Romans 1:14. ‘I am in debt’
Paul longed to visit Rome to share the gospel with people in that city. He had never been there and his letter to the Romans outlines what he wants all Christians, and indeed all people, to understand. He longs for the Roman church to understand how much he loves them and how deeply he desired to teach them about Jesus.
“I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.” Romans 1:13
He longed to give them a ‘spiritual gift’. How will this ‘gift’ be imparted? The previous verse gives the answer:
“God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.” Romans 1:9-10
If anyone longs to impart a spiritual gift to anyone the means is clear, teach and pray. This has always been the way people are to blessed by God. The purpose of this gift was clear,
“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong.” Romans 1:11
This could mean ‘to make them stronger Christians’, or ‘to make them strong in numbers’ but probably it means both as they are so closely related. A church won’t grow unless Christians have a passion to share the gospel with people around them.
The Paul then writes a strange sentence. What does he mean?
“I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.” Romans 1:14
The Authorised Version translates this:
“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."
The Apostle Paul felt a profound moral obligation, not a financial one, when he says, ”I am debtor” or “I am obligated”. Because God shared the gospel with him, he felt a duty to pass it on to others. “. . . to Greeks and to the barbarians”. This pair divides people by culture and language. Greeks represented the civilised, educated world, while "barbarians" meant anyone who did not speak Greek or share Hellenistic culture. The next pair “. . . to wise and to the unwise" divides people by intellect or learning, showing that the message of the gospel is meant for all ranks of society, regardless of status or education. Some churches seem to be only concerned about the materially and socially impoverished and they risk changing the meaning of the ‘good news’ into a social one. Paul felt obligated to pass on the gospel to every type of person. He wrote like this because he was acting as an example to all christians of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
A Christian’s life revolves around living to please God, to satisfy Jesus. This is what ‘zeal’ means. It is more than an enthusiasm for a cause. Jesus recognised that the religious can be zealous for a cause but this is not enough.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides!” Matthew 23:115-16
Paul similarly acknowledged that the religious Jews had an enthusiasm but this was not of God, as Jesus, the Son of God was not central.
“For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” Romans 10:2
Some people, even those who call themselves Christians, have a great but mistaken enthusiasm to spread certain doctrines but not a love a for Jesus. What a difference it would make to the well being of churches if living for Jesus were to become our overriding purpose.
Why was Paul so zealous for Christ?
His answer here is clear:
“I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.” Romans 1:14-15
Why does Paul see himself as a debtor to all types of people? He determined never to be in any person’s debt so he would have the opportunity of sharing the news about Jesus:
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” 1 Corinthians 9:19
Paul had realised that the whole of the Gentile world and all those, such as the Jews who were trying to live according to religious rules, were not living as God wants. They are depraved and still in their sin. Sin still has control of them and he had once been such a person. He recognised, unlike Cain, that he was indeed his ‘brothers keeper’. We are all responsible for the lives of those around us. Paul had such a zeal because he understood what the gospel means - eternal salvation, membership of God’s Kingdom.
“Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” Romans 10:1
A true Christian and every true minister of the gospel shares this outlook. They have a passion that others may be saved, they long to pull others from the fire. For Paul, it was the thought of what Jesus has done for him, when he deserved nothing, that put him in debt to others.
“For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" 1 Corinthians 9:16
Paul continues after talking about being ‘in ‘debt’ to the non-Christians:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17
This mirrors what Jesus himself said:
“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26
The woman of Samaria, after realising that Jesus was the Messiah that the world had been waiting for, went straight away to her city and told people about Jesus and brought them to him (John 4). When Matthew first turned to follow Jesus he put on a dinner so that his ungodly friends could meet Jesus.
Those who are active in sharing the gospel are sometimes put on pedestals by other Christians. However the reality is that they are just behaving in the normal way. When a person becomes a Christian, a failure to tell others about Christ is a short-coming, and not to do this is disobedience.
Are all Christians called to share the news about Jesus?
Paul often describes his motivation and his rationale as an example for us. The Bible does teach that all Christians have an obligation to share the message of Jesus with others. If our commission and obligation is to preach the gospel, how dare we be silent? This is a summary of what the Bible teaches. These arguments are expanded in my book, ‘The Duty of a Disciple’.
1. Direct Commands from Jesus (The Great Commission)
Jesus explicitly commanded His followers to spread the gospel, a directive that extends to all subsequent generations of believers.
In the Great Commission, Jesus commands,
"Go therefore, and teach all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19–20::
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15:
Jesus outlines the global scope of this duty, stating to believers
“You shall be witnesses unto me... unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8
2. The Ministry of the Church
The New Testament outlines that receiving salvation automatically drafts a believer into the role of a messenger. Paul states that God has given all who are reconciled to Him have the "ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18–20). He declares that Christians are "ambassadors for Christ."
The Apostle Peter defines the church as a royal priesthood, chosen specifically to:
”shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness." 1 Peter 2:9:
In an Old Testament passage Ezekiel establishes the ‘Watchman’ principle, warning that those who hold a message of life-saving truth are held accountable if they fail to warn others (Ezekiel 33:1–9)
3. In the Conversation of every Christian
Sharing the faith is not restricted to pastors or missionaries; it is an everyday expectation for every believer. Believers are commanded to
“. . . be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you.” 1 Peter 3:15
Paul prays that Philemon would actively share his faith with others:
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philemon 1:6 (NIV 84)
4. The Pattern of the Early Church
When persecution scattered the early church, it was not just the Apostles who preached, but the everyday believers.
"Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4
Questions
Are our churches, and am I, really concerned that our society understands the claims of Jesus? Is this our priority?
How could this state of affairs be changed?
BVP
If you would like to discuss further please get in touch with me on - berniepalmer1@sky.com
My website, www.bvpalmer.com contains many interesting articles on a variety of subjects
‘Christchurch Baldock’ meets at 10.30 am every Sunday in Knights Templar School, Baldock.
