Romans 1:1–7
The opening lines of New Testament letters play the important role of introducing what follows. Paul adapts the basic “From Paul, to the Romans” format into something that better accomplishes his purpose for writing this particular letter. He first supplies a description of who he is. Since letters were hand-carried, the Romans would have no doubt which “Paul” was writing them. Instead, the description functions more like a business card, presenting a specific set of credentials. If you compare the greetings of Paul’s letters, you’ll see that he introduces himself differently depending on the material he intends to discuss.
Paul’s greeting in Romans is the only one that mentions the gospel, for which he is set apart (1:1). By characterizing himself as a slave/servant of Christ Jesus, set apart for the gospel, Paul lays the groundwork for declaring his obligation to preach it to all people (1:14), especially to those in Rome (1:15). His self-description makes sure the Romans think about him in a particular way. Who knows what they may have heard about him, or what would have come to mind when his name was mentioned. Adding this extra information shapes (or even corrects) how they think of him.
Reasons for Apostleship: Paul introduces himself differently in his various letters. The introduction he chooses seems to reflect the types of problems or issues he will address with that church. Romans is the only letter that mentions the gospel. His description points to the gospel as his mission in life and sets the stage for the exposition that follows.
This shaping of people’s ideas also applies to how Paul characterizes the gospel in 1:2. The gospel is far more encompassing for Paul than our modern notion of the gospel being a plan of salvation. It is impossible to know exactly what a mention of the gospel brought to mind for the Roman believers. Based on Paul’s exposition in the following verses (see 1:18–32), he wants them to understand that the gospel message of salvation and restoration is not some new thing; instead it has been part of God’s plan all along. He drives this point home in 1:2, characterizing the gospel as something God had announced through the prophets centuries earlier. Paul uses Old Testament quotations throughout his letter to reinforce this point.
All of the anticipation in the Old Testament is less about the gospel than it is about the Son (1:3). In verses 3–5, Paul provides intentional characterization of Jesus, just as he provided for himself. He does not intend to narrow down which “gospel” or “Jesus” he has in mind. This characterization sets the stage for how we think about the ideas Paul introduces in the rest of the letter. That Jesus was fully man, descended from David, is critical for understanding how He was able to conquer the power of sin. Verse 4 highlights another important aspect of His nature: being God’s Son. What proof is offered? Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is a declaration by the Holy Spirit of His divine Sonship.
Paul extended his characterization of Jesus by describing his own connection to Christ in 1:5. He is the source from whom Paul received grace and his apostleship. These gifts drive Paul’s desire to preach the gospel in Rome, as he states in 1:6, explicitly referring to the Roman congregation as those loved and called by God. Paul is not offering hollow pleasantries to break the ice; he is carefully selecting images he calls upon later as he outlines his understanding of the gospel and its implications for everyone. This entire section introduces key ideas he will elaborate upon later.
Who Is: Paul uses a long string of descriptions to refer to Jesus before actually using His proper name. By delaying this specific reference, Paul not only builds a little suspense, but he ensures that readers conceptualize Jesus in a particular way
Take a look at how Paul has ordered his description of Jesus. It is almost like the old game “Twenty Questions,” where a person has to guess who the other has in mind by learning different facts about them. Paul builds a mental image of Jesus while at the same time delaying His introduction. He provides titles and roles before actually mentioning Jesus’ name. A reader would likely not have struggled to determine who Paul was talking about, but for our purposes, it is important to recognize the effect of Paul’s strategy. If he had begun with Jesus’ name, the descriptive expressions that followed would have had a different effect. Instead, Paul is able to shape how the reader views Jesus by painting the picture before assigning a label.
The opening of the letter is much more than just a simple greeting. Paul uses it to introduce ideas that will play a key role in the exposition that follows. It is as if he is placing items onto the table of the discourse to make it easier to unpack each one when the time comes. This part of the book is not something to hurry past to get to the “good stuff.” This introduction should be carefully digested; it sets the stage for all that follows.[1]