Romans 1:14: I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
That is, “I am under obligation to preach to all classes of men.” Paul’s commission was a general one, confined to no one nation and to no particular class. Greeks and Barbarians means “all nations”; the wise and the foolish means “all classes.” The Greek word for “Barbarians” means foreigners, those of another language. 1
He does not know them, has not borrowed from them, and has not received anything from them. Instead, he has an apostolic obligation to them. The principle that Jesus made binding on his disciples had become binding on Paul: Christ’s purpose in giving a gift to one disciple was that he/she might give it to another. 2
Application
- Do you feel a sense of an obligation from God to bring His Gospel to others?
- What gift has God given to you, that He wants you to give to others?
Prayer
Lord, may Your grace in my life bring a greater sense of spiritual obligation to others.
1. Hodge, C. (1993). Romans. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
2. Toews, J. E. (2004). Romans. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.
