We left off making some preliminary commentary on the righteousness of God defended in the book of Romans, or in other words, how God is justified or declared right. Before we enter the courtroom of the book of Romans, let us look at some peripheral details of the letter itself.

Tertius penned the letter dictated by Paul (note his greeting in 16:22 ). This is no strange thing in that Paul often had another person actually put his words down on paper unless he personally decides to write a note in (take a look at the letter to the Galatians and note Paul's passion). Apparently he had eye disease that greatly impaired his vision. Based on some conjecture by people much smarter than myself, it has been thought that the condition was not only damaging but also visually unappealing.

Paul planned to visit Romans for some time. He had a great desire to impart a spiritual gift and to be encouraged in the progression of the gospel by being there with them. This great desire to visit Rome was delayed out of necessity to carry a monetary gift from the Macedonians to Jerusalem ( 15:22 -29). There perhaps were other circumstances that kept Paul from going to Rome but it is very likely that God wasn't planning to have Paul go to Rome in Paul's Way but in God's way. If we follow the events of the book of Acts chapters 20 onwards, we may notice how a trip to Jerusalem turned into being shackled and sent to speak before kings, culminating in a trip to Rome—as free in God's truth but in chains of imprisonment.

It is also noteworthy that the gospel had reached Rome ahead of the apostles and Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles) specifically. The fire of the good news of God was ignited in Jerusalem , burned through Samaria and spread like wild fire throughout the region and beyond. This conflagration burned so hot that even Paul had heard of the tremendous faith of the Roman believers (1:8)!

How sad it is, with such astounding beginnings that as the years went by Christendom lost that fire of the truth and embraced the glory of grandeur.

Paul took this moment to send this letter to Rome with a certain deaconess (or servant if you will) from Cenchrea by the name of Phoebe (16:1, 2). What dedication of this woman serving the Lord with such might, that she would traverse over land and sea to bring to Rome a letter from a Jew.

Imagine the Romans of that day. The government protected the Jewish populace, but the people, the actual Romans had a growing disdain for them. "These Jews with their single God and their exclusivity!" It would be no stretch of the imagination to think of that polytheistic world, saturated in opposing philosophies and thoughts. Personally, I don't think I would even have to close my eyes to imagine a place where so many cultures and belief systems blend and engender "respect for all religions and beliefs" with idols and temples everywhere. A person had their pick of the crop when it came to religion and such a person may even walk down the street dropping a few pennies of respect in the dish of the worship alters throughout the region.

Then there are the Jews, with their temple in Jerusalem , void of images by this time in history. The Jews with their "One Living God". A God who none could see and whose people separated themselves from the nations. The Jews, who would not offer a similar respect to the idols around them. "How dare they!" may be a Roman's response.

Yet; Phoebe, probably well off financially, remained with the Jew Paul as the Greek (?) Tertius penned this letter, patiently waiting to take it with her to the brethren in Italy . What service. What humility.

With such discussion of humility, let us now move onwards to consider the very first verses of the letter to the Romans.

Greetings

If there was ever a moment in time when a theologian could take a moment to list his credentials in writing a letter of this magnitude, it would be the moment that Paul began his construction of the letter to the Romans. In today's day and age, men (very often) aren't allowed to speak at the Sunday morning pulpit if they don't have a degree or two under their belt, one of those being theology. Such a person without these degrees shouldn't dare consider a position in the church—he would be laughed or chased out of the building...or both.

Why not start this letter with his Hebrew name Saul? A King who was head and shoulders above all of the other Israelites and was anointed by God Himself via the hands of Samuel. A name of honor and renown which struck terror in the hearts of the Christians earlier in his career. Why not list his credentials as a former Pharisee or hi-light his studying under the feet of such a grand teacher as Gamaliel? Why not begin with the intensity of his calling by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself?

After all, he was writing to the very capital of the Roman Empire , the very seat of authority, the heart of culture. These people were learned and civilized and if any people should be written to with some dignity in the writer, it was these people.

Yet note this man's humility and sense of honor at the feet of Jesus Christ. He completely strikes off his Hebrew name, settling on his Roman name attributing himself with the gentiles he is writing to. He starts off the letter as Paul, a servant (1:1).

The word here for servant is doulos , and the meaning of that is much deeper than a man-servant. This is the most abject, the most servile form of a slave. The slave which is born into slavery and has no ties to a former life. A slave whose will and purpose is swallowed up in the will and purpose of his master. His readers would see this and know that the man writing them was attributing his complete life devoted to another...and Paul doesn't disappoint in getting to the name of his master...Jesus.

In the Roman Empire , the Caesar owned certain people born into slavery. These doulos of the Emperor would have their will and purpose swallowed up in the will and purpose of the Emperor, and yet, these slaves had great honor among many men. They were not just any slaves...they were slaves of the Lord of the Empire, the King of the Known World!

It is an amazing thing that Paul doesn't leave off the title of his master. Paul is not just a slave of some man, but he is the slave of the man Jesus Christ...the Messiah, the Promised One, the Lord of the Universe, the King of all Kings in the world and all ages, past, present and future. Let the Caesars and Emperors and Kings and Presidents have their honor...it is nothing to the honor that belongs to the Lord of lords, the Ruler who sits enthroned in all glorious majesty, high above all principalities and powers and mights and dominions.

This esteemed slave then goes on to state his purpose, not his title. The phrase "called to be an apostle" reads as if the word apostle is the noun-title but in actuality it is closer to the verb-active endemic in the role in subjection to the previous noun (Jesus Christ). Paul is called to do the work of establishing for his master. It is an ambassador's work in that sense—he is called to represent his master.

How does he represent? Paul points out that he is "separated unto the gospel of God" and here the term gospel means the good news of God. This term "gospel" would be used after battle as the messenger ran back to the townships and yelled out the good news of victory. This good news of God is the ambassador's message which he carries for his master, Jesus Christ.

Here Paul immediately puts certain arguments aside. Who is this Jesus? This Jew is offering a new form of Judaism? What "good news" could possibly be so new as to come out of the dark?

Paul points out that this good news was promised before by the prophets in the Holy Scriptures (1:2). It has connections with the very truth established in the then existent scriptures. This automatically makes its ties back to the roots found in the Jews, for salvation, indeed came from (or through if you will) the Jews.

This good news didn't come from just any nation for what kind of truth would it contain? It springs up out of no-where and proclaims itself to be "good news" with no previous fanfare or even notion of its existence? No indeed, this good news came specifically from God Himself through those ancient writings concerning His very Son Jesus Christ the Lord, which came not out of any nation, but came (as promised) from the Jews through the seed of David. According to the flesh He was the very descendant of the Jewish king, which makes this good news so much harder to complete if one was a false teacher.

A false teacher could rise from anywhere claiming to be the Messiah promised by the Jews but he would first have to meet certain requirements. A panel may stand before a line of self-proclaimed Messiahs' and ask:

"Are you a Jew?" Any Gentiles would be struck off the list. "Are you from the Line of Judah" Any of the other eleven tribes would be told to leave. "Are you a descendant of David?" And so it would go on. Jesus the Christ, our Lord, fulfilled many prophecies in the fact of being born in this precise form in the flesh.

We can see how later on Paul goes onto proclaim that he is not ashamed of this gospel ( 1:16 ). His message comes from God Himself and Paul's slavery is in that person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Promised Messiah of whom the Holy Scriptures spoke of.

Yet, this Jesus Christ was not only the Son of David (as promised) but he was also declared to be the very Son of God! The second person in the triune God, came down to the Earth in the form of weak flesh, but was declared to be the Son of God in a key way!

What an amazing message of "good news"! The Living God came down in the form of flesh, as promised in the scriptures...it is Him that we call our Lord and master!

Next time we'll pick up on verse 3.