Romans 1:7

Romans 1:7 [AV]
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

ANNOTATED NOTES:

Rome: per God’s direction, that was the first place it was sent, but ALL the Church Epistles were encyclicals, where they would be copied by scribes at the initial location, and then passed along to the next city, where they would be copied and sent to the next city, etc. Romans is written TO all those called of Jesus Christ, called saints, beloved of God, born again of God’s spirit, no matter where on the face of the earth they live (see 1 Cor 1:2).

beloved: indicates strong endearment; same word is used by God in vocally expressing tender love to and for His only begotten Son (see Mtt 3:17; 17:5; Mk 1:11; 9:7; Lk 3:22; 9:35)

to be: not in the Greek text

saints = hagios: saints, holy ones (translated “holy” 161x in the AV); the verb form of this word, hagiazo, is often translated “sanctify”, meaning to “set apart”; we are set apart by and for God, Who is Holy, when we receive His gift of holy spirit by believing (not by works). Another Church Epistle, 1 Corinthians, states in 1:2 that it is TO “the church…them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord”. Biblically, being a “saint” isn't based on what one does on the outside, but on what one has on the inside: the gift of holy spirit (see 1 Cor 6:11; Rom 15:16; Eph 5:25-27).

grace….peace: without exception, this combination is found in the salutation of each of the Church Epistles. God is the Giver of grace and peace, and they come to us through Jesus Christ as the mediator. Grace was a typical Greek/Gentile greeting, and peace (shalom) was a traditional Jewish greeting – certainly a doubly appropriate greeting for all saints, whether Jew or Gentile, whether then or now

grace = charis: unmerited, undeserved divine favor, from God to man. Grace is God, Who is love, at work on our behalf, not because of us but in spite of us

peace: an inner state of undisturbed well-being.

ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATION:

Romans 1:7 [NASB]
to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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