Romans 1 · Verse 5

Romans 1:5

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Romans 1:5, King James Version

Romans 1:5 in other translations

BSBThrough Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
WEBthrough whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake;
ASVthrough whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;
YLTthrough whom we did receive grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, in behalf of his name;
DARBYby whom we have received grace and apostleship in behalf of his name, for obedience of faith among all the nations,
BBEThrough whom grace has been given to us, sending us out to make disciples to the faith among all nations, for his name:
WebsterBy whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name:

What does Romans 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. By whom--as the ordained channel. we have received grace--the whole "grace that bringeth salvation" (Tit 2:11). and apostleship--for the publication of that "grace," and the organization of as many as receive it into churches of visible discipleship. (We prefer thus taking them as two distinct things, and not, with some good interpreters, as one--"the grace of apostleship"). for obedience to the faith--rather, "for the obedience of faith"--that is, in order to men's yielding themselves to the belief of God's saving message, which is the highest of all obedience. for his name--that He might be glorified.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
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 o( Jesus Christ, Paul not unfrequently insisted. Gal 1:12, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ." 1Cor 15:1-8, Eph 3:1-3.

We. The plural here is probably put for the singular. See Col 4.3. Comp. 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."

Grace and apostleship. Many suppose that this is a figure of speech, hendiadys, by which one thing is expressed by two words, meaning the grace or favour 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 favour 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 favour, Rom 15:15,16, Gal 2:9, Eph 3:7-9.

For obedience to the 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, 2Cor 7:15, Jas 2:1.

Among all nations. This was the original commission which Jesus gave to his apostles, Mk 16:15,16, Mt 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. This means, probably, on his account, that is, on account of Christ, Jn 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 honoured. Their work was not one in which they were seeking to honour themselves, but it was solely for the honour and glory of Jesus Christ. For him they toiled, they encountered perils, they laid down their lives, because by so doing they might bring men 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.

(1) "for obedience", or "to the obedience of faith" (g) "to the faith" Acts 6:7, Rom 16:26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Grace and apostleship - The peculiar influence and the essential qualifications which such an office requires. Without the Grace, favor, and peculiar help of God, he could not have been an apostle: he had an extraordinary conversion, and an extraordinary call to preach the Gospel. Probably χαριν και αποστολην, grace and apostleship, mean the same as χαριν της αποστολης, the apostolical office; for so the word χαρις means in Rom 12:3; Rom 15:15; 1Cor 3:10; Eph 3:8. See the various acceptations of the word grace, Rom 1:7. For obedience to the faith - That by this office, which I have received from God, and the power by which it is accompanied, I might proclaim the faith, the Gospel of Jesus; and show all nations the necessity of believing in it, in order to their salvation. Here is: 1. The Gospel of the Son of God. 2. An apostle divinely commissioned and empowered to preach it. 3. The necessity of faith in the name of Jesus, as the only Savior of the world. 4. Of obedience, as the necessary consequence of genuine faith. And, 5. This is to be proclaimed among all nations; that all might have the opportunity of believing and being saved.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 1:1-7

The doctrine of which the apostle Paul wrote, set forth the fulfilment of the promises by the prophets. It spoke of the Son of God, even Jesus the Saviour, the promised Messiah, who came from David as to his human nature, but was also declared to be the Son of God, by the Divine power which raised him from the dead. The Christian profession does not consist in a notional knowledge or a bare assent, much less in…

Read the full comment on Romans 1:1-7 →

Romans 1:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
οὗhouwhomG3739
ἐλάβομενelabomenwe have receivedG2983
χάρινcharingraceG5485
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀποστολὴνapostolēnapostleshipG651
εἰςeisuntoG1519
ὑπακοὴνhupakoēnobedienceG5218
πίστεωςpisteōsof faithG4102
ἐνenamongG1722
πᾶσινpasinallG3956
τοῖςtoistheG3588
ἔθνεσινethnesinGentilesG1484
ὑπὲρhuperon behalf ofG5228
τοῦtoutheG3588
ὀνόματοςonomatosnameG3686
αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 1:5

  • Acts 9:15

    But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

  • Romans 16:26

    But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

  • Acts 6:7

    And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

  • Malachi 1:11

    For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • Hebrews 5:9

    And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

  • Romans 12:3

    For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  • Galatians 1:15-16

    But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

  • 1 Peter 2:9-10

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  • Acts 1:25

    That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

  • Galatians 2:8-9

    (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • Romans 15:15-16

    Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we have.
12:3; 15:15,16; Joh 1:16; 1Co 15:10; 2Co 3:5,6; Ga 1:15,16
Eph 3:2-9; 1Ti 1:11,12
apostleship.
Ac 1:25; 1Co 9:2; Ga 2:8,9
for obedience to the faith. or, to the obedience of faith.
15:18,19; 16:26; Ac 6:7; 2Co 10:4-6; Heb 5:9
among.
3:29
for his name.
Mal 1:11,14; Ac 15:14; Eph 1:6,12; 1Pe 2:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 1:4

    And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

  • Romans 1:5

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • Romans 1:6

    Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Read all of Romans 1

Romans 1:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por el cual recibimos la gracia y el apostolado, para la obediencia de la fe en todas las naciones en su nombre,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		par lequel nous avons reçu grâce et apostolat, pour l’obéissance de la foi parmi toutes les nations, pour son nom,
German
Elberfelder 1871		durch welchen wir Gnade und Apostelamt empfangen haben für seinen Namen zum Glaubensgehorsam unter allen Nationen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		per quem accepimus gratiam, et apostolatum ad obediendum fidei in omnibus gentibus pro nomine ejus,