Romans Chapter 1 Breakdown

1-4

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Here is Paul’s introduction of himself to the Romans in this letter. Notice the first thing he says is the gospel, or the good news, was promised within the prophets. This means we should be able to go back and see exactly what the promise was, and who it was intended for, and it should all be laid out for us within the books of the prophets.

5-7

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Next we have Paul claiming grace and apostleship is for obedience to the faith, and this is how we are to be called saints. See, grace is only half the equation, it is because of grace we are saved. Once we are saved we are to be obedient to the instructions given to us throughout the scriptures. Everyone who has ever been called a saint, were all obedient to the Law of God.

8

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

The Romans faith in YHWH had been spoken of throughout the world.

9-10

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.

Paul says he serves God with his spirit in the gospel of His Son, who we know is the living, breathing, Torah made flesh.

11-12

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

These two verses are a bit odd, Paul states he wishes to teach the believing Romans spiritual gifts, implying these gifts can be taught and learned. With them learning something new, they would be stimulated to continue growing stronger in their faith, and seeing their excitement, Paul would be inspired to continue in his work of spreading the gospel. This is a great thought here. I know there are times in which I become stagnant in my studying the word, and it usually happens when I run out of people to talk to about my studies. I believe this is why it is extremely important to have someone study with you and join together each Sabbath to discuss the things that you have learned.

13

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.

Paul claims he is continually stopped from coming to visit the Romans. He wants to be able to be part of their good deeds.

14-15

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

He again wants to preach the gospel to the Romans. He owes them, as well as other gentiles, according to these verse.

16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

The gospel of Christ is the power of God to give salvation to all who believe, the Jew first, then the gentile. This is extremely important to understand. The Jew is granted salvation first, have you ever wondered why? It seems many have been teaching this means the gospel was taught to the Jews first, but they rejected it, then it was taught to the gentiles who believed it. I disagree with this and throughout this book of Romans breakdown you will undoubtedly see why. Paul is saying here, the Jews are saved first, this is because it was the Jews who were never divorced from YHWH. They always kept the commandments of YHWH. It was the Northern Kingdom of Israel who was divorced and then dispersed among the gentile nations who then assimilated into those nations, essentially becoming indistinguishable from the gentile.

17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

It is in the gospel of Christ that reveals the righteousness of God. That can be shown all the way back in the Old Testament. Paul, always quotes from the Old Testament. In doing so, he is showing how it is still very relevant to believers today. Knowing the same gospel was also taught in the Old Testament, should also help us to understand how important God’s laws are for us today.

Hebrews 3:16-4:2

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Too often these verses are broken up because one comes at the end of a “chapter”. But, when read as intended, it is clear even those who came out of Egypt heard the very same good news gospel as Paul is teaching today. It is a mixture of faith with the deeds that is a benefit to us. Paul is only teaching the deeds alone will not save anyone.

18-19

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

This is one of the scariest passages in the entire New Testament. God’s wrath is revealed against all “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men”, that is scary enough considering we all sin and sin causes us to be unrighteous in the sight of God. But the passage continues by referring to the men “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness”. Therefore, we can conclude there will be men who try to cover up God’s true will for His creation, and hide or destroy it with lies. In the Old Testament we read about YHWH’s Law and how it is truth, and here we see men suppressing the truth with sin. If keeping God’s Law is living the way He intended us to live, just as the Bible tells us, then not keeping His law and teaching against it would be what ultimately reveals God’s wrath.

Psalm 119:142

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth

20-21

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

This is a great passage. Paul states it is clear to everyone that God is and has always been clearly visible, even though we cannot physically see Him. Men simply choose not to see Him and credit all He does to natural phenomenon or men. God has shown everything to man, manifesting Himself in them.

22-23

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Men again, claim to be wise in their own right, but eventually prove themselves to be fools by not acknowledging the presence of YHWH. Ultimately, they end up exchanging all the good God can bring for things man can make, relying only on themselves.

24-25

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

This eventually is what led YHWH to give them up to their sin, and desires of the flesh. Men want to worship other men, and created things because they choose to ignore God and all He does.

26

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Here Paul continues with his commentary on why the world continues to grow more sinful by the day. The more men turn away from God’s Law and His ways, the more men will be given over to their sinful nature.

27

Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Both men and women will burn with desire and lust for a homosexual relationship. This is the New Testament and Paul calling homosexual relationships shameful according to God’s Law.

28-32

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,  backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

For choosing to ignore YHWH and His laws, they were given over to a corrupted mind. Paul then lists many sinful acts which are clearly viewed in our modern world today, many of which are considered acceptable and normal.