Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 1:8

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world." — Romans 1:8 (ASV)

The salutation has been unusually long; but instead of moving on immediately to his main theme, the apostle still lingers over introductory matters. Doubtless he felt the need to get acquainted, so to speak, by unburdening his own heart about what his readers meant to him. It is a shining example of his pastoral concern mingled with his gracious sensitivity.

First of all, Paul customarily expresses his thanks to God for his readers. His thanksgiving for the Roman believers is based on their faith (cf. Ephesians 1:15–16; Colossians 1:3–4; 1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Not without reason Paul had become known in Christendom as the apostle of faith. To him, faith was the basic Christian virtue, and he was eager to commend it wherever he saw it. Here his commendation is exceedingly generous, even hyperbolic. The whole world has heard of their faith (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:8). Paul’s thanksgiving is followed by a statement concerning his prayer—both intercession for them and a special plea that his hope of coming to them would be realized, provided it is God’s will.

But why should Paul find it necessary to summon God as his witness that he had been faithful in praying for the Roman believers? He only does this when the thing he is claiming is difficult to believe. Here there are two reasons. Since he claims to have been praying repeatedly, it seems almost too much to expect of a man who did not know most of these people. Furthermore, as he would tell his readers later (15:25), he was about to leave for Jerusalem, and this could give the appearance that he was not putting the Roman believers first in his plans.