Paul Of Tarsaus Analysis

#1. Ch. 1:1-17 Prologue

In this portion of the letter to the Roman's church known as the Prologue, we get a very unique formal introduction from it's author, Paul of Tarsaus. The way you introduce yourself when you first meet a person leaves a very lasting affect. Though he never saw them physically, Paul was meeting these young Christians through this very passionate letter for the first time.

In the opening few verses he explained to him who he was and what he was. He gave them the lasting image of him, a slave to Christ. This is a very sharp contrast to the image he once held as a zealous and blood thirsty Jew who loved the law of Mosses as if it were his God. Even going so far as to kill Christians in an attempt to destroy the movement Jesus Pioneered.

Besides Paul's humble and radically changed image found in his introduction, he also explains that he is one who is "called". His apostleship wasn't a man apointed thing, but a matter fully bestowed upon him by God. Paul was chosen and sent on a mission, and he had authority to represent God. Reading this gives great hope to us, the believers of today

because we know that God has chosen us as he did him. This is great grace as we were once just wretches like Paul, but now we are co-workers on this great commission for the Gospel, but more imporantly, as we read this we know that what he was about to say was true
Paul takes time to express the great call that he had as he says he was "set apart" for the Gospel. He already comprehended the idea of being set apart, as his former title of Pharisee in Hewbrew means "a seperated", one set apart. But his days as Saul the Pharisee, were nothing more than a lie. The hyper religious pharisees set themselves apart as men "holier than thou". But when Paul was set apart by God, it was a special thing. His life radically changed from the inside out.
As we continue on in verse 1-17 , Paul clearly states what he's about to go into depth explaining- the gospel that God promised long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. On a side note, as I carefully read this, I could vividly see or hear Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel". I believe this was the first prophecy about Jesus.
Paul was preparing to tell these young believers the truth about everything.Sin, punishment, deprevity, but most importantly, what God had done for us through his son.
Paul was touched by the deepest love ever known. The love of Christ was so strong in him so he had an obligation of love. The once most horrid persecutor of the way was forgiven, so immense love swelled up in his heart for Christ. He had an obligation of love that he desired to fulfill.
Paul once was a man so wrapped up in the law that it was like his husband.

But now, in Christ, he deeply knew the one and only man who could fulfill it. Now Jesus, the gospel, God, were what he wrapped his heart

into.
The conclusion of the prologue is the core of our faith.

The revelation of God's righteousness is the Gospel. To accept the sheer grace of God, not to come to him with the idea that you can earn rightstanding on your own. As Tim Keller once put it, "The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself or less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less."

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