A mini-study concerning the context of Romans 1:1-10

Romans 1:1. PAUL, a servant of Y’shua the Mashiyach, called and sent and separated[1] to the Good News of Elohim.[2] 2. (that) He (Elohim) had before promised, by His prophets, in the Set Apart Scriptures,[3] 3. concerning his Son who was born in the flesh, of seed of the house of Dawid,[4] 4. and was made known as the Son of Elohim by power, and by the Ruach haKodesh, who arose from the dead, Y’shua the Mashiyach, our Master, 5. by whom we have received grace and a mission among all the Gentiles[5] to the end that they may obey the faith in His Name;[6] 6. among whom, you also are called by Y’shua the Mashiyach.

7. To all those who are at Rome, beloved of Elohim, called and sanctified: Peace and grace be with you, from Elohim our Father, and from our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach.[7] 8. In the first place, I give thanks to Elohim by Y’shua the Mashiyach on account of you all; because your faith is heard of in all the world. 9. And Elohim, whom in spirit I serve in the Good News of His Son, is my witness that I continually make mention of you at all times in my prayers. 10. And I likewise supplicate that afterwards a door may be opened to me, by the good pleasure[8] of Elohim, to come to you. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Perysh, the word used here for “separated” is also the root from which we get ‘Pharisee,” an obvious wordplay, raising the cutting remark that Rav Shaul’s opponents separated themselves to the wrong place.

[2] Noting also that this is YHWH’s Good News about His Son.

[3] Paul quotes the Hebrew Tanakh over 80 times in this Letter to the Romans. Without understanding the original context of Torah (first 5 books of the Bible), Neviim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings) which he quotes from, it will be impossible to thoroughly comprehend his teachings.

Paul never heard the words “Old Testament” in his lifetime, nor would he ever permit such a dishonoring title be given to the Word of YHWH which is Mashiyach preincarnate.

[4] At times, almost being read like a corporate memo, except instead of the familiar: “TO: FROM: REGARDING: pattern, the order here is FROM (Paul) REGARDING (Y’shua the Mashiyach) and TO (the assembly in Rome). Paul is either dictating the words to Tertius, see 16:22, or Tertius is translating the letter from the original.

[5] Aimmeh= Gentiles or Nations is an appropriate translation here. Elsewhere in this document, the word Armaya is translated as “Gentiles” which refers specifically to the Arameans (or Syrians), who were kinsman to the tribes of Israel. Ya’akov the Patriarch was related to Arameans by marriage and is called “a wandering Aramean” himself (Deuteronomy 26:5). The Hebrews and the Arameans are closely connected peoples separated by a river. In fact, he word Hebrew, is derived from Eber, meaning “those from across (the other side of the river)”.

[6] YHWH is being referenced: “YHWH is salvation” which is also the name of His Son. This context is established in the next verse: “among whom you are also called by Y’shua,” meaning that Y’shua is not intended as the subject of this passage as it relates to Name.

[7] Up until now, this has been one long opening sentence! Common in both Greek and Aramaic languages, this creates a balancing act between English syntax and clarity while also remaining faithful to the order of thought.

[8] Or “will”.