After introducing himself, Paul addresses his audience: all of the believers in Rome.
Paul writes this letter to all the believers, all who are beloved of God in Rome who are called as saints (v 7). The word as in the phrase called as saints does not appear in the original language, before the word saints (as indicated by the italics). The Greek word “hagios” translated here saints is used in the New Testament to refer to anyone who has received the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus. “Hagios” is most often translated holy, a word which carries the notion of being set apart for a special purpose.
All believers in Jesus are set apart for a special purpose. Ephesians 2:10 tells us:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
In this sense, all believers are holy so all believers are saints. This is what Paul means when he uses saints in this passage—he is referring to all the believers in Rome. They are all beloved of God.
Some church traditions elevate the lives of certain believers as particularly excellent examples for us to emulate, using the word “saint” as a special designation. Since the lives of these people are special, they are “set apart” as a special example. However, it is important to note that the Scripture does not use the word in this sense. In the Bible, every believer is set apart for a special work, although it is up to us to choose to walk in that path (Ephesians 2:10).
Paul continues his initial greeting to the believers in Rome: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace here is the Greek word “charis,” which means favor. When God bestows His favor it is always bestowed because God chooses to give it. God is God and will not be controlled; He is not subject to any sort of standard apart from Himself. His very name is “I AM”—the definition of existence.
Paul wishes for the favor and peace (v 7) of God to rest upon these Gentile Roman believers. Paul states that God is our Father. This puts the Gentile believers in Rome into the same family with Paul. Similarly, they also both have Jesus Christ as their Lord.
Biblical Text
7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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