The Agent & Object of Paul’s Apostleship

Romans 1:5

5Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

(Verse 5) - 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 not infrequently insisted. (Gal. 1:12, “for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Eph. 3:1-3).

We - The plural here is probably put for the singular; (see Col. 4:3; compare Eph. 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 designs 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.’ Thus the “we” refers only to Paul, since it is qualified by the sphere of his ministry, to the nations or the Gentiles. The reception of grace by Paul was in the form of the salvation God gave him in response to his faith. As a saved man he was appointed as an apostle, an ambassador. He was given the office of an apostle.

Grace and apostleship - Many suppose that this is a figure of speech, (a “hendiadys,”) by which one thing is expressed by two words, meaning the grace or favor of the apostolic office. Such a figure of speech is often used. But it may mean, as it does probably here, the two things, grace, or the favor 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 favor, (Rom. 15:15-16; Gal. 2:9; Eph. 3:7-9).

For obedience to the faith – As to the meaning of the words, “for obedience to the faith,” scholars differ. Some say that it means obedience to the Faith, the Christian system of belief, as in Acts 6:7 where a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Others say that obedience is the obedience which springs from and is produced by faith. One writer interprets it as meaning the obedience which springs from faith. Another defines it as “the obedience which characterizes and proceeds from faith.” Yet a third defines it as “the obedience which consists in faith.” One Greek scholar translates, “obedience to the faith,” and defines the faith, not as the gospel which is to be believed but the state of salvation in which men stand by faith, in order to produce, or promote obedience to the faith; that is, to induce them to render that obedience to God which faith produces. There are two things therefore implied.

(1) That the design of the gospel and of the apostleship is to induce men 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, (Rom. 15:18; 16:19; 2 Cor 7:15; James 2).

“For” is a preposition often speaking of purpose or result, here used in the sense of the words “in order to bring about.” “Nations” is here, the Gentiles. Paul was appointed an apostle in order that through his ministry there might be brought about an obedience which springs from faith, or an obedience to the Faith, among the Gentiles. If we take the former interpretation as correct, then Paul’s commission was to bring about a general obedience among the Gentiles that springs from faith, if the latter, then his commission was to bring about an obedience to the Christian Faith among the Gentiles. The latter is more specific and definitive of that kind of a commission God would give Paul. He would not be given a commission in such indefinite terms. While not at all insisting upon the latter meaning, the writer suggests it as more in keeping with the context. Alford remarks that the construction here is like that in II Corinthians 10:5 where the a.v. has “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” The word “Christ” is objective genitive. It receives the action of the noun of action, “obedience.” The translation could read “obedience to Christ.” “Faith” is objective genitive, and receives the action from the noun of action, “obedience,” and we have, “in order to bring about obedience to the faith among the Gentiles.”

Among all nations - This was the original commission which Jesus gave to his apostles, (Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 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 thus far, as he was now addressing a distant church which he had not seen.

For his name – “For” is “for the sake of, in behalf of.” The words “The Name” are an Old Testament expression speaking of all that God is in His being, His majesty, glory, power, holiness, righteousness. It is used in the sense of character or reputation. For instance, “that man has a name for honesty.” That is, he has a reputation for honesty. That is his character.

So, Paul says that he was appointed as an apostle in order to bring about obedience to the Faith among the Gentiles in view of all that the Lord Jesus is in His glorious Person, that is, in honor or recognition of all that He is, and for His sake. It was a service of love in recognition of all that Jesus is in Himself and for His sake.  So, this means probably “on his account,” that is, on account of Christ, (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24). The design of the apostleship was to produce obedience to the gospel among all nations, that thus the name of Jesus might be honored. Their work was not one in which they were seeking to honor themselves, but it was solely for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. For him they toiled, they encountered perils, they laid down their lives, because by so doing 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.

I need to order my priorities to be sure that I am serving the purposes of God to the best and purest extent.