For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul declares he's not ashamed of the gospel because it's not merely a human message, but God's active power at work for salvation. This divine power is intrinsically tied to salvation, not just a tool for it, highlighting its inherent effectiveness for everyone who embraces it.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is transitioning from his greetings and personal updates to the core message of his letter. He's about to explain his profound understanding of God's righteousness revealed in the gospel, a message he believes is crucial for both Jews and Gentiles. This verse sets the stage for his defense of the gospel's power and its universal applicability, which he will explore throughout the epistle.
Paul starts Romans not with a gentle suggestion, but a defiant shout. What made him so confident in a message the world found foolish?
Paul opens Romans with a powerful declaration: 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.' This isn't just a personal feeling; it's a statement against the grain of Roman society and the expectations of his day.
The World's View
Paul's Conviction
Ask a follow-up
Salvation isn't a one-size-fits-all package, but its power is for everyone. How does Paul bridge the gap between Jew and Greek?
Paul identifies the gospel as 'the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.' This is revolutionary, breaking down the barriers of ethnicity and culture.
Divine Power for All
Bridging Worlds
This inclusivity shows the gospel's comprehensive design – it addresses humanity's deepest need, regardless of background.
Understand the original words
epaischynomai · Greek Verb
A public declaration of conviction or allegiance; in this context, it refers to a refusal to shrink back from the potential social stigma or persecution associated with identifying with the message of Jesus.
euangelion · Greek Noun
The 'good news' of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is the announcement of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the call to respond in repentance and faith.
dynamis · Greek Noun
The dynamic, efficacious ability or authority of God. In this context, it is the operative force that transforms the believer and accomplishes God’s purpose of redemption.
sōtēria · Greek Noun
Deliverance from sin, judgment, and death into the kingdom of God. It is the comprehensive rescue of humanity through Christ's work, received by grace through faith.
pistis · Greek Noun
Trust, reliance, or firm conviction in God and His promises. It is the instrumental means by which a person enters into a right relationship with God, characterized by total dependence on Christ.
Paul's declaration of not being ashamed of the gospel stems from his extensive experience facing rejection and misunderstanding from both Jews and Gentiles throughout his ministry. He’s writing to the church in Rome, a major cultural hub, and wants to establish that the gospel's power is God's work, relevant and salvific for everyone, regardless of background.
c. 40s AD
Paul's Early Missionary Journeys
Paul begins his extensive missionary work, spreading the gospel to various Gentile communities across Asia Minor and Greece. This period is marked by both receptive audiences and significant opposition.
c. 50-52 AD
Corinthian Ministry
Paul spends a significant amount of time in Corinth, a major Roman port city. Here, he experiences firsthand the challenges of preaching the gospel in a cosmopolitan and culturally diverse environment, facing scorn and resistance.
c. 55 AD
Writing of 1 Corinthians
In response to issues within the Corinthian church, Paul writes his first letter, addressing divisions and defending the nature of apostolic authority and the message of the cross, which was considered foolishness by many.
c. 56-57 AD
Writing of 2 Corinthians
Paul continues to defend his ministry and the gospel in his second letter to the Corinthians, emphasizing the power of God revealed in weakness and the transformative nature of the Christian message.
c. 58 AD
Paul's Journey to Rome Arrest
Paul travels toward Jerusalem, intending to visit Rome afterward. He is arrested in Jerusalem, setting in motion a series of trials and his eventual journey to Rome as a prisoner.
c. 60-62 AD
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Under house arrest in Rome, Paul continues to minister and write letters, including those to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, demonstrating the gospel's enduring power even in confinement.
c. 62 AD— this verse
Paul writes Romans
From Corinth or Rome, Paul writes his most systematic theological work, the Epistle to the Romans. He anticipates his visit to Rome and seeks to establish a theological foundation for the church there, affirming his lack of shame for the gospel.
This passage echoes Paul's sentiment, highlighting that the message of the cross, which is central to the gospel, appears foolish to the world but is the very power of God for salvation.
Galatians 3:8This verse speaks of the gospel foretelling that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, reinforcing the idea that salvation through the gospel is for all people, not just one group.
Colossians 1:27This verse reveals the mystery of Christ in believers, the hope of glory, which is the core message of the gospel Paul is not ashamed to preach to all nations.
2 Timothy 1:8This verse directly parallels Paul's encouragement to Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord or of Paul himself, linking it to the power of God through the gospel.
John 4:22Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that salvation is from the Jews, a statement Paul builds upon by emphasizing that the gospel, while offered to the Jew first, is also for the Gentile.
ellicottRomans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
(16) The Apostle will not be ashamed of his mission, even in the metropolis of the world. He cannot be ashamed of a scheme so beneficent and so grand. The gospel that he preaches is that mighty agency which God Himself has set in motion, and the object of which is the salvation of all who put their faith in it, to whatever n…
henryRomans 1:16-17: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
1:16,17 In these verses the apostle opens the design of the whole epistle, in which he brings forward a charge of sinfulness against all flesh; declares the only method of deliverance from condemnation, by faith in the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ; and then builds upon it purity of heart, grateful obedience, and ear…
Paul declares he's not ashamed of the gospel because it's not merely a human message, but God's active power at work for salvation. This divine power is intrinsically tied to salvation, not just a tool for it, highlighting its inherent effectiveness for everyone who embraces it.
Paul is transitioning from his greetings and personal updates to the core message of his letter. He's about to explain his profound understanding of God's righteousness revealed in the gospel, a message he believes is crucial for both Jews and Gentiles. This verse sets the stage for his defense of the gospel's power and its universal applicability, which he will explore throughout the epistle.
Paul is transitioning from his greetings and personal updates to the core message of his letter. He's about to explain his profound understanding of God's righteousness revealed in the gospel, a message he believes is crucial for both Jews and Gentiles. This verse sets the stage for his defense of the gospel's power and its universal applicability, which he will explore throughout the epistle.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." — Paul declares he's not ashamed of the gospel because it's not merely a human message, but God's active power at work for salvation. This divine power is intrinsically tied to salvation, not just a to…
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Last reviewed October 2026