Thanksgiving, prayer, and Paul's obligation to Greeks and barbarians (Romans 1:8–15)

Says Paul thanks God "through Jesus Christ" for all the Roman believers, because their faith is "being proclaimed all over the world" (1:8, BSB). He calls God, "whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son," as his witness that he prays for them constantly (1:9). He prays that he may at last come to them (1:10). Implies "All over the world" is a natural hyperbole for the whole Christian network of the empire, and it fits a church at the capital. The verb λατρεύω, "serve," which the LXX uses for priestly and cultic service, recasts Paul's preaching as worship (compare 15:16). Whether he wrote περί or ὑπέρ ("for," 1:8) makes no difference to the sense (var.Rom.1.8.peri-hyper).

Says Paul wants to share "some spiritual gift" to strengthen them (1:11). He then corrects himself at once: "that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (1:12, BSB). Implies The correction is tactful. Paul did not found this church. He presents his visit as mutual blessing, not inspection, which agrees with his rule of not "building on someone else's foundation" (15:20, BSB).

Says He has often planned to come but has been "prevented" (ἐκωλύθην, 1:13), "in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles" (BSB). In 15:22 he uses a different but synonymous verb (ἐνεκοπτόμην, "I have been hindered"). There he explains that the hindrance was his unfinished work from Jerusalem to Illyricum (15:19–23; note.historical.Rom.1.1-Rom.1.32.travel-plans). The word order of τινὰ καρπόν, "some fruit," has no effect on the meaning (var.Rom.1.13.tina-karpon).

Says "I am obligated" (ὀφειλέτης εἰμί, "I am a debtor") "both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish" (1:14, literal; BSB "non-Greeks"). So he is eager to preach the gospel "also to you who are in Rome" (1:15). Implies "Greeks and barbarians" divides humanity by language and culture from the Greek point of view. "Wise and foolish" divides it by education. Together they mean everyone, with no distinction (note.historical.Rom.1.1-Rom.1.32.greeks-barbarians). Paul's debt does not arise from anything the nations gave him. It is the trust laid on him by Christ (1 Cor 9:16–17). Implies "To preach the gospel … to you" (1:15), addressed to believers, shows that for Paul the gospel is not only the entry message. It is the whole message the church goes on to learn, as the letter itself shows. Romans 1:15 and 1:7 are the two places where some witnesses lack "in Rome." The team prints the phrase in both places with high confidence (var.Rom.1.15.tois-en-rome; var.Rom.1.7.en-rome).