Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (1:8)* Paul rejoices primarily because all the world has learned about the Christians in Rome. While some (Hodge 1950; Barrett 1957) believe this means that their faith was so extraordinary that it was known everywhere, it is more likely that this refers not so much to the quality of their faith as to the fact of it (Bruce 1985; Cranfield 1975; Moo 1996; Schreiner 1998). Rome was the hub of the world, and as such the Roman church would be known everywhere. Paul was thankful that God had established his church there and that it had an effect everywhere. As Nygren says (1949:59), it was “a fountain of joy that the Gospel had been received with faith in the very capital of the world.” There is a bit of hyperbole in all over the world, for it does not mean every single person has heard the report; it probably does mean all the churches and unbelievers everywhere (at least in the Roman world). The growth of the Gospel in Rome would have widespread repercussions. Paul rejoices as we rejoice in the successful evangelizing of cities like Seoul, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Moscow and Beijing.
Osborne, Grant R. Romans. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004. Print. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series.
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