Faith in Action
The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ
Faith in Jesus
Romans 1:8-17 The Message
8-12 I thank God through Jesus for every one of you. That’s first. People everywhere keep telling me about your lives of faith, and every time I hear them, I thank him. And God, whom I so love to worship and serve by spreading the good news of his Son—the Message!—knows that every time I think of you in my prayers, which is practically all the time, I ask him to clear the way for me to come and see you. The longer this waiting goes on, the deeper the ache. I so want to be there to deliver God’s gift in person and watch you grow stronger right before my eyes! But don’t think I’m not expecting to get something out of this, too! You have as much to give me as I do to you.
13-15 Please don’t misinterpret my failure to visit you, friends. You have no idea how many times I’ve made plans for Rome. I’ve been determined to get some personal enjoyment out of God’s work among you, as I have in so many other non-Jewish towns and communities. But something has always come up and prevented it. Everyone I meet—it matters little whether they’re mannered or rude, smart or simple—deepens my sense of interdependence and obligation. And that’s why I can’t wait to get to you in Rome, preaching this wonderful good news of God.
16-17 It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.”
For Reflection
The Romans were miffed. They felt Paul needed to spend time with them. Paul was conflicted. Strengthening the faith of the newly converted Jews had taken time away from what Paul considered his most important mission, the strengthening of the gospel to all peoples.
Paul is clear, though, that the movement in Rome was exemplary. He compliments their commitment to spreading the Good News. To a Roman, it is remarkable that Paul, a poor insignificant Jew, can speak so eloquently in Greek to a Roman. God has prepared not only Paul to spread the Gospel successfully, but God had also prepared the Romans to understand, accept, and pass the Good News to all.
Paul is clear, though, that the movement in Rome was exemplary. He compliments their commitment to spreading the Good News. To a Roman, it is remarkable that Paul, a poor insignificant Jew, can speak so eloquently in Greek to a Roman. God has prepared not only Paul to spread the Gospel successfully, but God had also prepared the Romans to understand, accept, and pass the Good News to all.
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