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As it were, the Romans received and opened this letter from Paul. This would͛ve been don in the
church and probably read out publically for all to hear. They would have broken the seal and
expected, as was the usual form, a one-sentence prescript or introduction from the author.1 Paul has
not taken this simple route, but has gone the length of 17 verses, in our modern format, to explain
himself. We would normally write a few words of identification, greetings, and then at the end, a
farewell. So Paul͛s extended introduction is as exceptional to the Romans as it would be with us.
Romans is the longest letter of Paul͛s and it is certainly one of his fullest and most complex; this
complexity is even found in the introduction. Paul͛s identity is presented in the first six verses, an
address and salutation in v7, and then a lengthy mention of the Romans to whom he is writing. (V8-
17 make up the title: And you are͙)

Hello I͛m Paul! V1-7

Take note of the fact that Paul had never been there and doesn͛t know the people. So he is
introducing himself almost from scratch. It seems consistent with understanding this letter that we
first realize that Paul approaches the writing of this letter as to those who don͛t know him or his
message. Naturally then, in the introduction and main body of the letter, we are getting a view of
who Paul is and what his message is all about. Therefore the use of this simple but comprehensive
title- ͞Hello I͛m Paul͟ we could add, ͞and this is what I͛m about.͟

We must mention again, also, that because Paul is approaching this letter in a very general way, as
he explains himself, we are getting a view of the gospel and what it means to him. Thus, right from
the outset we get one of the most descriptive and yet simple sentences, but still with the profundity
we expect from the master theologian. (



 







 

Two transcendent objects are set up. Jesus Christ and God. These are the two great subjects of
Romans. That is, how God has provided salvation in his Son, which is such good news! However, Paul
is the subject of this verse because he is introducing himself and what he is all about. Note therefore
these three simple descriptions:

1.Ê Paul the servant- ɷʉ ʄʉʎ

This word has often been translated as 
. There is a strong connection to this English word, yet,
because it has such negative connotation of tyranny and unfairness, I personally prefer 

.
Thus, Paul describes himself first as a 

 of Jesus Christ. He puts himself, before anything, under
the submission of the one who on the Damascus road brought him the good news personally. That
good news was that Jesus Christ had died for Paul and brought free justification to him. Ref: Acts
9:1-9. Again, the importance of this passage in Acts helps as a setting for Romans to play out its act
in. Here we have his conviction of sin and experience of Justification. Note, moreover, that
submission follows justification. He confesses Jesus as ͚Lord͛ and lays down his life in service to
Christ. This answers immediately any controversy over whether Christ can be King of our lives in
conversion, for he must be or else we are not saved. Christ is King of our lives, always. He is our Lord
to whom we submit everything.

1
Douglas Moo p40
- Paul entered into service:

From the moment of Paul͛s justification he became an obedient servant of Jesus Christ. Acts 9:6. He
had encountered the gospel in its fullness in the person of Jesus Christ, and by this he had been
awed by Christ and broken in his sin and convinced of the good news. From this point he was totally
committed to the commission that Christ had laid down before him. His encounter with the Saviour
drove him to preach this encounter to sinners. As Acts 9:15 shows, Paul became a chosen vessel for
a specific commission. He was to bear the name of Christ to the Gentiles. And, as a committed
servant, Paul fulfilled this commission to the full, evidently with a willing heart. He laid down his life
for the purpose of preaching the gospel to sinners. Note Acts 20:18-27 especially v24 ͞None of these
things move me͙͟ only the ministry mattered to Paul. Here we have a man who was actually ͚sold
out͛ for God. For as a servant no longer owns his time and energy, so Paul had given everything up to
serve the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first paragraph of Robert Murray McCheyne͛s biography by Andrew Bonar displays a similar view
of life. A man who was sold out for God!

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-Paul entered a long line of service

The greek word for servant ɷʉ ʄʉʎ has an equivalent in the Hebrewù
. Furthermore as Jesus
literally means ͞Jehovah is salvation͟ or the Lord is salvation, Paul was confessing himself


 !. Note therefore Genesis 26:24- Abraham, and Numbers 12:7-8- Moses among others in
the OT. And surely there have been many more since who have given their lives to the Lord in
dedicated service. Conversely, as Paul is recognised as following in a pattern, so Jesus is recognised
as continuing this pattern. This is a proof of his deity, for Jesus Christ is the Lord. Paul who was
intimately in toe with the Old Testament knew well what such a statement like this was saying to the
Jews: ͞Jesus Christ is Lord, and Jesus Christ is my Lord!͟ Thus, from the outset, Paul is lifting up Jesus
Christ to the highest plain possible. So in turn he is showing the great nature of the gospel message,
that it concerns the Lord͛s life and death for us. The message that he is proclaiming then, is a
message directly concerning the Lord Jehovah, whom he serves.

2.Ê Paul the apostle-ʃʄɻʏ ʎ ʋʊʍʏʉʄʉʎ

An apostle is an office given to the birth of the New Testament church. It is therefore a temporary
office. In the carrying out of this office, the apostles acted with inspiration. When they write, for
example, their writings are taken for the word of God. They are New Testament prophets in many
ways. Chosen of Christ, they all, including Paul (Acts 9), had a personal experience of seeing Jesus
Christ and being commissioned to spread his word (stressed 1 Cor 15:5,8). In this sense Paul is a
special apostle, for he met the glorified Christ and we see in him more New Testament theology than
with any other. We should speak of the twelve (disciples) and Paul. He brought in the New Covenant
in his writing, by presenting Christ in the gospel in letters like Romans. He did more than any other
to unite the New Testament Church. Paul was a Jew, a chosen apostle and yet a missionary to the
Gentiles. This fact shows the Lord͛s desire to fulfil his covenant, that ͞many nations would be
blessed. In his missionary career we are in awe of Paul͛s intellect, but more than that, his resolve to
preach and love for Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15: 9-10 shows his labours as abundant even to exceed the
other twelve.

- He was appointed:

ʃʄɻʏ ʎ. ͞Called͟ to be an apostle. He was a ͚chosen͛ vessel to do a major missionary work to display
the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. In putting the Romans into the scene of who he was, he assures
them that he has been called of God to fulfil a special task. Furthermore in his writing to them, after
reading of his calling, they would immediately take account of the special importance of this letter.
So, Paul was appointed to bring God͛s will in Word to the Romans and the whole NT church.

- He was authoritative:

We have already looked at the fact that no apostle had been in Rome before Paul. Therefore, to
have an apostle writing and intending to come to them is a massive event. In Acts, they just wanted
to be under the shadow of the apostles, but here in Rome they had this letter addressed from an
apostle.

Hendriksen outlines the qualifications as follows:

1-Ê Received commission directly from Christ,

2-Ê Witnesses of Christ͛s works and qualified by Him,
3-Ê Endowed with a special measure of the Holy Spirit,
4-Ê God blesses and confirms their work with signs,
5-Ê Their office is not restricted but covers the whole church and is for their whole life.

An office of great importance like an apostle stamped not only the authority of Paul, but importantly
the authority of his letter, and therefore its contents concerning the precious subject of the gospel.

3.Ê Paul the minister- ʔʘʌɿʍʅɹʆʉʎ

Although Paul was really a missionary and not a static minister, he was still in the work of the
ministry. Quite critically so, for he sculpted the ministry of all those who were to succeed him even
to this day. He would set two standards, a standard of life and a standard of preaching or more
generally of belief or conviction. He tutored the younger Timothy on how he should live and minister
and set down the Spirit inspired expectations for each of the offices of the Church. This great phrase
ʔʘʌɿʍʅɹʆʉʎ is of the utmost importance if we are to understand Paul͛s ministry and by
consequence the New Testament minister.

The word is from the root ʔʉʌʀɺʘ and literally means ͚"

 :͛ Luke 6:22.
It also carries the meaning ͚



 

# as in Romans 1:1, Acts 13:2- Paul is
sent on a mission or Galatians 1:15 where Paul has been separated for this mission since birth. Are
preachers born or made? I think there is room for both; God separates some for preaching from an
early age and eventually makes them into a minister of the gospel, that͛s a by the way. It has also
been used for ͚


 #- Acts 19:19, where we must separate from others
according to the gospel. If the gospel is brought down or compromised and conscience is nagging us,
then one must separate. This works on a personal as well as a corporate level. However, the
meaning we are taking from v1 is primarily that Paul was separated onto something external to
himself. He was separated unto and for the gospel.

-The life of the minister:

In order to be set apart for the ministry, there must be a separation of a whole life for the ministry.
John Murray has said,

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A life of preaching, is a life separated to this one work of God. In this definition there is no room for
extra careers, and certainly no politics. In relation to this, no amount of study or effort is too much.
Ministers must strive to make known fully and clearly the gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts 20:24
accurately displays the minister͛s life mission- to preach the gospel and die!

-The subject of the minister͛s life:

All that we have considered about separation, and even Paul͛s life as a servant and apostle centres
on this statement- ɸ ʎɸ ɲɶɶɹʄɿʉʆȺɸʉ . The theme of the book of Romans is here presented in a
brief and simple form. Literally ͞the good-news of God.͟ If more ministers, and more believers for
that matter, could have more an interest in this subject, then how much more would we live to the
glory of God? We need to live our lives separate from this world, all of us, and lives that are
separated unto God͛s good-news. Paul encapsulates everything about this Bible, never mind this
letter of Romans, in one simple statement.

Therefore, Paul says hello to the Roman church in simple and profound tones. He lets them know his
appointment and authority, his absolute submission to Christ and separation to one thing the gospel
of God.