Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 1:5

"through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name`s sake;" — Romans 1:5 (ASV)

By whom. The apostle here returns to the subject of the salutation of the Romans, and states to them his authority to address them. That authority he had derived from the Lord Jesus, and not from man. On this fact, that he had received his apostolic commission not from man, but by the direct authority of Jesus Christ, Paul often insisted. Galatians 1:12, For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:1–8; Ephesians 3:1–3.

We. The plural here is probably used for the singular. See Colossians 4:3.

Compare Ephesians 6:19-20. It was usual for those who were clothed with authority to express themselves in this manner. Perhaps here, however, he refers to the general nature of the apostolic office, as being derived from Jesus Christ, and intends to assure the Romans that he had received the apostolic commission as the others had. "We, the apostles, have received the appointment from Jesus Christ."

Grace and apostleship. Many suppose that this is a figure of speech, hendiadys, by which one thing is expressed by two words, meaning the grace or favour of the apostolic office. Such a figure of speech is often used. But it may mean, as it probably does here, the two things: grace, or the favour of God to his own soul, as a personal matter; and the apostolic office as a distinct thing. He often, however, speaks of the office of the apostleship as a matter of special favour, Romans 15:15–16; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:7–9.

For obedience to the faith. In order to produce or promote obedience to the faith; that is, to induce people to render that obedience to God which faith produces. Two things are therefore implied:

1. That the design of the gospel and of the apostleship is to induce people to obey God.
2. That the tendency of faith is to produce obedience. There is no true faith which does not produce that. This is constantly affirmed in the New Testament, Romans 15:18; Romans 16:19; 2 Corinthians 7:15; James 2:1.

Among all nations. This was the original commission which Jesus gave to his apostles, Mark 16:15–16; Matthew 28:18–19.

This was the special commission which Paul received when he was converted, Acts 9:15. It was important to show that the commission extended this far, as he was now addressing a distant church which he had not seen.

For his name. This probably means on his account; that is, on account of Christ, John 14:13–14; John 16:23–24.

The design of the apostleship was to produce obedience to the gospel among all nations, so that the name of Jesus might be honoured. Their work was not one in which they were seeking to honour themselves, but it was solely for the honour and glory of Jesus Christ. For him they toiled, they encountered perils, they laid down their lives, because by doing so they might bring people to obey the gospel, and thus Jesus Christ might wear a brighter crown, and be attended by a longer and more splendid train of worshippers in the kingdom of his glory.