Romans 1:8-15: Paul's Thankfulness and Desire to come to Rome

Introduction

Succinct Summation

Diagnosing the Problem

Outline

Romans 1:1-17 - Introduction

Romans 1:1-7 - Introduction

Romans 1:8-15 - Paul's Thankfulness and Desire to come to Rome

Romans 1:8-10 - Paul is Thankful for the Roman Church

Romans 1:11-15 - Paul’s Desire to Come to Rome

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Romans is the righteousness of God

Purpose of Passage

Paul continues his introduction by telling the church how thankful he is for them and his desire to come to them

Romans 1:8-10 - Paul is Thankful for the Roman Church

Exegesis

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,

Paul thanks God the Father for His work done in them

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Follows the ancient Greek letter

Introduction - Romans 1:1-7

Note of thanks - Romans 1:8

because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

The faith of the Roman church is spreading throughout the world

They have bowed the knee to Christ not to Rome

Hyperbolic language

Faith and obedience are tied together

Romans 1:5 ESV

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

In Paul detailing his prayer request - He invokes an oath one that only God would be able to affirm - Paul’s inner motivation and conviction

Paul serves God with his spirit - all of his being is given to service to God - an inner desire has manifested itself outward in obedience

What is Paul devoted to? The Gospel of the Son

Evangelism

Church Planting

Though Paul has never met them, they are in his prayers constantly - he is an intercessory for them in prayer

What is Paul’s prayer for them? He will come to them and this is an urgent asking/pleading with God

Paul’s will has been to come to Rome, but God in His sovereignty has not opened that door for Paul.. yet

The Conscience

Application

Romans 1:11-15 - Paul’s Desire to Come to Rome

Exegesis

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—

Why does Paul ask God to open a door to Rome? That he might give them strength through a spiritual gift

Long to see you - deep yearning or longing

The love of God for this congregation has poured into Paul’s heart even though they’ve never met in-person

Some spiritual gift would be given to the church from Paul which most likely is an exposition of the Gospel

12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Notice the apparent redundancy

Mutually encouraged

Each other’s faith

Yours and mine

Mutual encouragement would be the end for both Paul and the church - His faith would encourage them and their faith would encourage him

Though Paul writes with apostolic authority he knows he needs others in the church and does not use them for his own desires

They are all co-workers in the Gospel and equally need one another

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

Paul’s desire has been to come to Rome as an apostle to the Gentiles

Multiple plans have been put together, but have failed to occur

Why prevented?

Romans 15:19–24 ESV

19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.

Prevented until now - It appears as though Paul could be coming soon!

Why does Paul desire to come?

Fruit/harvest among the church that results in them becoming more like Christ and seeing other Gentiles come to Christ

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Obligation speaks to a divine call given by God

Greeks are those Gentiles who speak Greek and have adopted Greek culture

Barbarians are those Gentiles who were unfamiliar with Greek culture and were looked down upon

Why does Paul desire to preach the Gospel in Rome? His divine mandate to be the apostle to the Gentiles

The Conscience

Application