Romans 1:8-13

Text

Romans 1:8-13. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers Romans 1:10 making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you. Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; Romans 1:12 that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine, Romans 1:13 And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 1:8-13

15.

Who proclaimed the faith of the Romans? Were other churches and Christians talking to Paul about the faith of the Roman church? In what other way could the faith of the church at Rome be made known?

16.

What is meant by the whole world as used by Paul? Had he been in the whole world?

17.

Why did Paul call God to witness the truth of his statement? Would not the Romans believe him?

18.

Paul served God in, or with, his spirit. What is meant? Jesus said to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Is this what Jesus had in mind?

19.

Paul refers to his prayers for many Christians. If he prayed unceasingly for the Romans, (28 persons mentioned in Chapter s 15-16), for the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Corinthians, and others, he must have spent a good deal of time just calling out the names in his prayers. Is this a fair evaluation of what he meant?

20.

If by any means. I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you (Romans 1:10). What does Paul mean by means? Can you think of some specific means through which the will of God was working out? Is the will of God working out in your life? Read carefully James 4:13-15 in this connection.

21.

What is the spiritual gift Paul wanted to impart to the saints in Rome? Let us have no hasty answers. Are you sure you do not know? There are some definite possibilities as to meaning. Name one. Perhaps there is only one.

22.

Please note now that Romans 1:12 explains or enlarges on Romans 1:11. How could the faith of Paul comfort the saints? Vice versa? Is there a better word than comforted to use here? Use one, and then look up the original from one source or another.

23.

Who hindered PaulSatan or God? Consider this question in light of the one we asked on any means (Ques. No. 20).

24.

What fruit did Paul expect? Was it the fruit of the Spirit in the saints or the fruit of salvation in sinners? It does seem to me that more weight is to be found on one side of this question than on the other. Which is it?

Paraphrase

Romans 1:8-13. And first, I thank my God through Jesus Christ, on account of all of you who have embraced the gospel, that your faith in Jesus Christ is so conspicuous, that it is spoken of throughout the whole Roman empire.

Romans 1:9 In saying I am thankful for your conversion, I speak the truth; for I call God to witness, whom, with the utmost earnestness, I serve in the ministry of the gospel of his Son, that constantly I make affectionate mention of you.

Romans 1:10 Always in my prayers, requesting that by some means, now at length, I may have a prosperous journey to Jerusalem, (Romans 15:25) by the will of God, under whose direction I execute my ministry, and then to come to you.

Romans 1:11 For I greatly desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, in order that ye may be established against the heathens, who wish to bring you back to idolatry, and the Jews, who would subject you to the law.

Romans 1:12 And this is proposed, that I may be comforted together with you, through the mutual faith both of you, whose faith will be confirmed by these gifts, and of me, whose faith will be confirmed when I see unbelievers converted by these gifts.

Romans 1:13 Now, brethren, lest ye should be surprised that I, who am the apostle of the Gentiles, and who have expressed such a desire to see you, have never yet preached in Rome, I would not have you ignorant, that oftentimes I purposed to come to you, (though I have been hindered hitherto), in order that I might have some fruit of my ministry among you, the idolatrous inhabitants of Rome also, even as among the other Gentiles.

Summary

Paul is thankful that the belief of the disciples in Rome is spoken of everywhere. He always mentions them in his prayers, and desires at some time a prosperous journey to them. He longs to see them, and to impart to them some spiritual gift to strengthen them. From their mutual belief, he hopes to derive much comfort. Paul had often purposed to come to them, and had been hindered. He desired some fruit among them, such as he had in the other nations.

Comment

After this, he then expresses his personal desires for those in Rome in a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer on their behalf, and a statement of his desire to visit them for the purpose of mutual helpfulness. In speaking of his desired but hindered visit, he mentions that the purpose of his visit would be to have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles, (Romans 1:8-13)