Romans 1:8 - Meaning and Application

We can first notice Paul’s thanksgiving for them (Romans 1:8). He begins, “I thank my God.” It is good to start everything by blessing God, to make praise the beginning and end of every duty, and to give thanks in all things.

“My God” is a joyful and confident way to speak. In every thanksgiving, it helps to remember God as our own God, for that makes every blessing sweeter. When we can say, “He is mine by covenant,” his gifts become even more precious.

Paul says that his thanks come “through Jesus Christ.” All our duties and acts of worship are acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ, including praise as well as prayer. He also says, “for you all,” because we should show love for our friends not only by praying for them, but also by praising God for them.

God must receive the glory for all the comfort we find in our friends. Every person means to us only what God makes that person mean. Paul knew many Roman believers only by report, not by personal friendship, and yet he gladly rejoiced in their gifts and graces. When some Roman Christians met him (Acts 28:15), he thanked God for them and took courage. Here his true Christian love reaches farther, and he thanks God for them all, not only for those who had helped him much in Christ, as he later names in Romans 16:3, Romans 16:6.

Paul thanks God that their faith is spoken of. As he traveled from place to place, he kept hearing good reports about the Christians in Rome. He mentions this not to make them proud, but to stir them up to live up to the reputation they had. The greater a person’s reputation for religion, the more carefully that person should guard it, because a little foolishness can spoil a good name (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

Their faith was known “throughout the whole world,” meaning throughout the Roman Empire. The Roman Christians had once been scattered when Claudius ordered all the Jews to leave Rome, but they had returned and left a good report behind them wherever they had been. Their sufferings had an unexpected good effect, since persecution helped make them known. They had a good name for good things, among both God’s people and godly people. Like the elders of old, they obtained a good report through faith (Hebrews 11:2).

It is a desirable thing to be known for faith. The faith of the Roman Christians was talked about not only because it was strong in itself, but also because it stood out in a city like Rome. Rome was a city set on a hill, and everyone noticed what happened there. So those with many eyes on them need to walk carefully, because both their good and bad actions will be talked about.

At that time, the church in Rome was a flourishing church. Yet later its condition changed badly. The once bright gold became dull, and the finest gold was altered. Rome was then like a pure bride joined to Christ and full of beauty, but later she turned away, acted treacherously, and embraced a stranger. So, as an old book on piety shows in many examples, even the Epistle to the Romans now stands as a witness against the Romans. Rome has little reason to boast of its former praise.

Paul then speaks of his prayer for them (Romans 1:9). Even though they were a famous and flourishing church, they still needed prayer, because they had not yet reached full maturity. Paul mentions this as proof of his love for them. One of the greatest kindnesses we can do for our friends, and sometimes the only kindness within our reach, is to commend them to God’s loving care by prayer.

From Paul’s example we learn steadiness in prayer. He says he prayed “always” and “without ceasing.” He followed the same rule he gave to others (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). This does not mean he did nothing but pray, but that he kept fixed times for prayer, often and faithfully.

We also learn charity in prayer. He says, “I make mention of you.” Though he did not know them well, he still prayed for them. He did not pray only for saints in general, but named them specifically. It is sometimes fitting to be specific in prayer for churches and places, not to inform God, but to move our own hearts. We are often closest in affection to the friends we pray for most.

About this, Paul makes a solemn appeal to the one who knows hearts: “For God is my witness.” This was a serious matter, known only to God and his own heart, so he called on God to testify. It is a comfort to be able to call God as witness to our sincerity and steady obedience. God especially sees our secret prayers, both their content and the way we offer them. He sees in secret (Matthew 6:6). Paul says, “whom I serve with my spirit.” Those who serve God with their spirits may, in humble confidence, appeal to him. Hypocrites, who rest only in outward religion, cannot do that.

Among the many requests Paul made for them, one was that he might have a chance to visit them (Romans 1:10): “Making request, if by any means...” Whenever we want comfort from any created thing, we must seek it from God in prayer, for our times are in his hand and all our paths are under his rule. These words show that Paul greatly wanted this opportunity. He had long and often been disappointed, but he still kept asking. Yet he submitted the matter to God’s providence, asking for a prosperous journey by the will of God. In our plans and our desires, we should always remember to say, “If the Lord wills” (James 4:15). Our journeys succeed or fail, and bring comfort or not, according to his will.

Paul next shows his strong desire to see them and his reasons for it (Romans 1:11-15). He had heard so much about them that he wanted to know them better. Fruitful Christians are a joy to faithful ministers, while barren professors bring them grief. He often planned to come, but was prevented until then (Romans 1:13), because God directed him elsewhere. Other duties, especially care for other churches, kept him back. Paul did first what was most needed, not what was most pleasant. That is a good example for ministers, who must not mainly follow their own wishes, but the real needs of their people’s souls.

Paul wanted to visit the Romans so that they might be strengthened (Romans 1:11): “That I may impart unto you...” He had received spiritual gifts so that he could give them to others. No mother full of milk was ever more eager to feed her child than Paul was eager to give spiritual help, that is, to preach to them. A good sermon is a good gift, and even more so when it is a spiritual gift. His aim was “to the end you may be established.” He had praised their flourishing state, and now he says he wants them to be rooted more deeply, so that as they grew upward in the branches, they would also grow downward in the root.

The best believers, while they live in this shaken world, need to be more and more firmly grounded. Spiritual gifts are especially useful for strengthening them. When the gospel workers around us build us up, they help steady our faith in a world that keeps stirring things up.

Paul also wanted to be comforted, as he says in Romans 1:12. Hearing that the Romans were growing in grace already gave him joy, and seeing it himself would bring even more. He could truly rejoice in the results of other ministers’ work. Their shared faith, or their mutual faithfulness to God, would be a great comfort to both sides. It is refreshing when a minister and his people trust one another in this way. Christians also benefit from talking together about their spiritual lives. That kind of sharing sharpens us, just as iron sharpens iron.

Paul also wanted to have some fruit from his work, as Romans 1:13 says. Their growth would be a real gain to him, like fruit that counts for something lasting. He kept his mind on his calling, knowing that the more good he did, the greater his reward would be.

He also wanted to carry out his duty as the apostle to the Gentiles, as Romans 1:14 says, “I am a debtor.” His gifts and blessings made him a debtor, because they were talents entrusted to him for his Master’s honor. We should remember that whenever we covet great things, because every gift from God places us under responsibility. We are only managers of our Lord’s property. His office also made him a debtor. He was called and sent to work, and he had given himself to that work.

Paul had used his gifts well and done more good than most, yet he still called himself a debtor. Even after we have done all we can, we are still unprofitable servants. He was a debtor to Greeks and barbarians, as the next words explain, to the wise and the unwise. The Greeks thought they alone had wisdom and looked down on everyone else as uncultured. Paul saw himself as under obligation to do all the good he could for both groups. He did this in both his preaching and his letters, adjusting his teaching to each kind of listener. You can see the difference between his message at Lystra among the simple Lycaonians, and his message at Athens among the polished philosophers (Acts 14:15ff.; Acts 17:22ff.). He gave each group their proper share, as one who owed it to both.

Though he was a plain preacher, he still had wisdom to speak among the mature (1 Corinthians 2:6). For these reasons he was ready, if the chance came, to preach the gospel at Rome (Romans 1:15). Rome was a public place and a dangerous one, where Christianity faced strong opposition. Still, Paul was willing to take the risk if God called him there. He was ready, with a willing heart. He did not serve for selfish gain, but with eagerness. It is a good thing to be ready for every chance to do good or to receive good.