Romans 1:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

NIV: That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

NASB: So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

CSB: So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

NLT: So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.

KJV: So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

NKJV: So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

Paul concludes this section about why he wants to come to Rome to see his readers in person. This is a desire he often expresses when writing to churches with which he had been involved (1 Thessalonians 2:17–18). He has given several reasons, including his desire to see people from multiple cultures come to faith in Christ. He has been praying for the opportunity to go, but so far God has prevented it from happening (Romans 1:13–14).

Still, as Paul writes now, he remains eager to preach the gospel to his readers in Rome. Christ Himself gave Paul the mission to preach about Christ to Gentiles from all nations (Acts 9:15). Since so many of those nations and people groups were likely represented in the world city of Rome, it seemed to Paul to be a natural destination for him. He was thinking strategically about how best to distribute faith in Christ to all peoples.

Romans 1:8–15 contains Paul's description to the Roman Christians of his longing to travel to Rome to be with them. He prays continually that he may be allowed by God to come. He wants to give to them a spiritual gift and for them to mutually encourage each other's faith. Part of his reason for wanting to come to them is that his mission in life is to carry the gospel of Jesus to all people groups, many of whom are represented in Rome.

Romans 1 introduces Paul and his purpose in writing this letter to the Christians in Rome. As servant and apostle of Jesus, Paul's mission in life is to preach the gospel of Jesus to all people groups, both Jews and Gentiles. He hopes to do so in Rome soon. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. It is God's power for the salvation of all people by faith in Christ. We need to be saved because God is angry with us. Because of our sin, humanity has rejected Him as creator and provider. We worship created things, instead. In response, God has given us over to indulge in all kinds of sinful practices that lead to misery now and His angry judgment later.

Romans 1 begins with Paul's introduction of himself and his mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. After telling the Christians in Rome that he is eager to come see them and preach the gospel there, Paul declares that the gospel is God's power to save everyone who believes in Jesus. We need to be saved, because our sin has earned God's wrath. As a whole, humanity has rejected God as creator and provider. We worship creation instead of Him. In response, He has given us over to the full indulgence of our sinful desires. We are guilty and deserve His judgment.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 5/3/2024 3:33:42 AM