Romans 1:8

Romans 1:8 – 11.27.08

1.First – Paul now begins the reason for writing this letter. After offering an incredible introduction about Himself regarding God's work in both his own life and their own, he launches into his reason for writing.

First – We can take this term and look at it in two ways...

1. First, order of sequence. He wants to begin by letting them know His appreciation to God for the believers in Rome. 2. Order or predominate attention. Christ is is called the firstborn of all creation in Col 1:15. This title is a place or prominence and authority. It is a place of power and control As the firstborn of creation, Christ holds all power, authority, and the right to rule and be in power. The concept bears with it the idea of authority, weight, importance, and one demanding respect. Paul is calling attention to the fact that he does not want to go any further without first acknowledging that their testimony is worthy of praising God for. I believe he is also using this term to reveal the authority, importance, and weight of this proclamation. He is truly, whole-heartedly thankful for how these believers are magnifying God.

2.Thank – 2168 – Eucharisteo – to be thankful. To thank. It does not occur in the Sept. where instead we find eulogeo – to speak well of or eulogize, which in some respects embraces a more narrow and in others a wider concept than eucharisteo. In the NT, exempt in Romans 16:4, used in a religious sense with or without reference to God. This construction, unknown in classical Greek, has its origin from the absolute use of eucharisteo. Syn eugleo – to bless, praise, eulogize, speak well of, meaning praising and glorifying God which is prompted only by God Himself and His revealed glory.

In other words, as Paul is expressing thanks for the believers work of proclaiming His gospel throughout the world, Paul is thanking God for this work, not them. Paul does not thank the believers in Rome for what they are doing to proclaim the gospel of God throughout the world. He is thanking God for using them thus to glorifying Himself.

How many times do we thank individuals for what they do in ministry? How many times do we praise them and give them the glory for what they are doing? Worse yet, how often do we simply say thank you and accept the glory for ourselves? Paul is acknowledging his appreciate for the believers by telling them that he thanks God for them and for what He is doing through them. He in no way puts the glory on them or even directly thanks them. He is thanking God for such believers who are concerned with God's glory. There is a difference.

3.My God – He personalizes it. He is not afraid to admit or proclaim that God is someone personal to Him. He is no afraid to proclaim that by God's grace, he can claim a personal realtionship with God.

4.Through Christ – Hebrews is an entire book devoted to the fact that Christ is our High Priest and the only one worthy of holding such a position. He is the greatest high priest and stands for us as an intercessor to God. Paul is thanking God the Father through the High Priest of Christ who stands before God on our behalf, praying for these believers.

5.Paul is thanking God for these believers because their faith is being proclaimed throughout all the world. I think it is worthy of being noted here that Paul is not mentioning any specific deeds or acts on their part that they have done in order to be known throughout the world. He says that their faith is being proclaimed. Here is a case in point too, of what he was referring to in verse 5 when he said that his ministry was to bring about the obedience of faith. It is also a case in point of what James refers to when he says that faith without works is dead. Genuine faith produces good works. Paul will say this later in chapter six when he says that we are saved by grace unto good works. Genuine faith does not need to be proven because it will naturally be proven by the actions of those who hold to it. The testimony of God that was going forth to the world was simply a result of the fact that these believers were acting upon their faith and people were acknowledging this, spreading news of it as they went out.

6.Do people we come into contact with testify that we are different? Do people I come into contact with daily comment that I am different or do they not even notice that I have faith in a living God?

7.Proclaiming – 2605 – kataginosko – from kata – tell, declare, to declare plainly, openly, or aloud.
Simply put – people were openly, plainly, and loudly proclaiming that something was different about the believers in Rome and as a result, God was being magnified.

8.World – 2889 – Kosmos – world – cosmos from kosmeo – to set in order, adorn That which pertains to space and not time. The sum total of all the material universe, the beauty in it, the sum total of person living in the world.
In other words, the testimony of their faith was going out far and broad. To nearly the ends of the earth. Simply living out the faith that God has granted to us has tremendous influence. I wonder then, if we are not being effective in showing God to world, our we not living out our faith as we ought? If not, we are failing God.