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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - Romans 1:1 - 1:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Rom 1:1-17. Introduction.
Paul - (See on Act 13:9).
a servant of Jesus Christ - The word here rendered “servant” means “bond-servant,” or one subject to the will and wholly at the disposal of another. In this sense it is applied to the disciples of Christ at large (1Co 7:21-23), as in the Old Testament to all the people of God (Isa 66:14). But as, in addition to this, the prophets and kings of Israel were officially “the servants of the Lord” (Jos 1:1; Psa 18:1, title), the apostles call themselves, in the same official sense, “the servants of Christ” (as here, and Phi 1:1; Jam 1:1; 2Pe 1:1; Jud 1:1), expressing such absolute subjection and devotion to the Lord Jesus as they would never have yielded to a mere creature. (See on Rom 1:7; see on Joh 5:22, Joh 5:23).
called to be an apostle - when first he “saw the Lord”; the indispensable qualification for apostleship. (See on Act 9:5; see on Act 22:14; see on 1Co 9:1).
separated unto the - preaching of the
gospel - neither so late as when “the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul” (Act 13:2), nor so early as when “separated from his mother’s womb” (see on Gal 1:15). He was called at one and the same time to the faith and the apostleship of Christ (Act 26:16-18).
of God - that is, the Gospel of which God is the glorious Author. (So Rom 15:16; 1Th 2:2, 1Th 2:8, 1Th 2:9; 1Pe 4:17).