I Am Debtor

Lesson 7: Paul, a Minister of Jesus Christ

Lesson Text: Romans 15:14-29

Key Text: Romans 1:14

Lessons from the Key Text:

• I am a debtor
  • To whom was Paul in debt?
    • Paul had been made an apostle “for obedience to the faith among all nations,” i.e. “Greeks and to barbarians” (Rom. 1:5, 14).
    • Paul recognized that his apostleship was a gift from God that he did not deserve (1 Cor. 15:9-11; Eph. 3:8; 1 Tim. 1:15).
    • Paul recognized that his apostleship indebted him to do the work with which he had been charged (1 Cor. 9:15-18).
  • To Greeks and Barbarians
    • This was the Roman designation for all humanity, like the Jews designation of Jew and Gentile.
    • As the Jews considered anyone not part of Judaism as Gentiles, the Romans considered any non-Greek speaking people as barbarians – including Jews.
    • So, Greeks would be the Greek-speaking Roman Empire and barbarians would be everyone else.
  • To Wise and Unwise
    • Where Greek and barbarian would be ethnicity, wise and unwise would be social class.
    • Paul was not only commissioned to preach the gospel to “all nations” but to all social classes of all nations (cf. Gal. 3:28).
    • Paul includes everyone of all classes in his obligation to preach the gospel (Acts 9:15; 25:22, 23; 26:1; 17:22).
• We Too Are Debtors To Preach The Gospel! (cf. Matthew 28:18, 19; 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 8:4; 1 Thess. 1:8-10).