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Unashamed of the Gospel
This part of Romans combines warm thanks, steady prayer, a desire to visit, and a bold statement about the Good News. The writer explains why he wants to come to Rome and why he is not ashamed of the gospel.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In Romans 1:8–17, the writer addresses believers in Rome in the form of a letter. He thanks God for them, speaks about praying for them and wanting to visit, then explains his eagerness to preach the Good News and what that Good News reveals.
Romans 1:8–17Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the writer is eager and unashamed to proclaim the Good News because it is God’s power for salvation for everyone who believes and because in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Thanks to God and prayer for a visitThe passage begins with thanks to God through Jesus Christ because the faith of these believers is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.
Explanation
The passage begins with thanks to God through Jesus Christ because the faith of these believers is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. The writer says God is witness to his constant prayers for them. In those prayers, he asks that by God’s will he may at last come to them.
02A visit meant to strengthen and encourageThe writer longs to see them so that he may impart some spiritual gift with the goal that they may be established.
Explanation
The writer longs to see them so that he may impart some spiritual gift with the goal that they may be established. He then explains this more fully. The visit would not be one-way help only, because each would be encouraged by the other’s faith, both theirs and his.
03Planned before, hindered so farHe does not want them to be unaware that he has often planned to come, but has been hindered so far.
Explanation
He does not want them to be unaware that he has often planned to come, but has been hindered so far. He hopes to have some fruit among them also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. He then describes himself as a debtor to Greeks and foreigners, wise and foolish.
04Eager and unashamed about the Good NewsBecause of this sense of obligation, the writer is eager to preach the Good News to those in Rome also.
Explanation
Because of this sense of obligation, the writer is eager to preach the Good News to those in Rome also. He is not ashamed of the Good News of Christ because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
05What the Good News revealsThe reason continues in verse 17. In the Good News, God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith.
Explanation
The reason continues in verse 17. In the Good News, God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith. The passage then supports this by quoting, “But the righteous shall live by faith.” The emphasis stays on faith as the way this righteousness and life are spoken about here.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does the writer thank God for the believers in Rome?
Answer from Romans 1:8, which gives the reason in terms of what is being proclaimed about their faith.
02How does the writer show that the visit would bring encouragement both ways?
Compare Romans 1:11 with Romans 1:12 and notice how he explains being established alongside mutual encouragement by each other’s faith.
03What reasons does the passage give for being unashamed of the Good News?
Use the wording of Romans 1:16–17 about God’s power for salvation, everyone who believes, and God’s righteousness being revealed from faith to faith.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 1:8–17
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.
11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;
12that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
13Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (and was hindered so far), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.
16For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
17For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”