I AM OBLIGATED

Passage: Romans 1:8-15

Key verse: 14

NIV

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,(A) because your faith is being reported all over the world.(B) 9 God, whom I serve(C) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness(D) how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times;(E) and I pray that now at last by God’s will(F) the way may be opened for me to come to you.(G)

11 I long to see you(H) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift(I) to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware,(J) brothers and sisters,[a](K) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)(L) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14 I am obligated(M) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.(N)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Romans 1:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 7:1, 4; 8:12, 29; 10:1; 11:25; 12:1; 15:14, 30; 16:14, 17.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Longing to Go to Rome

8 First, (A)I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, (B)because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 (C)For God is my witness, (D)whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, (E)that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow (F)by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For (G)I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged (H)by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[a] that (I)I have often intended to come to you (but (J)thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some (K)harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 (L)I am under obligation both to Greeks and to (M)barbarians,[b] both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Romans 1:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
  2. Romans 1:14 That is, non-Greeks
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. I constantly remember you in prayer (8-10)

It is hard to pray faithfully for anyone. Paul had never been to Rome, but God whom Paul served with his whole heart wanted the gospel planted there--for Rome was the hub of the world. So Paul prayed for the Christians in Rome. He thanked God for their lives of faith which challenged the materialism and moral corruption of Rome. He prayed that he might visit them and share with them in the world mission task.

2. Eager to preach the gospel (11-15)

Paul had a burden for all the people of the Gentile world. His prayer for Rome and his desire to preach the gospel there were expressions of that burden and of his commitment to world mission. Jesus, to whom he owed everything, had laid on him an obligation to the Gentile world. His obligation to preach the gospel to people for whom Christ died included good and bad sheep; hopeful and hopeless people. Jesus who died for my sins died for the whole sin-sick world. I too have an obligation.

Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you with my whole heart and do what pleases you.

One Word: A debtor to God's grace