence in divine truths among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake, 6 among whom you also are invited by God to obtain eternal salvation through Christ, divinely selected and appointed by Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are esteemed by God in Rome, welcomed and appointed as saints: unearned and unmerited favor affording joy, pleasure and delight to you, and rest - freedom from the distresses of sin, assurance of salvation - from God our Father and the Master - wielding His authority for good - Jesus Christ.

How reassuring to remember that our Master always uses His authority to promote goodness. Surely, knowing this, we cannot help but give Him the honor and reverence He so deserves! I look, too, at the example He sets us as sons. It was noted that by virtue of our salvation we have already been declared God's children - teknon - part of the family. But I long for the maturity and constancy that would allow Him to speak of me as huios - a son who resembles His ways, and who obeys His commands completely. God, help me to reach that place where my will is truly and fully subject to Your will, where Your word is cause for my instant obedience. Help me, Lord, to reach that point where I no longer resist as Jonah did, no longer shy away from the challenging. Help me also, Lord, not to spring into an action that You have not called for. God, the good servant does all his Master requests, and does nothing that his Master does not request. But how does this balance with Your parables? We are called to be so intimate with You - to know You so well - that we can see in a given situation what You would have us to do without Your having to tell us every time. Isn't this what we long for in our children? God, as Your humble servant, I ask that You would so train me that I can walk in Your ways without constant supervision. As one called to parenthood by You, I ask that You would so train me that I can so train my daughter. As one called to leadership in this house, I ask that You would so train me as to help my wife to also reach that place of resting in Your will so naturally that the questioning and seeking need not come every time. Lord, we'll none of us ever outgrow our need for Your guidance and Your leadership, nor would I ask that we be so freed of it. I ask only that You help each of us in this house to reach the maturity of faith, intimacy, and understanding that would allow us more often to see what Your desire would be in each situation, even when You choose to be silent.