14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Paul in verse 1 stated in very strong terms that he was a slave to Jesus Christ. He was literally owned by Christ, dedicated to Christ, and lived for Christ. Jesus Christ was his master. Paul described briefly how the gospel of God was written about in the scriptures and was not some new religion he was founding. The Messiah was spoken of in the scriptures, prophesied about, and was expected by the Jewish people. Jesus was that Messiah, but He was not for the Jews only. Jesus had come for God’s people all over the world. Jews and Gentiles alike. Jesus was calling people for God from all nations, from all people groups, and from every language of the world.
Now, Paul in verse 14 is telling us that he doesn’t just preach as a volunteer, nor does he do the work of an evangelist out of a vocational interest or even a general need to help people and minister to them. Paul uses a very strong word meaning that he is obligated, or indebted, to all people. This is not a psychological compulsion, but a divine call.[1] Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 says the same thing to the Corinthian church. 6 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! The gospel for Paul is not a vocational choice, or a volunteer work. It is a necessity, an obligation. Another way of translating this word is “in debt.” Paul was in debt to those who he had been called to preach. Briscoe and Ogilvie put it this way: Read the rest of this entry »
