John Calvin 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)

I first indeed, etc. Here the beginning starts, completely suited to the occasion, as he appropriately prepares them to receive instruction with reasons connected to himself as well as to them. What he states concerning them is the renown of their faith. He suggests that since they were honored with the public approval of the churches, they could not reject an Apostle of the Lord without disappointing the good opinion everyone held of them. Such an action would have been extremely discourteous and bordering on treachery.

Therefore, as this testimony rightly led the Apostle, by giving him an assurance of their obedience, to undertake, in accordance with his office, the teaching and instruction of the Romans, so it also obligated them not to despise his authority. Concerning himself, he encourages a teachable spirit in them by expressing his love for them; and nothing is more effective in gaining credibility for an adviser than the impression that he is sincerely concerned for our well-being.

The first thing worthy of note is that he commends their faith in such a way that he implies it was received from God. We are taught here that faith is God’s gift, for thanksgiving is an acknowledgment of a benefit. He who gives thanks to God for faith confesses that it comes from Him.

And since we find that the Apostle always begins his congratulations with thanksgiving, let us understand that this reminds us that all our blessings are God’s free gifts. It is also necessary to accustom ourselves to such ways of speaking, so that we may be more fully stirred to the duty of acknowledging God as the giver of all our blessings, and to encourage others to join us in the same acknowledgment. If it is right to do this in small matters, how much more so with regard to faith, which is neither a small nor an indiscriminate (promiscua) gift of God. Besides this, we have an example here that thanks ought to be given through Christ, according to the Apostle’s command in Hebrews 13:15, because it is in His name that we seek and obtain mercy from the Father. —Finally, I observe that he calls Him his God. This is the special privilege of the faithful, and God bestows this honor on them alone. Indeed, a mutual relationship is implied in this, which is expressed in this promise:

“I will be to them a God;
they shall be to me a people.” (Jeremiah 30:22).

At the same time, I prefer to limit this to the role Paul maintained, as a testimony to his obedience to the end in the work of preaching the gospel. Thus, Hezekiah called God the God of Isaiah when he desired Isaiah to give him the testimony of a true and faithful Prophet (Isaiah 37:4). So also, He is called in a special manner the God of Daniel (Daniel 6:20).

Through the whole world. The praise from faithful people was, to Paul, equivalent to that of the whole world regarding the faith of the Romans; for the unbelieving, who considered it detestable, could not have given an impartial or correct testimony about it. We then understand that it was by the mouths of the faithful that the faith of the Romans was proclaimed through the whole world, and that only they were able to judge it rightly and pronounce a correct opinion. The fact that this small and despised handful of people were unknown in their character to the ungodly, even in Rome, was a circumstance he regarded as insignificant, for Paul took no account of their judgment.