Romans 1:1 and 2 take us back to the start of Romans and a look at early Christianity.
Paul, who is the author of this letter to the Christians in Rome, gives us insight into how he saw Jesus and what it means to be a believer. Paul introduced his understanding of the Christian faith through these two verses by emphasizing its life-transforming power and purpose.
In our latest blog post, we'll unpack Paul's teachings from this vital passage to gain a clearer picture of what it means to live out our lives in service of Jesus.
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures...NASB
In the Bible, Romans 1:1-2 NASB tells us, "Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures."
Here we can see that the source of the gospel is not man but God. It was passed down by the prophets, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and written in the scriptures. We can be sure that this message is from God because it has stood the test of time.
Our faith stands on the firm ground regarding the origin of the gospel – God Himself is its source.
For thousands of years, the gospel had been promised.
The prophets of old spoke about its coming in words like a distant song on the horizon. And then Romans 1:1-2 happened: apostles were chosen and entrusted with the message of God's extraordinary grace and faithfulness displayed in Jesus Christ.
Through them, the gospel was made available to all people — Jew or Gentile, slave or free. In simple terms, Romans 1:1-2 reminds us that understanding God's love for us is not new, but it was long-promised by an ever-faithful Creator.
When it comes to transmitting the gospel, we often think of one person preaching and spreading the Word – but actually, a group of people was involved in the process.
Romans 1:1,2 NASB explains this concept quite clearly: "Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God [that He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures], concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh."
This verse shows that Paul is only one person but is part of a team of men set apart for the gospel.
The communication chain includes God sending His message through prophets in the Old Testament, then to Paul and his team, and finally to us.
The timeless message of God's love has been written in sacred documents for centuries.
In Romans 1:1-2 of the New American Standard Bible, we see an example of how God has rested His message of the Gospel into these holy writings.
Throughout Scripture, we can find evidence of God's divine plan for humanity and His great love for us - a program eventually revealed to us through His Son Jesus Christ.
Through these ancient texts, we can gain insight into the character and nature of God and be reminded of His unfailing presence even in our current century.
As we read the Scripture, let us remember that we have access to the same message of hope and redemption that generations before us have known.
In Romans 1:1,2 NASB, the central theme is about who Paul is and his mission with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul identifies himself as a “servant of Christ Jesus” and states that he was “called as an apostle” and “set apart for the gospel of God.”
Paul explains that the Gospel is “promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures.”
In essence, the passage emphasizes how God has called Paul to spread the news of the Gospel revealed through His prophets long ago.
Simple yet profound, Roman 1:1,2 speaks of a divine mission to call the nations to repentance and to bring hope and salvation through Jesus—the embodiment of God's love.
The first two verses of the Book of Romans tell a story that applies to all of us.
In verse one, Paul introduces himself as an apostle sent by God—an ambassador of Jesus Christ. This serves as his introduction and clear mission: to spread the good news of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
In verse two, he praises God for giving us the grace to believe in Him and for giving us hope through His word.
What does this mean for us?
As believers, we have been given the grace to accept God’s love and to live with hope. We can trust in God’s promises and confidently lean into the faith He has provided. This is an excellent reminder to be thankful daily for our faith and rest in His grace.
Ultimately, it reminds us to live out our lives as faithful followers of Jesus by trusting His word, spreading grace, and living with joyful hope in Him.
We live in a time of uncertainty and doubt. Life seems full of questions, and we often feel overwhelmed by the lack of answers. But, despite all the chaos, there are still moments that offer us hope. Romans 1:1-2 NASB is one of those moments. These brief verses show God's love for the world He created and His plan for our lives.
Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God, has given us incredible hope through his letter to the Romans. This hope gives us courage in times of fear and comfort in times of sorrow. We can turn to His Word whenever we feel overwhelmed by life’s struggles and find peace.
Let us take a moment today to pray over these scriptures and bring our requests before God’s throne.
First, let us thank Him for His grace and mercy and then ask Him to give us wisdom and understanding as we seek to obey His will.
We can pray for courage for ourselves and for others who have yet to hear the good news of the Gospel, that they may accept it and share it with all of humanity.
Finally, let us ask that God continue to use us as evangelists and ambassadors for Him, confident in His promise never to leave or forsake us. Amen.
The first two verses of Romans serve as a powerful reminder of who we ought to be: fully aware of, appreciative of, and devoted to God.
A close examination of these verses provides clarity that despite human imperfection, God is faithful, always in control, and will never forsake us in time of need.
Living according to these truths establishes a firm foundation for an unshakable hope: God will always keep His promise and remain ever-present.
Matt LaClear
Author