As promised… the first part of my new series of studying the book of
Romans. I just love this book of the Bible and hope you will enjoy getting an
insight into how I like to read the Bible…
Paul wrote the book of Romans around 57AD. Paul the Apostle (Saul
of Tarsus) was not one of the twelve or the seventy but a later convert,
"the apostle of the Gentiles" he was called. He claimed a special
commission from the resurrected Jesus, separate from the Great Commission given
to the original twelve disciples.
In this part I will only be discussing the first 4 versus of Romans and will be
using the Amplified version of the Bible.
Romans 1:1-2
1 From Paul, a bondservant of Jesus
Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart
to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God,
2 Which He promised in advance [long ago] through His prophets in the sacred
Scriptures -
• Vs.1 Paul calls himself a bondservant.
Comment: The word bondservant comes
from the Greek word doulos, meaning
“one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a
slave.”
The Hebrew word for “bondservant,” ‘ebed,
has a similar connotation. However, the Mosaic Law allowed an indentured
servant to become a bondservant voluntarily.
Exodus 21:5-6
“If the servant declares, ‘I love my
master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master
must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost
and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life”
Many prominent men of the Old Testament were referred to as servants. God spoke
of Abraham as His servant (Genesis
26:24; Numbers 12:7). Joshua is called the servant of the Lord (Joshua 24:29), as are David (2 Samuel 7:5) and Isaiah (Isaiah 20:3). Even the Messiah is
called God’s Servant (Isaiah 53:11).
In all of those instances, the term servant carries the idea of humble
nobility. Being God’s servant is an honorable position.
• Vs.1 Paul is ‘set apart’ to preach the Gospel in the capacity of an Apostle.
Comment: What does being set apart
mean? The Hebrew word for set apart is palah.
Psalm 4:3
“But know that the LORD has set apart the
godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.”
It means select, favored, or wonderful. It is more than setting aside. It means
to separate from all the rest as favored or wonderful. It is the same word used
for Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 when God the
Father said of Him, “His name shall be
called Wonderful...”
The people David was referring to (in this verse) were those who were not only
saved, but who also chose to love the Lord and live for Him. God said He would
set them apart for special favor and hear them when they called on Him.
Samson was supposed to live a life separated from the world and to God but
chose not to do so until the end of his life.
Comment: Apostle according to the
Webster dictionary could mean one of two things:
Apostle (noun)
Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the twelve
disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his companions and witnesses, and sent
forth to preach the gospel
Apostle (noun)
The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of the
world; also, one who initiates any great moral reform, or first advocates any
important belief; one who has extraordinary success as a missionary or
reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France, John Eliot
the apostle to the Indians, Theobald Mathew the apostle of temperance
• Vs.2 Jesus as the Son of God is prophesied in the Old Testament through the
prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be
upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon
the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with
justice and with righteousness from the [latter] time forth, even forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah, who lived long before the time of Jesus, gave a prophecy about a
"son" who would be called "Mighty God."
Jesus, the Son of God, is 100% human and 100% God. Thus He is both
"son" and "Mighty God."
Romans 1:3-4
3 [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who
as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David,
4 And [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly
designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous
manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the
Messiah, the Anointed One).
• Vs.3 The flesh of Jesus is descended from the bloodline of King David.
Comment: The prophet Jeremiah was specific when he wrote:
Jeremiah 23:5-6
5 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a
righteous Branch (Sprout), and He will reign as King and do wisely and will
execute justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is
His name by which He shall be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.
Jesus needed to become flesh to legally die for our sin. He had to become the
Second/Last Adam to reverse what the first Adam (who was flesh) had lost.
1 Corinthians 15:45
Thus it is written, The first man Adam
became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ)
became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].
Jesus as part of the tripartite Godhead existed from before the earth was
created but was lowered into becoming human just so He could die in our stead.
John 1:1
In the beginning [before all time] was
the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
• Vs.4 Jesus’ Spirit and divine
nature is that of the Son of God.
Comment: This nature was displayed
as being power-filled when He beat death through resurrection.
• Vs.4 Jesus Christ is Lord, the
Messiah, God’s Anointed One.
Comment: The Prophet Micah
prophesied Jesus as the Messiah in the Old Testament about 2700 years ago. He
prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. What does Messiah mean?
A messiah is a savior or liberator of a people.
What does anointed one mean? The general understanding of 'the anointed
one' especially in the Old Testament seems to be a chosen individual who would
fit the biblical description "desire of the nations". He is a leader
with qualities that could be described as prophetic, priestly or royal.
Micah 5:2
2
But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah;
[yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).
Comment: It is clear that when Paul
speaks to the people of Rome, they must have had some knowledge of the Old
Testament scriptures, because he is constantly referring to prophecies on the
coming of the Messiah, recorded in the Old Testament to confirm that Jesus really
is the ONE.
Romans 1:1:4
1.From Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an
apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of
and from God,
2 Which He promised in advance [long ago] through His prophets in the sacred
Scriptures -
3 [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was
descended from David,
4 And [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly
designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous
manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the
Messiah, the Anointed One).
After studying the full meaning of the ‘carefully selected words’ Paul used
in the first 4 versus of Romans 1:1-4, this is my interpretation and
understanding of it. Keep in mind that every word written in the Bible is God
inspired and is in there by design. Even if Paul did not mean every word he
wrote, God did…
1. Hi, my name is Paul. I am subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of,
my Master. I am a self-proclaimed slave to my Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, my master
is Jesus, and He is the "desire of the nations." He is a leader with
qualities that could be described as prophetic, priestly and royal. He is a
savior and liberator of a people. He personally asked me to become a special
messenger called an Apostle, and my job is to bring great moral reform and to
teach the nations of the world about the Good News of Him dying and being
raised from the dead for all who accept Him. I have to teach them all, that
they can now have life for eternity. Christ chose me, to be an Apostle because
I am favored by Him and He sees me as being wonderful. I am humbled by this
noble position He set me in.
2. God the Father promised the nations thousands of years before He sent His
son Jesus to die for our sins, that He would do so. If you don’t believe me,
just read the Old Testament, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Micah (to name a few) all
wrote it down in scripture, thousands of years before it came to pass.
3. Do you remember reading in the book of Isaiah that He would be born in His
flesh as a descendant of King David? Well he was born, as David’s descendent,
through His Mother’s bloodline, as He did not have a natural father and was
born of a virgin. But, just as much as he became a 100% man, we must not forget
the fact that He was also 100% God.
4. The Holy Spirit gave Him the power
and ability to overcome death and become alive again after His crucifixion.
This was an astounding miracle and a triumph for mankind who had been suffering
the decay of death trough sin, since the days of Adam.
To be continued…
Bibliography:
- Bible Answers for Almost all Your Questions
by Elmer Towns.
- Bob Yandian
- Webster Dictionary
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