Romans 1: “The Gospel Is the Power of God for Salvation”
1. Introduction: The Apostle of Grace
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” (Rom 1:1)
Paul begins not with rank but with servitude.
In the Roman world, “servant” (doulos) meant total belonging.
The Apostle’s identity is defined by obedience and mission.
The Fathers noted the humility of this beginning.
St John Chrysostom writes:
“He glories not in being a freeman, but in being a servant of Christ; for that servitude is greater than any liberty.”
(Homilies on Romans I.1)
“Set apart” echoes the prophets (Jer 1:5) and the priests (Lev 20:26).
Paul’s separation is not isolation but consecration — to bear the Gospel to the nations.
2. “The Gospel of God”
“Which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures.” (v. 2)
The Gospel is not new but the fulfilment of all prophecy.
Paul’s faith is continuous with Israel’s hope.
Christianity does not abolish the Old Testament but unveils its heart.
St Augustine explains:
“The New is hidden in the Old, the Old is revealed in the New; the two are one voice of one God.”
(Questions on the Heptateuch II.73)
Thus, the Gospel is divine in origin (“of God”), prophetic in preparation, and historical in fulfilment.
3. “Concerning His Son”
“Concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (vv. 3–4)
These verses contain a compact Christology:
| Phrase | Meaning |
| “Descended from David according to the flesh” | True humanity, fulfilment of messianic prophecy (2 Sam 7:12–16) |
| “Designated Son of God in power” | Eternal divinity manifested by Resurrection |
| “Spirit of holiness” | The Holy Spirit active in both Resurrection and sanctification |
| “Jesus Christ our Lord” | The confession of faith itself — Jesus (Saviour), Christ (Anointed), Lord (Divine) |
St Ambrose remarks:
“He who was born of David’s line according to the flesh is born of God according to the Spirit; the same is both King and God.”
(On the Holy Spirit III.15)
The Resurrection did not make Christ divine; it revealed Him as such.
St Augustine writes:
“He was not made Son of God by rising, but shown to be Son by the power with which He rose.”
(Sermon 185)
4. “Through Whom We Have Received Grace and Apostleship”
“Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all nations.” (v. 5)
Here Paul sums up the apostolic mission:
Grace — the interior gift transforming the soul.
Apostleship — the external commission to preach.
Obedience of faith — not mere belief but total submission of intellect and will to divine truth.
St Bede the Venerable:
“Faith is obedience because it bows the proud reason to divine authority; he who believes obeys God even when he cannot see.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.29)
5. “To All God’s Beloved in Rome”
“To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 7)
Rome, the centre of empire, now becomes the centre of faith.
Paul greets not the powerful but the “beloved” — the Church within the world’s capital.
Grace and peace summarise the Gospel: grace reconciles us to God, peace unites us with one another.
St Augustine:
“Peace is the tranquillity of order restored by grace.”
(City of God XIX.13)
6. Thanksgiving and Desire
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.” (v. 8)
The Church of Rome is already a witness.
Before Peter’s martyrdom or Paul’s arrival, the Gospel has taken root in the heart of empire.
Paul prays to visit them “that I may impart to you some spiritual gift” (v. 11) — not because they lack faith, but to strengthen communion.
St John Chrysostom notes:
“He longs not to teach as to the ignorant, but to share as with brethren; for the Apostle’s joy is the faith of the faithful.”
(Homilies on Romans II)
7. “I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel”
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (v. 16)
This is the thesis of Romans: the Gospel’s universal saving power.
In a culture of prestige and philosophy, Paul glories in what the world despises — the Cross.
St Ambrose:
“He glories in what the world blushes at, for the power of God is hidden in the weakness of man.”
(On the Faith II.3)
Faith is the means by which this power is received: trustful surrender, not human achievement.
8. “The Righteous Shall Live by Faith”
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (v. 17)
Quoting Habakkuk 2:4, Paul declares justification as God’s initiative:
His righteousness is not condemnation but mercy — God making us righteous by grace.
St Augustine explains:
“The righteousness of God is that by which He makes the unrighteous righteous, as the health of the physician is that by which he heals the sick.”
(On the Spirit and the Letter 32)
“From faith to faith” means faith as both beginning and end: initiated by grace, perfected in glory.
9. “The Wrath of God Is Revealed”
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (v. 18)
Divine wrath is not passion but justice: the expression of God’s holiness against sin.
To “suppress the truth” is the root of all sin — preferring darkness to light.
St John Chrysostom:
“He speaks of wrath to awaken fear, but not despair; for wrath is revealed that grace may be desired.”
(Homilies on Romans III)
10. Revelation in Creation
“Ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.” (v. 20)
The Fathers saw here the foundation of natural theology: reason can perceive God through creation.
Creation is a mirror, though fallen eyes may not see.
St Augustine:
“The world is a book written by the finger of God; those who will not read it are without excuse.”
(Confessions X.6)
St Bede:
“Creation speaks, but sin makes us deaf; the light shines, but lust blinds the eyes.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.29)
Thus, ignorance of God is culpable when chosen.
11. “They Knew God but Did Not Honour Him”
“For although they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking.” (v. 21)
The fall of the Gentile world is not ignorance but ingratitude.
Idolatry begins with refusing gratitude.
St Ambrose remarks:
“To forget the Giver is the first theft; for every sin begins where thanksgiving ends.”
(On the Duties of the Clergy I.34)
Their “futile thinking” shows that reason divorced from worship decays into folly.
12. “Claiming to Be Wise, They Became Fools”
“And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.” (v. 23)
The progression is downward: from knowledge to vanity, from worship to idolatry, from reason to corruption.
This is not merely ancient paganism but every age that deifies creation — wealth, power, pleasure, self.
St Augustine:
“They worshipped what they should have used and used what they should have worshipped.”
(City of God XIV.7)
13. “Therefore God Gave Them Up”
“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity.” (v. 24)
Divine judgment is often the letting-go of sin’s consequences.
To be “given up” means to experience the misery of disordered desire.
Grace restrains; wrath withdraws restraint.
St Bede:
“He punishes by permitting, not by compelling; for freedom abused becomes its own chain.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.29)
14. “They Exchanged the Truth of God for a Lie”
“Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” (v. 25)
Here is idolatry’s essence: the exchange.
Man was made to image God; idolatry makes God an image of man.
Worship becomes perversion when it turns inward.
St Augustine:
“The lie is not the idol of stone, but the heart that loves it.”
(Exposition of the Psalms 113)
15. “God Gave Them Up to Dishonourable Passions”
“Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural… and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women.” (vv. 26–27)
Paul speaks not in prejudice but in sorrow.
He names sexual disorder as the visible symptom of idolatry — love turned inward.
The Fathers read this not as hatred of sinners but as warning against passions enslaving the soul.
St John Chrysostom says with compassion:
“He does not condemn nature but corruption; the disease is not from creation but from choice.”
(Homilies on Romans IV)
The remedy is not contempt but conversion through grace and chastity.
16. “They Did Not See Fit to Acknowledge God”
“Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct.” (v. 28)
Moral darkness follows intellectual pride.
When man rejects truth, the mind itself becomes warped.
St Ambrose:
“The first punishment of sin is blindness of mind; for he who loves darkness loses sight.”
(On Repentance II.10)
17. Catalogue of Sins
“They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil.” (vv. 29–30)
This grim list is not meant to condemn individuals but to describe the universal sickness of sin.
All have fallen; all need grace.
St Augustine:
“The Apostle writes as physician, not as accuser; he exposes the wound that the soul may seek healing.”
(Sermon 82)
18. “They Know God’s Decree but Approve Evil”
“Though they know God’s decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only do them but approve those who practise them.” (v. 32)
This is the climax of moral rebellion: delight in evil, approval of vice.
Sin becomes celebrated, and conscience mocked.
Such an age calls down judgment but is still offered mercy.
St Bede:
“To sin is human frailty; to defend sin is diabolic pride.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.29)
19. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Gospel of God | Divine initiative fulfilling prophecy |
| Christology | True God and true man, revealed in Resurrection |
| Obedience of faith | The response of intellect and will to grace |
| Righteousness of God | Mercy that justifies the sinner |
| Wrath and revelation | Justice exposing sin to offer repentance |
| Natural revelation | Creation as witness to the Creator |
| Idolatry and immorality | Consequences of exchanging truth for lies |
| Need for grace | Universal sinfulness preparing for the Gospel |
St Augustine sums it up:
“The Apostle first humbles the proud that he may make them seek grace; for no one desires the Saviour unless he first feels the wound.”
(On the Spirit and the Letter 25)
20. Moral and Spiritual Application
Do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Proclaim Christ’s truth with courage in a world that mocks holiness.
Give thanks always. Gratitude is the first act of faith and the antidote to idolatry.
Honour creation rightly. Love the Creator through His works, but never worship the works themselves.
Seek purity of heart. Sin distorts desire; grace restores love to its right order.
Pray for the conversion of the world. Divine wrath warns so that mercy may save.
21. Closing Prayer
God of truth and mercy,
who revealed Your righteousness in the Gospel
and Your power to save all who believe,
deliver us from the darkness of pride and the worship of created things.
Enlighten our minds to see You in Your works,
and purify our hearts by Your grace.
May we live by faith, not by sight,
and bear witness to Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 