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I. THE AUTHOR.

1. Paul, once called Saul, of Tarsus, a citizen of no mean city, a Benjamite, of pure Hebrew extraction, well trained in a knowledge of the Scriptures, a free citizen of the Roman empire, acquainted with the literature of Greece, by nature endowed with great force of intellect, passion, and resoluteness, of bold and ambitious spirit, a Pharisee of the austerest type, zealous for the law, and hating its enemies, real or supposed.

2. Yet a servant of Jesus Christ, by a free, rational subjection. He stood before his Lord, like the angels which stand before the throne of God, or like nobles in the court of a mighty prince. How was this?

3. He received grace for his own salvation's sake; and apostleship to bring about the salvation of others.

4. He was an apostle to the Gentiles: while Peter and the other eleven were apostles to the Jews.

II. THE PERSONS ADDRESSED. The letter was written in 58. Think what Rome was at that period — much like London at the close of the last century, only without its Christianity. Its population exceeded two millions, half of whom were slaves. Many families were amazingly rich and luxurious: but far more, among the freemen, were as lazy as they were proud, and as poor as they were lazy. The population was low sunk in misery and sensual degradation. In religion, the vulgar were besotted polytheists and the philosophers avowed atheists. The Jews occupied a quarter apart from the rest of the city. It is not known by whom that Church was founded, but probably by some of the strangers from Rome who were in Jerusalem at Pentecost, and was composed principally of Gentile converts. To these would be added such Jewish converts as had effectually separated themselves from the synagogue. The Church seems to have been one of singular purity, spirituality, and strength. Its disciples were "beloved of God"; His "chosen saints." And the Church needs to be built up in its holy faith. It is not enough to hear of Christ and believe in Him; to be converted and witness a good confession; but to be fully instructed in the apostle's doctrine, and to continue in it, that we may grow up to the full stature of a perfect man in Christ.

III. THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE EPISTLE.

1. It is an exposition of what is contained in the prophets. Here is no new thing, but the historic verification and doctrinal development of what the prophets declared.

2. It concerns the glad tidings of God, which relate all to the salvation wrought out for men by Jesus Christ, who —

(1) Was a true man, and a lineal descendant of David, the ancient king of Israel.

(2) Had also a Divine nature, called here the Spirit of holiness, because it made Him absolutely immaculate; and because by it He dwells in the hearts of His people to make them holy. By this nature He was God's coeternal Son. Such had He announced Himself when living, and His claim was demonstrated, by irresistible evidence, by His resurrection from the dead.

(3) Wills His gospel to be proclaimed among all nations.

IV. THE SPIRIT OF THE WHOLE. This comes out in the benediction and salutation of ver. 7.

1. "Grace" is Divine favour. Its fruit and effect is "peace," which comprehends all gospel blessedness.

2. Grace and peace come from God the Father, and God the Son.

(T. G. Horton.)

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KJV: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

WEB: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,