The first chapter of the letter to the Romans lays the foundations for the whole letter. Paul introduces himself, sums up the gospel, announces its central theme, salvation by faith, and then describes a world that refuses to acknowledge God. The chapter falls into four parts: verses 1 to 7 (introduction), 8 to 15 (his desire to come to Rome), 16 and 17 (the theme of the letter) and 18 to 32 (humanity’s guilt).
Slave and apostle
Paul calls himself “a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle” (Romans 1:1). The Greek word doulos means slave: someone who belongs entirely to their master. The two titles balance each other. As an apostle, Paul has authority received from God. As a slave, he reminds his readers that he is not the one to be admired.
He then sums up the gospel: promised by the prophets, it concerns Jesus, who “was descended from David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3) and was declared Son of God in power by his resurrection. Paul thus affirms both the humanity and the divinity of Christ.
The heart of the letter
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Salvation does not depend on origin, but on faith. In verse 17, Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4: “The righteous shall live by faith.” The expression “from faith for faith” drives the point home: by faith, and by faith alone.
A world without excuse
From verse 18, Paul speaks of the wrath of God. It is not a fit of temper, but the exercise of a necessary justice against ungodliness and unrighteousness. Verses 19 and 20 describe natural revelation: through creation, everyone can recognise that God exists. That is not enough to be saved, but no one will be able to say they could not have known. The proof that human beings are aware of a higher being is that they make idols for themselves.
“God gave them up”
This expression occurs three times (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). It does not mean that God pushes people towards evil: he withdraws and lets humanity reap what it has sown. According to the author of the course, Paul then mentions prostitution linked to pagan cults (verse 24), followed by homosexual relations (verses 26 and 27), which he presents as one consequence of a humanity that has turned away from the Creator.
But this passage must be read together with what follows. The list in verses 29 to 31 also includes envy, gossip, pride and disobedience to parents. No one can exclude themselves from it, and Romans 2:1 warns precisely the one who judges others. Paul’s aim is to show that everyone needs grace.