Earlier this year, I had the fortunate opportunity to visit Rome with my daughter and her family. There is something about being in proximity to where I imagine my Bible stories came to life. Paul was writing to the people who inhabited Rome, the early followers who would have been Gentile like me, not of Jewish descent like Jesus. At the time Paul wrote this letter, he hadn’t even walked the streets himself. He just knew he already loved his fellow believers.
Because he didn’t already have a relationship with the Romans, Paul used his letter as an introduction. Notice that he called himself a “slave of Christ Jesus” yet also “chosen by God to be an apostle.” Those were some serious credentials. Paul’s purpose was to bring the Good News or gospel to the people, but notably the Gentiles. God wanted everyone to hear the life-changing news about Jesus. Continue reading “Romans 1:1-17 – The Good News”
