Romans 1:8-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:14

I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians ,.... The meaning is, that he was obliged by the call he had from God, the injunction that was laid upon him by him, and the gifts with which he was qualified, to preach the Gospel to all sorts of men; who are here distinguished into Greeks and Barbarians: sometimes by Greeks are meant the Gentiles in general, in opposition to the Jews; see Romans 1:16 ; but here they design only a part of the Gentiles, the inhabitants of Greece, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:15

So, as much as in me is, I am ready ,.... This explains what he was a debtor to one and another for, namely, to preach the Gospel ; expresses the readiness of his mind to that work, whatever difficulties lay in his way; and declares what a willing mind he had to preach it also to the Romans, as elsewhere: to you that are at Rome also ; the metropolis of the Roman empire, a very public place, the seat of Satan, and where was the heat of persecution. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ ,.... The reason why he was so ready and willing to preach it, even where he ran the greatest risk of his character and life, was, because it was "the Gospel of Christ" he preached, and he was not ashamed of it. This supposes that some were, though the apostle was not, ashamed of the Gospel; as all such are who hide and conceal it, who have abilities to preach it, and do not: or who preach, but not the Gospel; or who preach the Gospel only in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:8

First, I thank my God - From this to the end of Romans 1:17 ; belongs to the preface, in which the apostle endeavors to conciliate the good opinion of the Christians at Rome, and to prepare their minds for his reproofs and exhortations. Your faith is spoken - καταγγελλεται , is celebrated, throughout the whole world - in every place where the Christian religion is professed, through all parts of the Roman dominions; for in this sense we should understand the words, the whole world. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:9

Whom I serve with my spirit - λατπευω Whom I worship with the profoundest religious reverence; for so the original certainly means: I not only employ all the powers of my body in this service, but all those of my soul; being thoroughly convinced of the absolute truth of the religion I preach. Probably St. Paul opposes, in this place, the spiritual worship of the Gospel to the external, or what some call the carnal, worship of the Jews. Mine is not a religion of ceremonies, but one in which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:10

Making request, etc. - By this we see how earnestly the apostle longed to see Rome. It had long been a subject of continual prayer to God, that he might have a prosperous journey to, or rather meeting with, them, for so we should understand the word ευοδωθησμαι· that he had a prosperous meeting with them we cannot doubt; that he had a disastrous journey to them the 27th of the Acts fully proves. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:11

Some spiritual gift - This probably means some of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, which, being given to them, might tend greatly to establish their faith in the Gospel of Christ; and it is very likely that such gifts were only conferred by means of apostles; and as the apostle had not yet been at Rome, consequently the Roman Christians had not yet received any of these miraculous gifts, and thus they differed widely from all the other Churches which had been raised by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:12

That I may be comforted together with you - He here, with great address, intimates that he longs for this opportunity, as well on his own account as on theirs, and to show them that he arrogates nothing to himself; for he intimates that it will require the conjoint action of their faith as well as his own, to be the means of receiving those blessings from God to which he refers. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:13

But was let hitherto - The word let, from the Anglo-Saxon to hinder , signifies impediment or hinderance of any kind: but it is likely that the original word, εκωλυθην , I was forbidden, refers to a Divine prohibition: - he would have visited them long before, but God did not see right to permit him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:14

I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians - It has been remarked before that all the nations of the earth, themselves excepted, were termed barbarians by the Greeks. See the origin of the word barbarous in the note on Acts 28:2 ; (note). The apostle considers himself, by his apostolical office and call, under obligation to preach the Gospel to all people, as far as the providence of God might open his way; for this is implied in the Divine commission: - Go ye into all the... read more

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