Romans 1:8

First, I thank my God First, before any other message. Such messages of thanksgivingare characteristic of St Paul. See 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Philemon 1:4. "MyGod:" again characteristic. 1 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Philippians 1:3; Philippians 4:19; Philemon 1:4. Cp. Acts 27:23, and Galatians 2:20, for the spiritof the words.

through Jesus Christ As the Mediator. See Romans 8:34. The idea includes both His merit as opening the path of prayer, and His present agency in commending the suppliants.

your faith The strength and simplicity of your reliance on your Lord, and allegiance to Him. See, for full illustration, 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10.

is spoken of Lit. is being proclaimed, as a thing of public interest and notoriety. The reference doubtless is only to the intercourse between Christian Churches; for, as yet, the conduct of the Roman disciples would hardly attract the notice of the heathen public. A few years later, St Paul's Roman residence, and then the Neronian persecution, altered the case in this respect. See 1 Thessalonians 1, just quoted, for a beautiful illustration both of the fact of such Christian communication and its power.

throughout the whole world See Colossians 1:6 for same words. The phrase would be perfectly intelligible as meaning "through the Roman empire." In Acts 11:28; Acts 17:6; Acts 19:27; Acts 24:5, the same phrase and sense appear, but with a different word in the Gr.