Words'nTone

I still find it amazing that both popular exposition and even noted commentary assert, but do not exegetically demonstrate, that 1:16-17 is Paul’s thematic statement for his exposition in the Letter to the Romans.  It seems more reasonable, both exegetically and thematically to see Paul utilizing his opening as his thematic—his what’s all about—statement (1:1-6).  For a further explanation of this, see my article, “Rom 1:1-5 and the Occasion of the Letter: the Solution to the Two-Congregation Problem in Rome” (Trinity Journal, Sp ‘93).  But what is the function of Romans 1:16-17?

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “he righteous will live by faith.”

These verses actually come in a series of statements or propositions that grammatically begin with the Greek word γαρ (gar), usually translated for.  In fact, interestingly enough, in Romans 1:16, the New International Version “forgets” to render the gar—it is left out of the English rendering of verse 16 all together.  But it is there—and should be translated in some way—as do most of the more literal translations.  Nonetheless, it seems the gar (theforgar) is still overlooked in how this text is understood, and how it functions in these verses.  Gar, the Greek word, carries a transitional tone and mostly functions in a “why…because” connotation.  The statement, I pray, followed by for God is listening, shows the idea, and is totally understandable even in English.  Why do I pray?  Because God is listening.

Verses 16 and 17, as significant as they are to our Christian faith, especially in the reformed tradition, these verses, nonetheless, are part of the reason the apostle seeks to go to Rome, why he wants (desires) to visit the Church in the capital of the world and “impart some spiritual gift to make [them] strong” (1:11).  (I use the NIV here since that’s the version with the missing gar. The NASB translates strong here with the word “established,” but it is the word for strong used elsewhere—cf. 4:20; 14:1; 15:1.)

First, we read that Paul has a remote (i.e., in terms of distance) relationship with the Church in Rome and now seeks to visit them:

“God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you” (vv 9-10).

Then Paul allows us to see his heart’s desire, a statement—a propositional statement—that sets up this long string of gap statements, answering why he wants impart “some spiritual gift” that will make them strong (vv 11-13):

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

Then Paul moves into the why-because series…“Why do I want to preach in Rome, i.e., come to you to impart some spiritual gift to make you strong, because…”

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

Why, because…
[For] I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (16).

Why, am I not ashamed of the Gospel, because…
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (17).

Why, because…
[For] The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them (18-19).

Why, because…
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (20).

Why, because…
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles (21-23).

As a consequence…
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts (24-25)

Why, because…
[For] Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (26-32).

Paul is eager to go to Rome so he may assist (encourage) their Christian growth and make them “strong,” (why) because he is not ashamed of the Gospel, (why?) because it is the revealed righteousness of God and that man is under the wrath of God.  Although I find that Paul’s thematic statement comes in 1:1-6, Paul’s rhetorical devise here in 1:9ff not only connects him to his audience, it begs the question, namely why does Paul need to go to Rome to make the Church strong and receive a harvest “of Gentiles” among them as he has in other churches.  It is in 1:1-6 as to why Paul desires to go to Rome and why this letter, i.e., Romans, precedes that visit.

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See my post A post-script to my review of Paul’s Rhetoric In Its Contexts for more explanation on Romans 1:1-6 and 1:16-17.

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