Romans 1:14-16 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.… I. THE OBLIGATION UNDER WHICH THE APOSTLE LAY. "I am a debtor." Necessity was laid upon him (1 Corinthians 9:16). But there it was a necessity laid on him to Godward; here it is towards man. How so? 1. There is an obligation in man towards man, established by the law of creation, which nothing can set aside. One proof of it will be seen in the character of the man who disowns the obligation. He is anti-social. He opposes the fundamental law of society by which it is seen that men are formed for each other. And, if so, no limitation either of country or peculiarity of condition, can supersede this law. The parable of the good Samaritan establishes and illustrates this position. It was the old commandment from the beginning, though in Christ new both as to motive, extent, and object. 2. But there is an obligation which results from the condition on which good is imparted by the great Giver of all good. "Freely ye have received, freely give." The apostle himself states that Christ was revealed in him, that he "might preach Him among the heathen." And in another place that "a dispensation or stewardship was committed unto him" (1 Corinthians 9:17), "to make all men know the fellowship of the mystery" (Ephesians 3:9). 3. But, while the apostle would quicken his own zeal by thoughts of responsibility and by the plea of necessity, he delighted rather to dwell upon the more constraining obligation of love. He was one of a redeemed brotherhood. He could honour all men. Hence he could look on everyone he met, whether "Barbarian or Scythian, bond or free" (Colossians 3:11), as one of the families which are all blessed in Christ. II. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE APOSTLE DISCHARGED THE OBLIGATION. The proposition is, that the debt owing from every Christian man to another is the gospel: the preaching or communicating the gospel is the discharge of that debt. How so? The substance of all good is comprised in the gospel. Everything short of it leaves a man short of salvation, is an abridgment of human happiness. The gospel brings the sinner near to God (Ephesians 2:13, 18; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and restores man to his former position of love to his fellow (Ephesians 2:19-22). The preaching of it satisfied all the claims, because it answered all the wants, of man. (Canon Jacob.) Parallel Verses KJV: I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.WEB: I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. |
    |