Romans

1:8-15

Introduction, 1:1-15

ii] Thanksgiving and personal explanation

Paul continues his letter with a thanksgiving, speaking of his desire to visit Rome in order to fulfil his apostolic commission to the Gentiles.

i] Context: See 1:1-7.

ii] Background: See 1:1-7.

iii] Structure: Opening thanksgiving prayer:

A thanksgiving for the Roman church, v8;

Constant prayer for Paul's intended visit, v9-10;

The purpose of Paul's intended visit, v11-12;

The occasion for writing, v13-15.

iv] Interpretation:

Paul continues his introduction, seeking to establish a personal link with the Roman believers, v8-15: i] Paul gives thanks for the believers in Rome, v8.

prwton adv. "first" - first. Sequential adverb, here temporal; "to begin with." As there is no "second", the men in a men ..... de construction, "on the one hand ..... and on the other", doesn't eventuate. Of course, men can just be used for emphasis. Possibly "from the very outset", Morris. "I want to begin by saying", Barclay.

eucaristw pres. "I thank" - i thank. Not the usual "we thank", since Paul is getting personal at this point. The present tense is customary.

tw/ qew/ (oV) dat. "God" - the god [of me]. Dative of direct object after the verb "to give thanks." An uncommon relational reference to the divine; a very bold statement for a Jew. The genitive mou, "of me / my", is relational.

dia + gen. "through" - through [jesus christ]. Expressing agency; "through, by means of." "Christ is, in a sense, the Mediator of the thanksgiving", O'Brien.

peri + gen. "for" - about [all of you]. Reference / respect, "concerning all of you", or representation, "on your behalf."

oJti "because" - that = because. Introducing a causal clause explaining why Paul gives thanks for the Roman believers.

hJ pistiV (iV ewV) " faith" - the faith [of you]. Nominative subject of the verb "to proclaim, announce." "Faith" in what sense? Possibly "the faith as you hold it", Barrett, but better "faith" as that which defines a Christian. What is being reported is the presence of believers in Rome, cf., Cranfield. This "faith", which defines a believer, is used by Paul with two linked ideas, the relative stress of each idea being determined by the context. There is the "faith" (belief, dependence, reliance, firmness) of the believer, and there is the "faith of Christ" (Christ's faithful submission to the will of God on the cross). So, the faith / faithfulness of Christ saves us, which faith / faithfulness we appropriate by faith. See Romans 3:22 where Paul breaks "faith" up into its two separate parts: the righteous reign of God, his putting all things right, is by means of pistewV Ihsou Cristou "the faith of Christ" to all touV pisteuontaV "those who have faith / who believe".

kataggelletai (kataggellw) pres. "is being reported" - is being proclaimed, announced. The present tense is durative / iterative, expressing an ongoing report of the impact of Christian ministry in Rome. "Your faith is renowned over all the world", Cassirer.

en + dat. "[all] over" - in [all the world]. Local, expressing space. The phrase is a "pardonable hyperbole", Hunter.

ii] Paul reveals the content of his prayer on behalf of the believers in Rome whom he constantly brings before the Lord, namely his intended visit, v9-10. In the Gk. as in the NIV, this and the next verse forms one sentence. It makes better sense if we break the two verses into two sentences, eg., "I call on God (..... parenthesis ......) as my witness, that I never stop praying for you. My unceasing prayer is this: that, somehow, God will .....", Junkins.

gar "-" - for. More reason than cause. Here introducing an explanation of Paul's thanksgiving for the Roman believers, even a clarification. "Indeed, God is my witness - he to whom I render spiritual service by preaching the gospel of his Son - that I make mention of you unceasingly, ...." Cassirer.

martuV (uV ewV) "God ......... is my witness" - [my god is] witness. Predicate nominative. The noun martuV, "witness", is emphatic by position. Virtually an oath declaring that what Paul is about to say is true beyond measure. With an unverifiable inward motivation Paul will often call on God as his witness.

w|/ dat. pro. "whom" - whom. The dative is probably adverbial, modal, expressing manner, and serving to introduce a parenthetical statement describing Paul's devotion to God.

latreuw pres. "I serve" - i serve. Sometimes translated as "worship (adoration)", but this word refers to service, the service a slave gives to a master, or of the Levities to God. Here Paul is referring to his service of gospel ministry for God.

en + dat. "with / in" - in [the spirit of me]. Probably instrumental, expressing means; "by / with my spirit", ESV. Paul serves God with the totality of his being, his psyche +. See Cranfield for a full set of options for the meaning of pneumati, "S/spirit". The God whom I serve with every fibre of my being", Barclay.

en + dat. "in" - in [the important news, gospel]. Here possibly instrumental, "by preaching the gospel", or local, sphere, "in the message / gospel", ie. "in my association with the gospel. The word "gospel" simply means "important message." "Preaching" is certainly in mind, but the totality of gospel ministry should be included. "In the gospel", Bruce.

tou uiJou (oV) gen. "of his Son" - of the son. The genitive may be treated as adjectival, possessive, in that the message belongs to the Son, or ablative, source / origin, in that the message emanates from the Son, or adverbial, reference / respect, in that the message concerns the Son.

wJV "how" - how. Virtually introducing a dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what God is able to give witness to, "God is my witness that I constantly remember you in my prayers", cf., ESV.

adialeiptwV adv. "constantly" - without ceasing. Adverb of manner. "Prayer as a conscious, continuous state of mind", Richard. "Without intermission", Morris.

uJmwn gen. pro. "you" - [i make mention] of you. The genitive is verbal, objective; "about you."

epi + gen. "in" - [always] at, upon. Temporal use of the preposition; "at the time / on the occasion of", Zerwick.

mou gen. pro. "my" - [the prayers] of me. The genitive is verbal, subjective, "the prayers I offer", or adjectival, possessive. "I always make mention of you in my prayers", Moffatt.

deomenoV (deomai) pres. pas. part. "and I pray" - asking, requesting, praying. The participle is adverbial, possibly modal, or instrumental, expressing means, even temporal, "while I pray", Longenecker. ; Paul unceasingly makes mention of his readers in his prayers by always asking that ....

ei pwV + fut. "that" - if perhaps, somehow. Introducing an indefinite indirect question expressing the content of Paul's prayer namely, that he may be able to visit Rome so that both he and the Romans "may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."; "that = if somehow (ei pwV "if perhaps" somewhat undermines the certainty of the clause, but is counted by hdh "already" and pote "at one time" = "now at last", and the use of a future, rather than a subjunctive verb), as is the case, by God's will to come to you, then now at last I will make my way to you" = "I constantly pray that at long last it may be God's will that a way should open up for me to visit you", Barclay.

hdh pote "now at last" - already, now at one time. Temporal construction, indicating an end of something. "Expressing the feeling that there has been enough time of waiting", Cranfield; "at long last", Barclay.

en + dat. "by [God's will]" - in = by [the will of god]. Instrumental, expressing means. Probably best reworked as a paraphrasis; "I pray that God will make it possible for me to visit you if he wants me to", TH.

euodwqhsomai (erodow) fut. pas. "the way may be opened for me" - i will be led along the way, make my way. "Be sped along my way", Moffatt, so "be granted the opportunity of visiting you", Cassirer.

elqein (ercomai) aor. inf. "to come" - to come [toward you]. The infinitive may be epexegetic explaining the hoped-for content of God's will in the matter of the visit, namely, "that I come to you", but Harvey suggests that it is adverbial, consecutive, expressing result.

iii] Paul now explains why he wants to visit with the Roman believers, v11-13. Paul writes this letter to prepare for his visit to Rome in order that he might encourage their faith, attain "a harvest among" them, and "preach the gospel to you who are at Rome" (ie., communicate to them Paul's understanding of the gospel).

gar "-" - because. Introducing a causal clause explaining why Paul prays that he might visit Rome, namely, "for I long to see you", Barclay.

epipoqw (eippoqew) pres. "I long" - i greatly desire. The prefix establishes the direction of the desire, "to you-ward", Sandy and Headlam. "Ardent desire", Jewett.

idein (eidon) aor. inf. "to see" - to see [you]. The infinitive is complementary, completing the sense of the verb "to desire greatly", but also with a cognitive verb such as "to greatly desire" the infinitive may be classified as introducing an object clause / dependent statement of perception expressing what is desired. The accusative object of the infinitive is uJmaV, "you".

iJna + subj. "so that" - that [i may share, impart]. Introducing a final clause expressing purpose, "in order that", or hypothetical result, "so that .....", as NIV.

pneumatikon adj "spiritual [gift]" - [a certain = some kind of] spiritual, pertaining to the spirit [gift to you]. The attributive adjective limits the accusative object "gift". It is unnecessary and so its presence is emphatic, so Dunn. The dative indirect object "to you" is probably a dative of interest, advantage. The sense is unclear; impart something spiritual, eg. a gift, blessing??? Verse 12 may serve to clarify somewhat, so "encouragement", obviously by Paul's gospel ministry. Since Paul does not specify the "gift", a general sense is best, a "spiritual charisma [that] offers enrichment and consolidation for the faith", Jewett. So Morris: "the term is used here in the more general sense of anything that builds up the spiritual life."

eiV to + inf. "to" - into the [to establish, strengthen, support, make firm]. This construction, eiV + the articular infinitive, usually expresses purpose, "in order to ..." The subject of the infinitive is the accusative uJmaV, "you". "Make strong" in what sense? Again, a general spiritual strengthening is in mind. "A personal visit will enable them mutually to be enriched, though Paul himself will need to be with them to determine their needs", Dumbrell - obviously spiritual needs which will be met by gospel instruction for their up-building / strengthening.

de "-" - but/and. Transitional, indicating a step in the argument. With touto estin, Paul is extending his argument rather than repeating it, so Harvey; "a certain modification and progress" in the argument, Godet.

touto ... estin "that is" - this is. A very Pauline construction serving to introduce an explanation, "that is to say"; "I mean", Zerwick.

sumparaklhqhnai (sumparakalew) aor. pas. inf. "that you and I may be mutually encouraged" - to be encouraged together. The eiV to + inf. construction of v11 is assumed, so introducing a final clause expressing purpose, "in order that ...." Here taking the sense: "an inner strengthening of mind and spirit imparted by God", Black. The sun prefix indicates that Paul has in mind mutual encouragement, although the "with you" may put the stress on Paul's encouragement, seeing he is the one who is going to be with them. None-the-less, it is more likely that the opposite is the case and that Paul is just being gracious. Paul has elsewhere stated that he is not into building on another's ministry, cf., 15:20. "What seems to have been in his mind is laying bare his gospel before them so that the clarifications in positions, theirs and his, which he will make in the letter, may be discussed and difficulties resolved before he sets out for Spain", Dumbrell.

en + dat. "-" - in [you]. The preposition en is possibly temporal, "while / when I am with you", or instrumental, "by meeting with you", Moffatt, or local, space, "among you", so Cranfield.

dia + gen. "by" - through, by means of [the faith in one another]. Instrumental; "by means of each other's faith."

te kai "each others" - both [yours] and [mine]. Coordinate construction, "both ...., and". A rather awkward phrase carrying the sense "each through the faith of the other", Morris. "In other words, that when I am with you we may receive mutual encouragement by one another's faith, yours and mine", Cassirer.

iv] The occasion for writing, v13-15. Paul speaks of his obligation, under God, to minister the gospel to the Gentiles, which indebtedness motivates him to minister the gospel in Rome.

de "-" - but/and. Transitional, indicating a step in the argument, such that v13-15 should be taken together; "Now, I don't want you ..."

ou qelw "I do not want" - i do not wish [you]. Variant, unlikely, ouk oiomai, "I do not suppose", implies that the church was aware of his movements, cf., Metzger. "I want you to know brothers", Barclay.

agnoein (agnoew) aor. inf. "to be unaware" - to be ignorant, unaware [brothers]. The infinitive is usually classified as complementary, completing the sense of the negated verb "to want". Best stated positively; "I should like you to know", Zerwick.

oJti "that" - that. Introducing an object clause / dependent statement of perception expressing what Paul does not want his readers to be unaware of.

proeqemhn (protiqhmi) aor. "I planned" - i purposed, planned, intended, meant to [often]. A strong word implying a determined intention to visit the Roman church, not just wishful thinking, and this "often", ie., a long-time intention. The temporal adverb pollakiV , "often, frequently", is emphatic by position.

elqein (ercomai) aor. inf. "to come" - to come [toward you]. The infinitive may be classified as complementary, completing the sense of "purposed", or treating "purposed, planned" as a cognate verb, introducing a dependent statement of perception expressing what Paul planned.

kai "but" - and. Here often translated as an adversative.

ekwluqhn (kwluw) aor. pas. "have been prevented from doing so" - was hindered. We don't know what has prevented Paul from undertaking this visit.

acri + gen. "until [now]" - up to, until [the present]. Temporal construction, of time up to a point. Does Paul think he is now free to make the visit? The genitive article, tou serves as a nominalizer, turning the adverb "now, Present" into a substantive, "until the present" = "thus far", Berkeley. The phrase is idiomatic, as translated by the NIV.

iJna + subj. "in order that" - that [I may have and = also some fruit]. Introducing a final clause expressing purpose. "That I might achieve some results", Zerwick. The "harvest / fruit" implies converts, but surely Paul has in mind the harvest of righteousness, a Christian community that rests wholly on Christ's atonement, apart from the law, and thus, as a consequence, a community that is able to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, 12:1.

en + dat. "among [you" - in [you]. Here expressing association, "with you", but possibly space, "among you."

kaqwV "even as" - as, just as. Comparative; that Paul's visit may compare in its fruitfulness with the fruit produced in the other Gentile communities he has ministered in.

kai "-" - and = also. Adjunctive; "as also among the rest of the Gentiles."

loipoiV dat. adj. "[the] other [Gentiles]" - [in = among] the remaining, other [nations, gentiles]. This statement seems to indicate that the Roman church is primarily Gentile. This would be most likely, given that there had been a purge of Jews from Rome in earlier years. None-the-less, some Jewish believers are likely to be members, and the issue that Paul confronts in this letter, namely nomism, is very much a Jewish heresy now infecting the Christian church.

eimi ofeilethV (hV ou) "I am obligated" - i am a debtor. Presumably "I am obligated to preach the gospel to ..." (although this is not what Paul says), which is why Paul is keen to preach the gospel in Rome, cf., v15, so Morris, Moo ("his apostolic vocation to the Gentiles", Schreiner), not so Jewett. Paul's obligation stems from his calling as an apostle, particularly as apostle to the Gentiles, although when it comes to preaching, it is always Jew first and then Gentile.

te kai "both ..... and" - A coordinate construction.

ellhsin .... barbaroiV dat. "[both] to Greeks [and] Non-Greeks" - [both] to greeks [and] to foreigners, [both to wise and to unintelligent]. A dative of indirect object, the direct object, "to preach the gospel", is assumed; emphatic by position. Paul is probably drawing on the common designation of civilised and uncivilised, ie. Greco-Roman and Barbarian. Paul, as apostle to the Gentiles, is obligated to exercise his apostolic gospel ministry to the Gentiles, both Greco-Roman and Barbarian ("Jews and Barbarians", Dumbrell, is unlikely). He now looks forward to ministering to the centre of the civilised world. "From the civilised to the uncivilised, from the cultured to the savage."

ouJtwV adv. "that is why" - thus, so. Possibly expressing manner, "in this manner", Jewett, but it may well be inferential here.

to kat eme proqumon ... euaggelisasqai "I am so eager to preach" - the according to me i am eager to preach. The Grammar is complex. The article to serves as a nominalizer, followed by the preposition kata, "according to", the personal pronoun me, "me", the verbal adjective proqumoV, "ready, willing, eager", and the infinitive, euannelizw, "to preach."

Apart from the syntax, Paul's point is simple enough; "and that's why I can't wait to get to you in Rome, preaching this wonderful good news of God", Peterson.

kai "also" - [to preach] and = also. Adjunctive; "also".

uJmin dat. "to you" - Dative of indirect object.

toiV dat. "who [are at Rome]" - the ones [in rome]. The article serves as an adjectivizer turning the prepositional phrase "in Rome" into an attributive modifier limiting "you", dative in agreement with "you"; "to you who are in Rome."

Romans Introduction.

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