The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

ROMANS 1:7 - 1:26

1843

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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 jour- ney by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may im- part unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted to- gether 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 1 let hitherto,) that I might have some 2 fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the 3 wise, and to the 4 unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. Only the Gospel saves 16 5 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for 6 it is the power of God 7 unto salvation to every one that believeth; 8 to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the 9 righteousness of God revealed 10 from faith to faith: as it is

written, 11 The just shall live by faith. God’s indictment of the world 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and un- righteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 12 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world 13 are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and 14 Godhead [ TR INI TY ]; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imagina- tions, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 15 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 16 And changed the glory of the uncor- ruptible 17 God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four- footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 18 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who 19 changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the crea- ture more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1. or, “hindered” - Rom 15:22 & I Thess 2:18 2. Phil 4:17 3. or, “educated” 4. or, “uneducated” 5. Psa 40:9-10 6. or, “the presentation of the Gospel” - 9. Rom 3:21-25 & 10:1-4 & I Cor 1:30 & II Cor 5:21 & II Pet 1:1 10. that is, “from start to finish” 11. Quoted from the OT - Hab 2:4 12. Acts 14:17 13. Psa 19:1-6 14. Colo 2:9 & Acts 17:29 15. Psa 14:1-3 & I Cor 1:20-29 16. Psa 106:20-21 17. or, “Godhead” 18. Psa 81:11-12 & Acts 7:42 19. or, “exchanged” Note – Vines Greek Dictionary explains how this word can mean both “change” or “exchange.” I Cor 15:1-2 & II Tim 1:9-10 7. Eph 1:13 8. Acts 3:26

1:11 This word ( established ) is the Greek word στKULFθKQDL ( sterichthenai ) and means “ to strengthen ” (Lk 22:32). Like Paul, we are called to use our God-given abilities (gifts) to strengthen the brethren ( Acts 18:23 ). It is essential, therefore, that believers know what gift(s) they possess so they can properly “strengthen” others spiritually (I Cor 12:4-25). 1:16 The power of God behind the Gospel is in its “presentation” ( Gen 4:1a ) Paul said in I Corinthians 1:18,23-24:

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God ... But we preach Christ crucified , unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God , and the wisdom of God. I have had the privilege of preaching the Gospel on every continent in most of the countries of the world. And I have found that when I present the simple message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with authority, quoting from the very Word of God–He takes that message and drives it supernaturally into the human heart. 1

Billy Graham in God’s Ambassador notes:

Properly presented, the Gospel has the power to save anybody. Yet, the reason many believers see few real conversions, that is, they fail to see spiritual birth occur amongst unbelievers, is because they fail to emphasize what the Gospel (Good News) was meant to emphasize–the goodness of God (Rom 2:4). Whenever a Christian presents the Gospel to an unsaved person, the “ goodness of God ” behind the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus must be its emphasis if the power of God is to be released within the presentation. The “goodness of God” behind the death, burial, and resurrection is as follows: