To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul addresses the Roman believers not just as a collective, but as individuals "beloved by God" and "called to be saints," emphasizing their deep, personal identity in Christ before anything else. This grounding in God's affection and divine summons is the foundation for the "grace and peace" he wishes for them.
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul begins his letter by introducing himself and his apostleship, establishing his authority for the weighty message that follows. He then shifts to address the recipients, describing them not just as people in Rome, but as those dearly loved by God and set apart for Him, before offering them a foundational Christian blessing of grace and peace.
Paul doesn't just greet the Roman believers; he defines them. Who are you in God's eyes?
Paul opens this letter by addressing the believers in Rome not just as a geographical location, but as a community defined by God's actions.
Beloved of God
This isn't a conditional love based on their performance, but a deep, inherent affection from God. It's a reminder that their identity is rooted in being chosen and cherished by the Creator before they even knew Him. This love is the foundation for everything else.
Called to be Saints
'Saints' here doesn't mean they were perfect or without flaws. The word literally means 'set apart' or 'consecrated.' God's call takes ordinary people and designates them for His special purposes. It’s a call to a new reality, a new community, and a new way of living that is distinct from the world.
Every Christian greeting from Paul carries a profound spiritual weight. What does this specific blessing mean for you today?
Paul's salutation, 'Grace to you and peace,' is far more than a casual 'hello.' It's a carefully chosen blessing that encapsulates the core of the Christian experience.
Grace: God's Undeserved Favor
'Grace' is God's benevolent disposition towards us, His unmerited favor. It’s the source of all blessings, enabling us to approach God not based on our merit, but on His goodness. It's the power that transforms and equips us.
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Peace: The Result of God's Favor
'Peace' flows directly from grace. It's not merely the absence of conflict, but a deep, inner tranquility and right relationship with God, flowing from the assurance of His favor. This peace is a direct result of the work of Jesus Christ, reconciling us to the Father.
Understand the original words
hagiois · Greek Noun/Adjective
A term referring to those who have been set apart by God for His holy purposes. In the New Testament, it refers to all believers as sanctified, holy ones dedicated to God.
charis · Greek Noun
The unmerited favor and divine enablement of God extended to humanity. It is the basis of salvation and the ongoing provision of strength for the believer's life.
eirēnē · Greek Noun
Refers to the state of wholeness, harmony, and reconciliation with God. It is the result of being justified by faith in Christ.
c. AD 49
Edict of Claudius
Emperor Claudius expels Jews from Rome, potentially scattering the early Christian community there.
c. AD 54
End of Claudius' Reign
Nero succeeds Claudius, and the expulsion edict is lifted, allowing Jews (and likely Christians) to return to Rome.
c. AD 57-58— this verse
Paul writes Romans
Paul writes his letter to the Romans from Corinth, likely during his third missionary journey, having never visited Rome himself.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome, leading to the first major persecution of Christians under Nero.
This passage also addresses believers as 'called to be saints,' highlighting the shared concept of being set apart for God among the early Christian communities.
2 Corinthians 1:3This verse echoes the salutation of 'grace and peace' from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, emphasizing the consistent apostolic blessing offered to churches.
Ephesians 1:1Like Romans, this letter addresses believers as 'faithful in Christ Jesus' and 'called to be saints,' underscoring the universal nature of God's calling to His people.
1 Peter 1:15-16This passage directly parallels the 'called to be saints' idea by urging believers to 'be holy because I am holy,' connecting the call to a life of holiness that reflects God's nature.
Jude 1:1This short epistle also addresses believers as 'those who are called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ,' mirroring the core elements of God's love and calling found in Romans 1:7.
ellicottRomans 1:7: "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(7) In Rome. —It is to be observed that one MS. of some importance, the Codex Boernerianus, omits these words. The same MS., with some others, alters the next phrase, “beloved of God” to “in the love of God,” thus substituting for the special address to the Romans a general address to all “who are in the love of God.” Traces of a similar reading appea…
meyerRomans 1:7: "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 1:7 . Now for the first time, brought by Romans 1:6 nearer to his readers, Paul passes from the throng of the great intervening thoughts, Romans 1:2 ff., in which he has given full and conscious expression to the nature and the dignity of his calling, to the formal address and to the apostolic salutation . πᾶσι κ . τ . λ [332]] directs the lett…
Paul addresses the Roman believers not just as a collective, but as individuals "beloved by God" and "called to be saints," emphasizing their deep, personal identity in Christ before anything else. This grounding in God's affection and divine summons is the foundation for the "grace and peace" he wishes for them.
Paul begins his letter by introducing himself and his apostleship, establishing his authority for the weighty message that follows. He then shifts to address the recipients, describing them not just as people in Rome, but as those dearly loved by God and set apart for Him, before offering them a foundational Christian blessing of grace and peace.
Paul begins his letter by introducing himself and his apostleship, establishing his authority for the weighty message that follows. He then shifts to address the recipients, describing them not just as people in Rome, but as those dearly loved by God and set apart for Him, before offering them a foundational Christian blessing of grace and peace.
"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." — Paul addresses the Roman believers not just as a collective, but as individuals "beloved by God" and "called to be saints," emphasizing their deep, personal identity in Christ before anything else. T…
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Last reviewed October 2026