Barton's Bible Study Notes

Romans 1:8-18

SUMMARY: Before he begins the main treatise, Paul takes time to praise those to whom he wrote, inform them that he continually prays for them and let them know that although he has never visited them, he has really desired to do so because it is part of his debt and obligation to God.
  I.  PAUL’S PRAISE, PRAYER AND PURPOSE VERSES 1:8-12
A.  Paul’s Praise:
1.  The Action: First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, (8a)
2.  The Reason: because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. (8b)
B.  Paul’s Prayer:
1.  The Witness: For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness (9a)
2.  The Prayers: as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, (9b-10a)
3.  The Reason: if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. (10b)
C.  Paul’s Purpose:
1.  The Desire: For I long to see you (11a)
2.  The Reason:
a.  Initial: so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, (11b)
b.  Final:
(1)  For Them: that you may be established; (11c)
(2)  For Himself: that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. (12)
 
 II.  PAUL’S PRIOR AND PRESENT PLANS VERSES 1:13-17
A.  Paul’s Prior Plans:
1.  The Plan: I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (13a)
2.  The Hindrance: (and have been prevented so far) (13b)
3.  The Reason: so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. (13c)
B.  Paul’s Present Desire:
1.  The Debt: I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. (14)
2.  The Desire: So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (15)
3.  The Attitude:
a.  The Statement: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, (16a)
b.  The Explanation:
(1)  First: for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (16b)
(2)  Second: For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; (17a)
as it is written
“BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
(17b)