- It is an intercessory prayer here, for them. He wants to visit them and have fellowship
- Paul also affirms that it is only the will of God which can get him there, prosper in his ministry and prosper his ministry with them
(Romans 1:11)
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
- He has not been there yet, but wants to be
- He is not the one who gives gifts; that is the job of the Holy Ghost
- Paul merely wants to use his gift to bless them and this is where the context of any verse determines the meaning of that verse
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
(1 Corinthians 12:6)
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and
the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
(Romans 1:12)
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
- Mutual faith means in Jesus Christ
- The comfort comes from knowing someone believes in the LORD Jesus Christ, as a brother or sister in Christ
- "Comforted together' is also mutual comfort, so that makes mutual comfort, mutual faith
(Romans 1:13)
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
- "I would not have you ignorant" as in, "I want you to know"
- Either this fruit was his to share, or theirs for him to witness in themselves, or both
- The Holy Ghost or the enemy prevented him from visiting them, until the opportune time
LET, v.t. pret. and pp. let. Letted is obsolete. [To let out, like L. elocare, is to lease.]
- To permit; to allow; to suffer; to give leave or power by a positive act, or negatively, to withhold restraint; not to prevent.
A leaky ship lets water enter into the hold. Let is followed by the infinitive without the sign to.
Pharaoh said, I will let you go. Exo 8.
When the ship was caught and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. Acts 27.
- To lease; to grant possession and use for a compensation; as, to let to farm; to let an estate for a year; to let a room to lodgers; often followed by out, as, to let out a farm; but the use of out is unnecessary.
- To suffer; to permit; with the usual sign of the infinitive.
There's a letter for you, Sir, if your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. [Not used.]
- In the imperative mode, let has the following uses. Followed by the first and third persons, it expresses desire or wish; hence it is used in prayer and entreaty to superiors, and to those who have us in their power; as, let me not wander from thy commandments. Psa 119.
Followed by the first person plural, let expresses exhortation or entreaty; as, rise, let us go.
Followed by the third person, it implies permission or command addressed to an inferior.
Let him go, let them remain, are commands addressed to the second person. Let thou, or let ye, that is, do thou or you permit him to go. Sometimes let is used to express a command or injunction to a third person. When the signal is given to engage, let every man do his duty.
When applied to things not rational, it implies allowance or concession. O'er golden sands let rich Pactolus flow.
- To retard; to hinder; to impede; to interpose obstructions. 2 Th 2.
[This sense is now obsolete, or nearly so.]
To let alone, to leave; to suffer to remain without intermeddling; as, let alone this idle project; let me alone.
To let down, to permit to sink or fall; to lower.
She let them down by a cord through the window. Josh 2.
To let loose, to free from restraint; to permit to wander at large.
To let in or into, to permit or suffer to enter; to admit. Open the door, let in my friend. We are not let into the secrets of the cabinet.
To let blood, to open a vein and suffer the blood to flow out.
To let out, to suffer to escape; also, to lease or let to hire.
To let off, to discharge, to let fly, as an arrow; or cause to explode, as a gun.
LET, v.i. To forbear. Obs.
LET, n. A retarding; hinderance; obstacle; impediment; delay. [Obsolete, unless in some technical phrases.]
LET, a termination of diminutives; as hamlet, a little house; rivulet, a small stream. [See Little.]
(1 Thessalonians 2:18)
Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
(Romans 15:22)
For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
(Romans 1:14)
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
- One of two consecutive uses of the phrase "I am", here and verse 15
- The Greeks were the same as the Romans here, speaking from the empire perspective
- A Barbarian here simply means a foreigner, as in foreign from the Roman Empire
- So this really means a Roman and a metropolitan, Roman citizen who is civilized, versus a Roman foreigner who is maybe not as civilized, and conquered
BARBA'RIAN, n. [L. barbarus;. The sense is, foreign, wild, fierce.]
- A man in his rude, savage state; an uncivilized person.
- A cruel, savage, brutal man; one destitute of pity or humanity.
- A foreigner. The Greeks and Romans denominated most foreign nations barbarians; and many of these were less civilized than themselves, or unacquainted with their language, laws and manners. But with them,the word was less reproachful than with us.
BARBA'RIAN a. Belonging to savages; rude; uncivilized.,
(Romans 1:15)
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
- This "as much as in me is" is just ministry from the heart, all of the heart and nothing but the heart
- The Gospel here is a combination of two words, "God" + "Spell", as in God's Word, because he was writing to them indicating that many were saved, throughout the epistle, so just preaching the Gospel would not be necessary to all of the Roman church.
- To others unsaved there, (many), it WAS indeed and in fact the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ
(Romans 1:16)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- Two "I am"s and now what "I am not"
- To the Jew first is how it was offered, the order
- The Gentile ministry was started after, mainly through Paul and Silas (Acts 15-end)
(Romans 1:17)
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
- God's righteousness is revealed in faith and belief of the Gospel, to Heaven, or rejection of it, to hell
- This again starts the repetition of the explanation of the facts of the Gospel of salvation, reconciliation and justification, coming throughout this entire epistle
- This verse is part of the 95 theses that Martin Luther nailed onto the door of the Monastery at Wittenberg Germany October 31, 1517.
- This comes from Habakkuk 2:4 and is quoted by Paul in Galatians and Hebrews also
(Habakkuk 2:4)
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
(Galatians 3:11)
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
(Hebrews 10:38)
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
(Romans 1:18)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
- The Gospel, in saying that man deserves death, is started with the Fall, the first command and the first disobedience.
- Since then, mankind, in his flesh, has only shown that God was correct in condemning the first couple as unrighteous without Him
- This is not just anger, but the righteous wrath and indignation of judgment in hell and the eventual (soon) destruction of earth in Revelation
- They suppress the truth, by burning Scriptures, destroying Christian literature, oppressing Christians in the public arena, persecuting Christians
(Romans 1:19)
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
- The reason is because man denies God, as atheists, evolutionists, ungodly, immoral
- What "that which may be known" here is that He is, Who He is and what He did for us
- It is internal to all mankind that God exists...it takes false, pagan indoctrination to get one to disbelieve in God, from an early age
- That said, that does not mean they want to seek The One True God, but a god of their own choosing, as God has to draw them to Himself and they must respond in faith
(Romans 1:20)
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
- Those invisible things are elements, microscopic organisms, atoms, the spiritual, angelic realm
- The miracles are also invisible to the unbeliever, and yet clearly seen
- The Flood is past history, unseen to us as an event, yet clearly seen in the fossil record
(2 Peter 3:10)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
(2 Peter 3:12)
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
(Romans 1:21)
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
- Seeing God in Creation, and then with a true heart of belief seeing God the Son as one's Savior is a choice which leads to two different heart conditions-either thanksfulness or thanklessness
- Glorifying God the Creator as God, as opposed to glorifying anything else in God's creation as God, glorifying God as something other than God (a god or gods), glorifying man as God
(Romans 1:22)
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
- People worship their intellect
- Today, "Only smart people know belief in God is for dummies!"
- Today, "Only dumb people believe in God!!"
- Those who reject God and worship the intellect, the "science" will call anyone who believes in Creation "anti-science!" or "anti-intellectual!" or "anti-knowledge!"
- The rejection the Creator of the Creation then leads down a logical path here, about to be laid out by Paul. This path is for individuals or for societies
- Wisdom should never be confused with education, "smarts", "intellect", or the wisdom of this world
- Fifteen thousand doctor degrees have zero to do with godly wisdom, truth.....as you can learn a lot of useless material and attain degrees by passing classes
(Romans 1:23)
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
- Uncorruptible because God cannot be touched, seen, let alone destroyed, and this is part of God's Glory, God the Creator is the Only True God!
- Corruptible is any idol, which can be smashed with a hammer, burned up in a fire, etc.-it is not a true god
- This happens because man is, even in his own words, "inherently religious", and hides behind that worship by calling it other names that make them appear "intellectual"
- One's intellect aside, God calls a fool a fool, smart fool or dumb fool-a fool is a fool!
(Romans 1:24)
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
- God gave them up because they gave him up and they wanted to be given up.
- This is identical to Pharaoh hardening his heart, and God hardening it (allowing it to harden itself, according to Pharaoh's own wishes that it be hard)
- This is one and the same action, God and Pharaoh hardening Pharaoh's heart
(Exodus 7:13)
And he (God) hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
(Exodus 8:15)
But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
(Romans 1:25)
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
- This "changing the truth of God into a lie" is things like creation into evolution, the flood fossils turned into "proof of evolution", thousands of years turned into "millions and billions of years"
- The next rung down on the ladder is idolatry, making idols to the creation, like figurines, statues, monuments to people and animals, not for study, but rather for worship
(Romans 1:26)
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
- The next rung down is strange flesh lust, fornication
- Giving them up is handing them over to their own desires, lusts, wants
- Mankind today calls it "alternative" and "marriage"...God calls it "vile affections", "against nature", etc.
(Romans 1:27)
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
- This goes for both genders, and again God calls it "against nature"
REC'OMPENSE, v.t.
- To compensate; to make return of an equivalent for any thing given, done or suffered; as, to recompense a person for services, for fidelity or for sacrifices of time, for loss or damages. The word is followed by the person or the service. We recompense a person for his services, or we recompense his kindness. It is usually found more easy to neglect than to recompense a favor.
- To require; to repay; to return an equivalent; in a bad sense.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Rom 12.
- To make an equivalent return in profit or produce. The labor of man is recompensed by the fruits of the earth.
- To compensate; to make amends by any thing equivalent.
Solyman - said he would find occasion for them to recompense that disgrace.
- To make restitution or an equivalent return for. Num 5.
REC'OMPENSE, n.
- An equivalent returned for any thing given, done or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; as a recompense for services, for damages, for loss, etc.
- Requital; return of evil or suffering or other equivalent; as a punishment.
To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. Deu 32.
- And every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward. Heb 2.
(Romans 1:28)
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
- It is one thing to not know God, or know much about God, but it is quite another to know God and decide to "unknow" (not like to retain) God in one's knowledge
- Again, same a Pharaoh, God 'gave them over" to "a reprobate mind", which was their mind to start with, by choice
- "Even as" indicates "BECAUSE", or at the same moment, at the moment of decision
(Romans 1:29)
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
- So we start with everything (all unrighteousness) as a whole, then itemized
- Fornication: ANY sex outside of the marriage bed, as defined in Genesis 2
- God uses unrighteousness, then right after that wickedness
- Covetousness: Strong and unhealthy desire to want things you do not have, lots of them, get them from others, have them pay for them, and not share back
- Maliciousness: Inner intense hate
- Filled to the brim with wanting other people's things (envy)
- Murder in their hearts, sometimes translating to their hands
- Debate....not for the sake of learning or imparting truth, but because it is coupled with the same heart as the sins listed, just simply to be nasty.
- Deceit, even when not outright untruth, but untruth mixed in with truth, so as to cause confusion
- The enemy is the deceiver of all time..so this sin is in cooperation with that enemy, with a handshake and a wicked tongue
- Malignity: JUST PURE, VICIOUS EVIL
- A whisperer is one who talks about others quietly, secretly, behind their back or reveals secrets told them
(2 John 1:7)
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
MALIG'NITY, n. [L. malignitas.] Extreme enmity, or evil dispositions of heart towards another; malice without provocation, or malevolence with baseness of heart; deep rooted spite.
- Virulence; destructive tendency; as the malignity of an ulcer or disease.
- Extreme evilness of nature; as the malignity of fraud.
- Extreme sinfulness; enormity or heinousness; as the malignity of sin.
(Genesis 2:21-24)
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
COVETOUSNESS, n.
- A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; usually in a bad sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of wealth or avarice.
Out of the heart proceedeth covetousness. Mark 7.
Mortify your members--and covetousness which is idolatry. Col 3.
- Strong desire; eagerness.
MALI'CIOUS, a. Harboring ill will or enmity without provocation; malevolent in the extreme; malignant in heart.
I grant him bloody, Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin That has a name.
- Proceeding from extreme hatred or ill will; dictated by malice; as a malicious report.
(Romans 1:30)
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
- Similar to a whisperer, except these people do not care who hears, they vocally slander behind people's back
- Haters of God......especially the atheists who deny Him
DESPITEFUL, a. Full of spite; malicious; malignant; as a despiteful enemy.
Hater of God, despiteful, proud, boasters. Rom 1.
(Romans 1:31)
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
- the only type of person who would lack spiritual understanding is a person who does not seek God's wisdom by careful study of His Word
- A covenant breaker is a double-minded, double-tongued and dishonest who will agree if and as long as it suits them only, without regard to anyone else.
- The natural man is born with a certain amount of affection toward others, such as children, brethren, spouses, etc. As they get older, they suppress that affection, withdraw it
- An implacable person is never satisfied, not interested in any reconciliation, never appeased
- Unmerciful people are the exact opposite of a merciful God, and desire to be so
(Romans 1:32)
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
- All people, good or bad, evil, wicked, lost or saved, know in their hearts that God will one day judge them. This verse declares it
- Therefore, what this means is that they simply do not car.
- They literally cheer on other people who do this also, championing them, supporting them, cooperating with them, uniting with with them, in joy (have pleasure)
So the order is:
- Rejection of the Creator of the Creation (evolutionism, naturalism, etc.) and His Word and words
- Worship of one's intellect, one's environment, the world and its system, worship of man-THE CREATION
- A heart that is into idolatry, as in idols of animal statues, paintings, sculptures, art, etc. and statues of famous people, buildings erected in their honor, museums and parks to go and worship scientific finds (relics), making "stars" out of famous or popular people, etc.
- Such things for the purpose of the study of God's Creation are completely different as opposed to those made for worship of the actual creature-again, a heart issue
- Destruction of the created marriage bed of Genesis 1-2
- Fornication, homosexuality in both genders
- The entire gamut of sins that are listed after in verses 29-31
- Supporting and or justifying others who do the same and calling for the "right" to do so, banding together
Does this sound familiar, American?
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Romans Chapter2