Paul's Long Hello

Romans 1:5

Here in the Mississippi Delta, we've seen our share of long goodbyes. Growing up, we had friends from Brazil who taught us about the "Brazilian goodbye." You'd step out the front door, but the conversation would linger in the driveway for another 45 minutes. These long farewells were part of their culture, a way to extend the warmth of connection just a bit longer.

Paul, writing his epistle to the Romans, seems to enjoy a similar penchant for lengthy greetings. His salutation at the beginning of Romans isn't just a hello; it's an extensive introduction. First, we met Paul himself, a servant called and set apart for the gospel of God, a message that was promised in the Old Testament scriptures and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This narrative arc continued into verses three and four, where Paul introduced Jesus, the very heart of his service. Here, in verse 5, Paul sketches Jesus not just as a figure but as the king who has accomplished all that's necessary for our salvation. After this, Paul shifts his focus from the gospel's essence to his role as an apostle, a transition that's both natural and pivotal for the letter's purpose.

Paul's writing style in this salutation, however, can be described as wandering. He doesn't stay on one topic for long. Mentioning his apostleship, which is intrinsically linked to the gospel he's just described, Paul's thoughts meander. We'll see how he begins with his apostleship but soon drifts to address the recipients of his letter—the Romans. This wandering is quintessentially Pauline. In his excitement, Paul's pen flows with a stream of consciousness, resulting in these seven verses, which are one long sentence in the Greek. These verses are an effusive outpouring of his love for the gospel, not a complete treatise but an appetizer for the feast of theology that follows in the next sixteen chapters. His words here are like a toddler's enthusiasm for a favorite toy, jumping from one aspect of the gospel to another, "I love this, and this, oh, and don't forget this!"

Two main themes emerge from verses 5 through 7: Paul's ministry and his recipients. (We'll focus on Paul's ministry in this post.)

In verse 5, Paul speaks of Christ, the core of the gospel, and from this point, he outlines three crucial aspects of his ministry:

First, Paul's ministry is not a ministry from himself.

Paul's ministry is derived from Jesus. It's not self-appointed but a gracious commission. His ministry, when boiled down, is about grace and apostleship. Yet, there's more depth here than what first meets the eye. The verse is grammatically complex, especially in Greek. The "we" used by Paul is an "editorial we," akin to a royal or majestic plural where a singular person speaks in plural for emphasis or authority. Here, "we" means "I," Paul asserting his apostolic authority, not suggesting a group but claiming his divine calling. He's received "grace and apostleship" from Christ, which in Greek forms what's known as a hendiadys—two words expressing one idea. So, we could say Paul has received "a gracious apostleship" from Christ. His apostleship, like that of all true apostles, comes directly from Christ's call, making Paul not just a messenger but an ambassador with divine authority.

Paul's conversion story in Acts 9 is a vivid reminder of this truth. He wasn't seeking to become an apostle; he was chosen, called out of a life of persecution into one of proclamation. His ministry, therefore, is not something he assumed but received. This narrative invites us to reflect on our own faith, which, like Paul's calling, is not a human decision but a divine drawing.

Secondly, Paul's ministry is not for himself but for all nations.

The gospel's mission, as Paul describes, is to bring about the "obedience of faith" for Christ's name among all nations. This is more than a local or cultural endeavor; it's global. Paul's service is for the world's salvation, not for his own glory or gain. Theologians like Martin Luther and R.C. Sproul have emphasized that the role of the apostle is to lead people universally to faith in Christ, to obedience through belief. Here, "faith" isn't just doctrine but an act, a response to the gospel message, facilitated by the Holy Spirit, leading to salvation through trust in Jesus.

This obedience of faith intertwines belief with action, as F.F. Bruce and John Stott highlight, suggesting that true faith is inseparable from obedience. James echoes this in his epistle, warning that faith without works is dead. Paul's mission, therefore, is not about personal fame or legacy but about bringing all people to Jesus, not every individual but all peoples, cultures, and nations.

Thirdly, Paul's ministry is not to himself but to Christ.

The ultimate aim of Paul's apostleship is the glorification of Jesus Christ. The phrase "for the sake of His name" underscores that the end goal of all Paul's efforts is Christ's glory, not human welfare or social reform. While the gospel can and does transform lives, leading to stories of redemption from hardship, as we've seen in various testimonies, these transformations are secondary to the primary goal: glorifying Jesus. Geoffrey Wilson points out that Paul's concern is Christo-centric, not philanthropic.

The gospel's telos, its end goal, is not our well-being or happiness but Christ's glory. Even when Christians face poverty, sickness, or persecution, the gospel hasn't failed them; it's served its true purpose if it leads to worship of Christ. John Stott powerfully articulates that the highest motive for missions isn't merely obedience to commands or love for the lost but a burning zeal for Christ's glory.

This perspective shifts our understanding of why we engage in Christian ministry or support missions. It's not primarily to make life better for individuals but to exalt Jesus Christ, to whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess, for the glory of God the Father.

Paul's long hello, his expansive introduction, thus sets the stage for a letter that will delve deeply into the theology of grace, faith, and the glory of God in Christ. It's a reminder that our faith, our calling, our very lives are not about us but about Him. The wandering of Paul's writing might seem chaotic, but it's a reflection of a heart so captivated by the gospel that every word, every thought, returns to the glory of Jesus Christ.