Called to Win the World

The apostles were sent to win the world, and the Romans were proof it was working.

The Apostolic Appointment

Romans 1:5 KJV 1900

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

dia—preposition meaning what here? Agency: by Christ’s action

elabomen—plural we and aorist; why?

We—the college of apostles.

Aorist—definitive, past action “a decisive moment when he (and others) received their apostolic commission and the accompanying grace.”

APP—apostleship is not a gradual evolution, but a divine bestowal — one granted at a specific moment. No one can claim it today unless Jesus Himself gives it to them. He will not (Heb. 1.1-2). There is no more word for him to speak.

why is it grace and apostleship? The second is clear; why grace? Metonym for salvation?

Epexegetical: we received God’s unearned favor that was expressed to us via our apostolic calling. “Grace” is the foundational divine enablement for this apostolic office.

eis = for, but any special emphasis?

Spatial that can mean purpose. The purpose of the apostolic blessing/gift was as follows.

APP—Note how God’s blessings always have an outgoing purpose. They are never given to be used in isolation from other gifts or other Christians.

The Apostolic Purpose

Romans 1:5 KJV 1900

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

It is to bring about faith and its fruits

“obedience of faith” what is obey here and what kind of genitive is faith?

Attributive: “the kind of obedience that is marked by or springs from faith.” It’s not legalistic obedience, nor a mere external conformity to God’s law but obedience that is rooted in, animated by, and inseparable from faith. An obedience that flows from trust in God's promises. Eph.3.8

APP—Notice which is more foundational here. We do not preach a disobedient system but one that roots obedience in faith.

Obedience can be rendered only after faith has laid hold of Christ, and with him has obtained the spirit of obedience (Rom. 1:5—ὑπακοὴν πίστεως = “obedience resulting from faith”). Hence faith is not the procuring cause of salvation, but is only the instrumental cause. The procuring cause is the Christ, whom faith embraces.11 Strong, A. H. (1907). Systematic theology (p. 847). American Baptist Publication Society.

commitment to Christ in faith leads to obedience in life11 Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 37). Zondervan Publishing House.

 Faith, if genuine, always has obedience as its outcome; obedience, if it is to please God, must always be accompanied by faith.11 Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 38). Zondervan Publishing House.

Thus we must avoid two theological extremes: separating faith from obedience in such a way that we can have the one without the other, or identifying them in such a way that obedience is minimized11 Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 42). Zondervan Publishing House.

Faith and obedience are two sides of the same coin. They must be distinguished, but they cannot be separated.11 Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 42). Zondervan Publishing House.

It is to win the world

“ethnos” = nation or ethnicity? Or is this a distinction without a difference to most of the world? Yes

It is under Christ’s authority

“for his name” = in his authority or place? Kingly authority here.

The Apostolic Blessing

Romans 1:6 KJV 1900

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:en hois — among whom, among those Gentiles commanded to obey Christ are the Roman Chrisians.

klatoi iesou christou = ? subjective Genitive? No: possessive Gentivie. Called and, thus, belonging to Jesus Christ.

Rom. 1.7

1Cor. 1.9

The apostles were sent to win the world, and the Romans were proof it was working.