To Jew and Gentile

Acts 9:15; 19:21; 23:11; 28:28-31; Romans 1:13-16; 15:22-24

GOLDEN TEXT: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.”—Romans 1:14

WITH the exception of the first, the texts for today refer to Paul’s visit and ministry to the brethren at Rome. The first verse tells of the Lord’s purpose at the time of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, to use him as a “chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Paul’s own account of his previous activities when, as a representative of the Jewish hierarchy, he was engaged in the persecution of the Christians, indicates the unusual degree of initiative and zeal he possessed. (Acts 26:9-11) These natural qualities, and his reverence for God, would specially prepare him for the particular service of the Gospel message to which he was appointed by the Lord.

In every age, no doubt, God has had similar characters to act as leaders in carrying on his work. In the case of Paul the special visions and revelations which were shown him, together with his thorough knowledge of the law and the prophecies, gave him such assurance with respect to his message, and its success in finding and developing those who should constitute the body of Christ, that all else—the ordinary pursuits of human life—seemed of comparatively little importance. If one would be much used in the Lord’s service it is necessary that this view be gained and resolutely held; and to gain it and hold it, the same course pursued by Paul must be ours. We, too, must view the future with the same concentration that he expressed—“Forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto the things that are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”—Phil. 3:13,14

While Paul was in Corinth he found an opportunity to send a message to the brethren at Rome by one of the disciples who was about to sail there. His use of this opportunity resulted in the Epistle to the Romans. It is not known how the Church at Rome was started. It was probably one of the results of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; for on that occasion there were present “strangers of Rome.” (Acts 2:10) These probably returned to Rome with the blessings of the Gospel, began to live Christian lives and to preach the truth to others; and a company of believers, even in the midst of that corrupt city, was the result of that witness.

In this epistle Paul expresses his joy over their spiritual prosperity, tells them that he continually remembers them in prayer, and also is praying that he will have an opportunity of meeting them personally, to the end that he may impart unto them some spiritual gift (probably gifts of interpretations, tongues, etc., some of which were given to many of the early Christians by laying on of the apostles’ hands), that so they might be established and progress more rapidly in the knowledge and work of the Lord.

It is in this connection that our Golden Text occurs. It is a peculiar statement, quite beyond the understanding of all except those who feel as did Paul, that they have an important commission from the Lord to proclaim his message of grace, and that every evidence of success in this ministry is to be greatly appreciated. Paul says, “I am, debtor (I am under obligation) both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise.” Why? Because they had done something for him? No, but because God through Christ had done something for them, and Paul, as the servant of God, was charged with the commission to preach the Gospel—to be his witness unto all nations.

Paul consistently taught that the work of the Gospel age is the selection of the church from among Jews and Gentiles—in all “a little flock.” (Luke 12:32; Eph. 4:12; Psa. 116:15) These, he points out are to constitute, with Jesus, their Head, the “firstfruits” unto God; their selection to be followed by the millennial reign of Christ for the development of the afterfruits, the dead as well as the living who shall become “Christ’s at his presence”—by obedience to his gracious and just rule.—John 12:32; I Corinthians 15:22,23

All through the New Testament this distinction is made between the church and its special blessings and place in God’s plan, and the blessings for the world to follow. The Gospel message was to be preached “in all the world for a witness unto all nations.” (Matt 24:14) And it is one of the evidences that we are now living in the “end” or harvest of the Gospel age, that this worldwide witness is a matter of history—the “sowing” for the Gospel age having been accomplished while the reaping of the Jewish harvest was progressing to a consummation. But in the end of the age, the harvest, another worldwide witness was to be given. This was to be a special message, a declaration of the fact that the Lord was present supervising matters in the earth preparatory to the establishment of his. kingdom—“The hour of his judgment is come”; “Babylon is fallen”; “Come out of her, my people.”—Rev. 3:20; 14:6,7,8; 18:4

QUESTIONS:

Under what circumstances was the Epistle, to the Romans written?

In what sense is the Gospel for both Jews and Gentiles?

Has the foretold worldwide “witness to all nations” been accomplished? If so, what does that fact signify?

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