Romans 1:1-7 (NKJV)

1. Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
2. which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3. concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4. and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
6. among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7. To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Breakdown and Greek Significance

Verse 1

Greek: Παῦλος δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, κλητὸς ἀπόστολος, ἀφωρισμένος εἰς εὐαγγέλιον Θεοῦ,

• Παῦλος (Paulos) – Paul, identifying himself as the author.
• δοῦλος (doulos) – Bondservant/slave, indicating Paul’s humble submission to Christ.
• Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ (Christou Iēsou) – Jesus Christ, Paul’s master.
• κλητὸς ἀπόστολος (klētos apostolos) – Called apostle, emphasizing his divine calling.
• ἀφωρισμένος (aphōrismenos) – Set apart, highlighting Paul’s specific mission.
• εἰς εὐαγγέλιον Θεοῦ (eis euangelion Theou) – To the gospel of God, the central message Paul is devoted to.

Verse 2

Greek: ὃ προεπηγγείλατο διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν γραφαῖς ἁγίαις,

• ὃ προεπηγγείλατο (ho proepēngeilato) – Which He promised beforehand, indicating the gospel’s prophetic roots.
• διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ (dia tōn prophētōn autou) – Through His prophets, showing continuity with the Old Testament.
• ἐν γραφαῖς ἁγίαις (en graphais hagiais) – In the Holy Scriptures, affirming the sacredness and authority of the Old Testament writings.

Verse 3

Greek: περὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ γενομένου ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυίδ κατὰ σάρκα,

• περὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ (peri tou Huiou autou) – Concerning His Son, focusing on Jesus Christ.
• τοῦ γενομένου (tou genomenou) – Who was born, emphasizing the incarnation.
• ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυίδ (ek spermatos Dauid) – Of the seed of David, linking Jesus to Davidic lineage.
• κατὰ σάρκα (kata sarka) – According to the flesh, referring to Jesus’ human nature.

Verse 4

Greek: τοῦ ὁρισθέντος Υἱοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν δυνάμει κατὰ Πνεῦμα ἁγιωσύνης ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν,

• τοῦ ὁρισθέντος (tou horisthentos) – Declared or appointed, signifying Jesus’s divine nature.
• Υἱοῦ Θεοῦ (Huiou Theou) – Son of God, emphasizing His divinity.
• ἐν δυνάμει (en dynamei) – With power, highlighting the divine power demonstrated.
• κατὰ Πνεῦμα ἁγιωσύνης (kata Pneuma hagiōsynēs) – According to the Spirit of holiness, referring to the Holy Spirit.
• ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν (ex anastaseōs nekrōn) – By the resurrection from the dead, confirming His power and identity through the resurrection.
• Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν (Iēsou Christou tou Kyriou hēmōn) – Jesus Christ our Lord, reaffirming His lordship.

Verse 5

Greek: δι’ οὗ ἐλάβομεν χάριν καὶ ἀποστολήν εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ,

• δι’ οὗ (di’ hou) – Through whom, referring to Jesus.
• ἐλάβομεν (elabomen) – We have received, denoting the grace and apostleship bestowed.
• χάριν καὶ ἀποστολήν (charin kai apostolēn) – Grace and apostleship, indicating both favor and mission.
• εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως (eis hypakoēn pisteōs) – For obedience to the faith, the goal of their mission.
• ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν (en pasin tois ethnesin) – Among all nations, highlighting the universal scope of the gospel.
• ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ (hyper tou onomatos autou) – For His name’s sake, emphasizing the ultimate purpose.

Verse 6

Greek: ἐν οἷς ἐστε καὶ ὑμεῖς κλητοὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,

• ἐν οἷς ἐστε (en hois este) – Among whom you are also, identifying the Roman believers.
• καὶ ὑμεῖς (kai hymeis) – You also, inclusively addressing the audience.
• κλητοὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (klētoi Iēsou Christou) – Called of Jesus Christ, indicating their divine calling.

Verse 7

Greek: πᾶσιν τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ῥώμῃ ἀγαπητοῖς Θεοῦ, κλητοῖς ἁγίοις· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

• πᾶσιν τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ῥώμῃ (pasin tois ousin en Rhōmē) – To all who are in Rome, addressing the recipients.
• ἀγαπητοῖς Θεοῦ (agapētois Theou) – Beloved of God, affirming their identity in Christ.
• κλητοῖς ἁγίοις (klētois hagiois) – Called to be saints, highlighting their sanctification.
• χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη (charis hymin kai eirēnē) – Grace to you and peace, a common Pauline greeting.
• ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (apo Theou patros hēmōn kai Kyriou Iēsou Christou) – From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, attributing the source of their grace and peace.

Significance

This introduction sets the theological tone for the letter, emphasizing Paul’s apostolic authority, the divine origin of the gospel, Jesus’ dual nature (human and divine), and the universal call to faith and obedience. The Greek terms enrich the understanding of these concepts, highlighting nuances such as the continuity of the gospel with Old Testament prophecy, the nature of Jesus’ sonship, and the mission of spreading this message to all nations.