Romans 1:7
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)
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The verse doesn't just address Christians; it grounds their identity in God's initiative. They aren't just called saints, they are first loved by God and then called to that status, highlighting that God's affection is the foundation, not human achievement.
Paul begins his letter by addressing the believers in Rome, whom he identifies as "beloved by God" and "called to be saints." He then offers a customary greeting of "grace and peace" to them, a wish sent from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ever feel like you're just one of the crowd? This verse reminds us of a profound truth about your identity: God's specific love for you.
Paul addresses the Roman believers as "beloved of God." This isn't a general, passive affection.
A Love That Reconciles
Commentators explain that this love implies reconciliation. The barriers that separated us from God have been removed through Christ's sacrifice. His love means we are no longer distant but brought near.
More Than a Feeling
This isn't just about God feeling love for us; it's about His active disposition and favor toward us. It's a powerful, foundational truth that shapes everything else.
The term 'saint' can feel intimidating, reserved for individuals of exceptional piety. But Scripture uses it differently, and it's a call to you.
Paul calls the Roman Christians "called to be saints." This isn't about earning a title; it's about a divine summons and a transformed identity.
Set Apart by God's Summons
Being "called" signifies a specific, authoritative invitation from God. This call doesn't just ask us to do something; it fundamentally makes us something. The word translated as "saints" refers to those who are consecrated, set apart, or dedicated to God.
A Holy Community
This calling isn't just for individual holiness but to be part of a holy community – the Church. It means being separated from the world and dedicated to God's service and purposes. It's an ideal state that Paul holds up, a mirror to convict if unfaithful, but primarily to remind believers of their elevated status in Christ.
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.
Though Paul writes to the Roman church while in Corinth, his greeting in Romans 1:7 is profoundly shaped by the complex and often perilous history of Christianity in Rome, including periods of dispersal and persecution.
c. 49 AD
Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius expels Jews, including many Christians, from Rome due to unrest related to 'Chrestus' (likely Christ). This likely dispersed the early Roman church.
c. 50-55 AD— this verse
Paul Writes Romans from Corinth
Paul, currently in Corinth, writes his letter to the Roman church. He has not yet visited Rome but knows many believers there and is eager to come.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome and Nero's Persecution
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome. Emperor Nero blames Christians, initiating a brutal persecution that severely impacts the church in the capital.
This passage also addresses believers as 'sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy,' directly paralleling the 'called to be saints' description in Romans.
Ephesians 1:1-2Similar to Romans, this greeting extends 'grace and peace' from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to the believers addressed, reinforcing the common apostolic blessing.
2 Thessalonians 1:1-2This passage echoes the Roman greeting by wishing 'grace and peace' from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, highlighting the consistent theological framework of Paul's letters.
1 Peter 1:15-16Peter calls believers to be 'holy in all their conduct,' directly reflecting the 'called to be saints' concept, emphasizing that holiness is a core identity for believers, not just an aspiration.
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…
The verse doesn't just address Christians; it grounds their identity in God's initiative. They aren't just called saints, they are first loved by God and then called to that status, highlighting that God's affection is the foundation, not human achievement.
Paul begins his letter by addressing the believers in Rome, whom he identifies as "beloved by God" and "called to be saints." He then offers a customary greeting of "grace and peace" to them, a wish sent from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul begins his letter by addressing the believers in Rome, whom he identifies as "beloved by God" and "called to be saints." He then offers a customary greeting of "grace and peace" to them, a wish sent from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Every letter Paul writes begins with a wish for 'grace and peace.' What lies beneath this simple greeting, and why is it so significant?
The familiar greeting "Grace to you and peace" is far more than a polite formality. It's a profound expression of God's desire for His people.
Grace: God's Unmerited Favor
'Grace' here encompasses God's disposition of favor and benevolence towards us, the source of every blessing. It's the unearned divine assistance and favor we receive through Christ.
Peace: The Resulting Well-being
'Peace' flows from grace. It signifies not just the absence of conflict but a deep, inner well-being, reconciliation with God, and harmony in all aspects of life. It's the result of knowing God's favorable disposition toward us.
From the Triune God
Crucially, this grace and peace are invoked "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This clearly positions Jesus Christ as divine, on equal footing with the Father as the source of these essential blessings. It's a powerful affirmation of His role in salvation and our ongoing spiritual life.
"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." — The verse doesn't just address Christians; it grounds their identity in God's initiative. They aren't just called saints, they are first loved by God and then called to that status, highlightin…
