Romans 1:1-7 Greeting
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As we study through Paul’s letter to the Roman believers, we will look at: the Good News (or Gospel), salvation, trust in God, the righteousness of God, and the dynamic of Jews and Gentiles living together as one new man in Messiah Yeshua. We will hopefully all get to know Yeshua better and learn more what it means to live by emunah (faith).
Today , we will get right into the first seven verses of Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a slave of Messiah Yeshua, called to be an emissary and set apart for the Good News of God, which He announced beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures. Concerning His Son, He came into being from the seed of David according to the flesh. He was appointed Ben-Elohim in power according to the Ruach of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. He is Messiah Yeshua our Lord. Through Him we have received grace and the office of emissary, to bring about obedience of faith among all the nations on behalf of His name. And you also are called to Yeshua the Messiah. To all those in Rome, loved by God, called to be kedoshim: Grace to you and shalom from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah!
Paulos (Παυλος) / Sha’ul ( שָׁאוּל֙)
Paulos (Παυλος) / Sha’ul ( שָׁאוּל֙)
Last time we touched on the authorship of this letter to the Romans, today lets look in detail as to how Paul introduces himself and who Sha’ul was. Since he starts with his name, let’s also start there. There are some who claim that Paul changed his name from Saul after he accepted Yeshua as Messiah, however this simply is not supported by the evidence.
In reality, he had his feet in two worlds as a dual-citizen. When he was in Jerusalem, studying under Rabban Gamaliel, he was known by his Hebrew name, Sha’ul. However in the town of his birth, Tarsus in Asia Minor, Cilicia to be specific, and when he was traveling in the Greek speaking world, he was known by his Greek name, Paulos.
For consistency throughout this series, and because we are studying the letter to the Romans which was originally written in Greek, I will use his Greek name, Paul.
Paul was born in the Jewish community of Tarsus, but then had the opportunity to study under under one of the greatest Pharisaical teachers in the House of Hillel, Rabban Gamaliel. In Acts 23:6, which recounts events that occurred a little after the writing of the letter to the Romans, we see that Paul continued to identify as a Pharisee, and a son of Pharasees.
But recognizing that one group was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!”
We see that this is confirmed by Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi: Phil. 3:5-6 . Speaking of himself, he writes that he was:
circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Torah, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting Messiah’s community; as for Torah righteousness, found blameless.
Paul sees his Jewish and Pharisaic heritage as an integral part of who he is, and this passage also gives us some insight as to why his parents have him the Hebrew name, Sha’ul. He was named after the first king of Israel.
Slave of Messiah Yeshua
Slave of Messiah Yeshua
Paul, as a Messianic Jew, recognized his relationship with Yeshua was that of a bond-servant. Paul was very aware that his identity in Messiah was much more than just a slave, but he chose to identify him self as a slave who was “bought by Yeshua” as he wrote in 1 Cor. 7:23
You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
This was no a one time identification as a slave of Messiah, but Paul uses this introduction in Phil. 1:1, Col. 1:7, Titus 1:1. As a side note, Jacob (James), Peter and Judah (Jude) also use the same introduction.
Paul knew that his primary identity came from recognizing the lordship of Yeshua in his own life. The more Paul recognized how great Adonai was in and through Messiah Yeshua, and the more that he recalled how much of a sinner he had been, then the greater the expression of his love and worship toward Adonai.
Called to be an Emissary
Called to be an Emissary
Paul encountered the risen Messiah, Yeshua on the road to Damascus. Paul’s life was dramatically changed by this encounter as we see in Acts 9:1-22
Now Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the Lord’s disciples, went to the kohen gadol. He requested letters of introduction from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” “Who are You, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Yeshua—whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground—but opening his eyes, he could see nothing. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink. Now there was a disciple named Ananias in Damascus. The Lord said to him, “Ananias.” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street named Straight, and ask in the house of Judah for someone from Tarsus named Saul. For look, he is praying; and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man—how much harm he has done to your kedoshim in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the ruling kohanim to tie up all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a choice instrument to carry My name before nations and kings and Bnei-Yisrael. For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” So Ananias left and entered into the house. Laying hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Yeshua, the One who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—has sent me, so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was immersed; and when he had taken food, he was strengthened. Now for several days, he was with the disciples in Damascus. Immediately he began proclaiming Yeshua in the synagogues, saying, “He is Ben-Elohim.” All those hearing him were amazed. They were saying, “Isn’t this the one who made havoc in Jerusalem for all those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to bring them as prisoners before the ruling kohanim?” But Saul kept growing stronger, and he was confounding the Jewish people living in Damascus by proving that Yeshua is the Messiah.
Yeshua, in speaking about Paul, says that he is a chosen vessel, hand-picked to bring the Good News to the Gentile people and leaders. But also notice that Yeshua will show Paul all the things that he must suffer for the sake of Yeshua’s name? Why do we think that this life will not include suffering?
The word emissary, or apostle, originally derived from seafaring terminology referring to the sending out of merchant and military expeditions; eventually, the term was applied to people conducting the expeditions who were recognized as “representatives” of those who commissioned their services.
Paul recognizes that the one who has sent him is greater than he, as well as knowing that he was coming as an empowered representative of Yeshua.
The Good News of God
The Good News of God
Before we dig into what the Good News of God, in other words, the Gospel actual is and where it comes from, I would like to show you the layout of the verse. These verses form a classic chiasm that is every common in the Hebrew Psalms. Hebrew Poetry bounces ideas off of each other instead of using rhyme or rhythm, and in the case of the chiasm we often see a central idea that the author wants to emphasize. Do you see the central them of this stanza?
The term “gospel” or “Good News” is used multiple times throughout the Isaiah, Nahum and the Psalms. Isaiah declares in Isa. 40:9-11
Get yourself up on a high mountain, you who bring good news to Zion! Lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good news to Jerusalem! Lift it up! Do not fear! Say to the cities of Judah: “Behold your God!” Look, Adonai Elohim comes with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd, He tends His flock. He gathers the lambs in His arms carries them in his bosom, and gently guides nursing ewes.
When we look at this passage, we see that God is coming as a shepherd to tend His flock. This is why Yeshua referred to Himself in John 10 as the Good Shepherd. Adonai had come to look after his people. This is good news!
Again Isaiah declares in Isa. 52:7-10
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces shalom, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” The voice of your watchmen— they will lift up their voices. Together they are shouting for joy! For they will see eye to eye when Adonai returns to Zion. Break forth in joy, sing together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for Adonai has comforted His people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. Adonai has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
Through Yeshua, Adonai had brought comfort, salvation and redemption to, not only Zion, but also to the ends of the earth. Isaiah also declares, and Yeshua used this passage as His commissioning Scripture, Isa 61:1-3
The Ruach of Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Adonai, that He may be glorified.
Getting back to Paul’s summary of the Good News in Rom. 1:3-4, Paul is also giving his audience a foretaste of what he is going to cover, the physical lineage of Yeshua, the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham, the empowerment by the Ruach, the resurrection from the dead, and the lordship of Messiah Yeshua.
Paul also recognizes that his office as emissary, and the grace that he has received in his life, both come from God and are for the discipleship of the nations (or bringing people into obedience of the faith) on behalf of Yeshua’s name.
The phrase “obedience of faith” probably derives from the expression “obedience of the peoples” with which Jacob blesses Judah in Gen. 49:10. This blessing is associated in Jewish literature with the Messiah, who will draw the Gentiles to himself and bring salvation to the whole world, just as in Ps. 2:7-8, according to the decree by which God pronounces him to be His son, he will receive the nations for his inheritance.
The Good News is Yeshua Himself, God’s power and righteousness.
Audience
Audience
At the end of this initial greeting, we see that the audience is clearly the followers of Yeshua in Rome. We spoke last time of how, this is the only congregation that Paul writes to, that he did not personally start. So there is no specific correction of any interpersonal issues, and there would have been limited knowledge of exactly what the dynamics currently were. We know that Aquila and Priscilla would have shared some details with Paul (Acts 18:2), but these details would have simply been general.
Paul therefore makes declarations that are true of all believers. Firstly, he knows that his audience are a part of the Nations who now follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because of the faithfulness of Yeshua, and just as it had been prophesied hundreds of years before. Paul also declares that these followers of Yeshua are loved by God and are all called to be kedoshim. I know that many translations use the word “saints” , but I think that might have lost a little of its meaning. We are all called by Adonai to be holy, set apart for His Glory, as it says in Lev. 11:44-45
“For I am Adonai your God. Therefore, sanctify yourselves, and be holy, for I am holy. You are not to defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth. For I am Adonai who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. Therefore, you shall be holy, for I am holy.
Application
Application
Unlike Paul’s other letters, there is no previous discussion that Paul is addressing. For that reason, apart from understand the general dynamics of what was happening in the Roman Empire and therefore how there was a wrestling between Jewish and Gentile followers of Yeshua, we can take every word as applicable to ourselves. Oh, wait we are a congregation of Jewish and Gentile followers of Yeshua! So all of this letter will apply :D
For today, I simply want to remind you all the you are loved by God and called to be holy by God. And as we close today I also want to extend the grace and shalom of God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah to all of you.
