Teks -- Romans 1:8 (NET)

Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome

1:8 First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rom 1:8 - First

First ( prōton men ).

Adverb in the accusative case, but no epeita de (in the next place) as in Heb 7:2 or epeita as in Jam 3:17 follows. The rush of thoughts crowds out the balanced phraseology as in Rom 3:2; 1Co 11:18.

Robertson: Rom 1:8 - Through

Through ( dia ).

As the mediator or medium of thanksgiving as in Rom 7:25.

Robertson: Rom 1:8 - For

For ( peri ).

Concerning, about.

Robertson: Rom 1:8 - That

That ( hoti ).

Or because. Either declarative or causal hoti makes sense here.

Robertson: Rom 1:8 - Your faith

Your faith ( hē pistis humōn ).

"Your Christianity"(Sanday and Headlam).

Robertson: Rom 1:8 - Is proclaimed

Is proclaimed ( kataggelletai ).

Present passive indicative of kataggellō , to announce (aggellō ) up and down (kata ). See also anaggellō , to bring back news (Joh 5:15), apaggellō , to announce from one as the source (Mat 2:8), prokataggellō , to announce far and wide beforehand (Act 3:18).

Robertson: Rom 1:8 - Throughout all the world

Throughout all the world ( en holōi tōi kosmōi ).

Natural hyperbole as in Col 1:6; Act 17:6. But widely known because the church was in the central city of the empire.

Vincent: Rom 1:8 - First

First ( πρῶτον μὲν )

Not above all , but in the first place . The form of the phrase leads us to expect a succeeding clause introduced by secondly or next ; but this is omitted in the fullness and rapidity of Paul's thought, which so often makes him negligent of the balance of his clauses.

Vincent: Rom 1:8 - Through Jesus Christ

Through Jesus Christ

As the medium of his thanksgiving: " As one who is present to his grateful thoughts; in so far, namely, as that for which he thanks God is vividly perceived and felt by him to have been brought about through Christ." Compare Rom 7:25; Col 3:17; Eph 5:20. In penitence and in thanksgiving alike, Jesus Christ is the one mediator through whom we have access to God.

Vincent: Rom 1:8 - For you all

For you all ( περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν )

The preposition means rather concerning , about .

Vincent: Rom 1:8 - Is proclaimed

Is proclaimed ( καταγγέλλεται )

The different compounds of the simple verb ἀγγέλλω to announce , are interesting. The simple verb occurs only at Joh 20:18. Ἁναγγέλλειν is to report with the additional idea of bringing tidings up to or back to the person receiving them. So Joh 5:15. The impotent man brought back information to the Jews. Compare Mar 5:14. So Christ will send the Comforter, and He will bring back to the disciples tidings of things to come. Joh 16:13-15. See Act 14:27; 2Co 7:7; 1Pe 1:12.

Ἁπαγγέλλειν is to announce with a reference to the source from (ἀπό ) which the message comes So Mat 2:8; Act 12:14. Compare Luk 7:22; Luk 8:34, Act 5:22.

Καταγγέλλειν is to proclaim with authority, as commissioned to spread the tidings throughout , down among those that hear them, with the included idea of celebrating or commending . So here. Compare Act 16:21; Act 17:3. Thus in ἀναγγέλλειν the recipient of the news is contemplated; in ἀπαγγέλλειν the source ; in καταγγέλλειν the relation of the bearer and hearer of the message. The first is found mostly in John, Mark, and Acts; the second in the Synoptists and Acts; the third only. in the Acts and Paul.

Vincent: Rom 1:8 - Throughout the whole world

Throughout the whole world

Hyperbolical, but according with the position of the metropolitan church. Compare 1Th 1:8.

Wesley: Rom 1:8 - I thank

In the very entrance of this one epistle are the traces of all spiritual affections; but of thankfulness above all, with the expression of which almost all St. Paul's epistles begin. He here particularly thanks God, that what otherwise himself should have done, was done at Rome already.

Wesley: Rom 1:8 - My God

This very word expresses faith, hope, love, and consequently all true religion.

Wesley: Rom 1:8 - Through Jesus Christ

The gifts of God all pass through Christ to us; and all our petitions and thanksgivings pass through Christ to God.

Wesley: Rom 1:8 - That your faith is spoken of

In this kind of congratulations St. Paul describes either the whole of Christianity, as Col 1:3, &c.; or some part of it, as 1Co 1:5. Accordingly here he mentions the faith of the Romans, suitably to his design, Rom 1:12, Rom 1:17.

Wesley: Rom 1:8 - Through the whole world

This joyful news spreading everywhere, that there were Christians also in the imperial city. And the goodness and wisdom of God established faith in the chief cities; in Jerusalem and Rome particularly; that from thence it might be diffused to all nations.

JFB: Rom 1:8 - your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world

This was quite practicable through the frequent visits paid to the capital from all the provinces; and the apostle, having an eye to the influence they would exercise upon others, as well as their own blessedness, given thanks for such faith to "his God through Jesus Christ," as being the source, according to his theology of faith, as of all grace in men.

Clarke: Rom 1:8 - First, I thank my God

First, I thank my God - From this to the end of Rom 1:17 belongs to the preface, in which the apostle endeavors to conciliate the good opinion of the Christians at Rome, and to prepare their minds for his reproofs and exhortations

Clarke: Rom 1:8 - Your faith is spoken

Your faith is spoken - καταγγελλεται, is celebrated, throughout the whole world - in every place where the Christian religion is professed, through all parts of the Roman dominions; for in this sense we should understand the words, the whole world.

Calvin: Rom 1:8 - . I first // Through the whole world

8.. I first ²⁸ indeed, etc. Here the beginning commences, altogether adapted to the occasion, as he seasonably prepares them for receiving instruction by reasons connected with himself as well as with them. What he states respecting them is, the celebrity of their faith; for he intimates that they being honored with the public approbation of the churches, could not reject an Apostle of the Lord, without disappointing the good opinion entertained of them by all; and such a thing would have been extremely uncourteous and in a manner bordering on perfidy. As then this testimony justly induced the Apostle, by affording him an assurance of their obedience, to undertake, according to his office, to teach and instruct the Romans; so it held them bound not to despise his authority. With regard to himself, he disposes them to a teachable spirit by testifying his love towards them: and there is nothing more effectual in gaining credit to an adviser, than the impression that he is cordially anxious to consult our wellbeing.

The first thing worthy of remark is, that he so commends their faith, ²⁹ that he implies that it had been received from God. We are here taught that faith is God’s gift; for thanksgiving is an acknowledgment of a benefit. He who gives thanks to God for faith, confesses that it comes from him. And since we find that the Apostle ever begins his congratulations with thanksgiving, let us know that we are hereby reminded, that all our blessings are God’s free gifts. It is also needful to become accustomed to such forms of speaking, that we may be led more fully to rouse ourselves in the duty of acknowledging God as the giver of all our blessings, and to stir up others to join us in the same acknowledgment. If it be right to do this in little things, how much more with regard to faith; Which is neither a small nor an indiscriminate ( promiscua ) gift of God. We have here besides an example, that thanks ought to be given through Christ, according to the Apostle’s command in Heb 13:15; inasmuch as in his name we seek and obtain mercy from the Father. — I observe in the last place, that he calls him his God. This is the faithful’s special privilege, and on them alone God bestows this honor. There is indeed implied in this a mutual relationship, which is expressed in this promise,

“I will be to them a God;
they shall be to me a people.” (Jer 30:22.)

I prefer at the same time to confine this to the character which Paul sustained, as an attestation of his obedience to the end in the work of preaching the gospel. So Hezekiah called God the God of Isaiah, when he desired him to give him the testimony of a true and faithful Prophet. (Isa 37:4.) So also he is called in an especial manner the God of Daniel. (Dan 6:20.)

Through the whole world The eulogy of faithful men was to Paul equal to that of the whole world, with regard to the faith of the Romans; for the unbelieving, who deemed it detestable, could not have given an impartial or a correct testimony respecting it. We then understood that it was by the mouths of the faithful that the faith of the Romans was proclaimed through the whole world; and that they were alone able to judge rightly of it, and to pronounce a correct opinion. That this small and despised handful of men were unknown as to their character to the ungodly, even at Rome, was a circumstance he regarded as nothing; for Paul made no account of their judgment.

TSK: Rom 1:8 - I thank // through // that your // the whole

I thank : Rom 6:17

through : Eph 3:21, Eph 5:20; Phi 1:11; Heb 13:15; 1Pe 2:5, 1Pe 4:11

that your : Rom 16:19; 1Th 1:8, 1Th 1:9

the whole : Mat 24:14; Luk 2:1; Act 11:28

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rom 1:8 - First // Throughout the whole world

First here, is not a word of order, for there follows no secondly, &c.; but it serves to show, that here the Epistle begins, for all before was but a preface or inscription: q.d. In the first place. See the like, 1Ti 2:1 .

Throughout the whole world that is, through many parts of it; it is a figurative speech: see the like, Joh 12:19 . Or else, by the whole world may be understood the Roman empire, which ruled at that time over a great part of the known world. See the like, Luk 2:1 . Besides, there was a resort to Rome from all parts of the world, and so this report might be diffused far and near. The faith of the gospel at Rome made it more famous than all its victories and triumphs. Oh, how is Rome degenerated! We may take up the complaint concerning her which we find, Isa 1:11,12 . The Romanists urge this place to prove Rome the mother church; but without reason: the church of Thessalonica had as high a eulogy: see 1Th 1:8 .

Haydock: Rom 1:8 - In the whole world

In the whole world. That is, to all, or almost all the Roman empire. (Witham)

Gill: Rom 1:8 - First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all // that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world

First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all,.... After the inscription and salutation, follows a thanksgiving, which begins the epistle: it is usual with the apostle in all his epistles to make requests for the churches, with thanksgivings for mercies; his view in it was, to glorify God, to testify his affection to the saints, and to show that all they had must be referred to the grace of God. The object of thanksgiving is God not merely as a creator and preserver, but as a Father, the Father of Christ, and our Father in Christ; as the one God, and our God, Father, Son, and Spirit. The apostle styles him, my God; which distinguishes him from all others, points out his particular interest in him, expresses his knowledge of him and faith in him, and demonstrates that what he did now, he did in faith. The person through whom thanks are given is Jesus Christ. There is no coming to God but through Christ, nor is any sacrifice either of prayer or praise acceptable without him, and since all we have come through him, it is but reasonable that thanks for them should be returned by and through him; the persons for whom this thanksgiving is made were all the Romans, all the saints at Rome, the members of the church there, of whatsoever rank and degree, and in whatsoever, state and condition; the thing for which the apostle was thankful for particularly was, not that their city was mistress of the whole world, and their fame for power, wealth, and grandeur, was spread abroad far and near; but, says he,

that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world; which shows that faith is a grace of great account: God has put an honour upon it, by making it the receiver of all his gifts, and that gives glory to God, and without it nothing is acceptable to him; it answers many excellent uses and purposes in experience; it is that by which saints live upon Christ in this world, and look to the glories of another. This also shows that the saints at Rome did not hide their faith in their breasts, but declared it to others; a public profession both of the grace and doctrine of faith is to be made, and constantly held; both are to be shown forth to others, by deeds as well as words; which greatly redounds to the honour of such churches, causes joy in other churches, and in all the ministers of the Gospel, and is the occasion of many thanksgivings to God.