Rom 1:1 | JFB | STEP | 1. Paul —(See on ). a servant of Jesus Christ —The word here rendered "servant" means "bond-servant," or one subject to the will and wholly at the disposal of another. In this sense it is applied to the disciples of Christ at large ( ), as in the Old Testament to all the people of God ( ). But as, in addition to this, the prophets and kings of Israel were officially "the servants of the Lord" ( , title), the apostles call themselves, in the same official sense, "the servants of Christ" (as here, and ), expressing such absolute subjection and devotion to the Lord Jesus as they would never have yielded to a mere creature. (See on ; ). called to be an apostle —when first he "saw the Lord"; the indispensable qualification for apostleship. (See on ; ; ). separated unto the —preaching of the gospel —neither so late as when "the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul" ( ), nor so early as when " separated from his mother's womb" (see on ). He was called at one and the same time to the faith and the apostleship of Christ ( ). of God —that is, the Gospel of which God is the glorious Author. (So ).

Romans 1:1

1. Paul—(See on Ac 13:9).

a servant of Jesus Christ—The word here rendered "servant" means "bond-servant," or one subject to the will and wholly at the disposal of another. In this sense it is applied to the disciples of Christ at large (1Co 7:21-23), as in the Old Testament to all the people of God (Isa 66:14). But as, in addition to this, the prophets and kings of Israel were officially "the servants of the Lord" (Jos 1:1; Ps 18:1, title), the apostles call themselves, in the same official sense, "the servants of Christ" (as here, and Php 1:1; Jas 1:1; 2Pe 1:1; Jude 1), expressing such absolute subjection and devotion to the Lord Jesus as they would never have yielded to a mere creature. (See on Ro 1:7; Joh 5:22, 23).

called to be an apostle—when first he "saw the Lord"; the indispensable qualification for apostleship. (See on Ac 9:5; Ac 22:14; 1Co 9:1).

separated unto the—preaching of the

gospel—neither so late as when "the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul" (Ac 13:2), nor so early as when "separated from his mother's womb" (see on Ga 1:15). He was called at one and the same time to the faith and the apostleship of Christ (Ac 26:16-18).

of God—that is, the Gospel of which God is the glorious Author. (So Ro 15:16; 1Th 2:2, 8, 9; 1Pe 4:17).