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Paul: A “Roman” Desiring To Be in Rome

A man named Paul wrote the New Testament letter of Romans (Ro 1:1). Paul, himself, was a Jew. But because he was born in a city of the Roman Empire called Tarsus, he was considered a Roman citizen (Tarsus was located in present-day southern Turkey and was an important commercial, education, and travel center of the Empire).

As you begin to read through the first part of Romans 1, you discover that Paul, even though a “Roman citizen,” never had been to Rome (1:13). If many of you are like me, you then have never been to Washington, D.C. (even though I’ve long desired to visit and view the sights). Even though I’m 33 years old and have never been to our nation’s capital, I still consider myself a citizen of the United States. Paul was in the same situation, except his purpose was not merely to see the sights. He writes, “I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong--that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (1:11). His strong desire was to share his faith in Christ Jesus and to strengthen that faith right alongside the Roman Christians. For it was Christ Jesus who sent Paul to “harvest” for him among the Romans and others (1:13; Acts 9:15, Acts 22:14-16), just as Jesus had sent out other disciples in his own ministry (Luke 10:2).

I pray it is your longing to be mutually encouraged and strengthened in your Christian faith along with me by God’s Word through this letter of Romans.  Enjoy your staycation in God's Word with a "Summer in Rome!"

"Summer in Rome" Reading: Romans 1-2

Further Bible Reading: Acts 21- 23 (additional background on the life of Paul)

Reveling in Romans, Pastor Andy