Book of Romans - Chapter 1 - Verse 5
Meaning
The verse "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name" emphasizes the role of grace and apostleship in spreading the message of faith to all nations. The grace mentioned refers to the unmerited favor and divine assistance that believers receive from God. This grace enables them to fulfill their calling as apostles, messengers of the faith, who are tasked with bringing obedience to the message of faith to people from all corners of the world. The ultimate goal of this mission is to glorify the name of God and bring honor to His name through the obedience of people from all nations. This verse highlights the importance of sharing the message of faith with others and the transformative power of grace in fulfilling this mission.
Theological Overview
In this verse, the concept of grace is tied closely to apostleship and obedience to the faith. The word "grace" (charis in Greek) refers to the unmerited favor and blessings that God bestows upon believers. Through His grace, believers are called to a particular purpose or ministry, in this case, apostleship. Apostle comes from the Greek word "apostolos," which means one who is sent out as a messenger. This indicates that those who have received God's grace are also entrusted with the responsibility of spreading the message of the Gospel to all nations. Obedience to the faith is emphasized as the response to this calling, indicating that true faith is active and involves following God's commandments. The phrase "for his name" highlights that all of this is done for the glory and honor of God. Thus, this verse not only speaks to the recipients of God's grace and calling but also emphasizes the importance of obedience and spreading the message of faith for the glory of God.