Romans 1:7 kjv

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 nkjv

To all who are 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 niv

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:7 esv

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.

Romans 1:7 nlt

I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Romans 1 verses

Romans 1 7 Meaning

Romans 1:7 is Paul's customary yet profoundly theological greeting to the believers in Rome. It identifies them not by their status or works, but by God's sovereign initiative – as those uniquely loved by Him and divinely called to be set apart as His holy people. From this foundational identity flows the desire for two indispensable spiritual blessings: "grace" (God's unmerited favor, the wellspring of salvation and enablement) and "peace" (wholeness, reconciliation, and divine tranquility), which are granted from both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, affirming their shared divine authority.

Romans 1 7 Context

Romans 1:7 concludes the formal opening greeting of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, following his self-introduction (Rom 1:1) and the declaration of his apostleship and the gospel he preaches (Rom 1:2-6). This verse serves to identify the recipients and to articulate the foundational spiritual blessings that define the Christian life. Paul adapts the common Hellenistic greeting ("Chairein," meaning "rejoice" or "greetings") into a profoundly theological Christian salutation ("Charis kai Eirene," meaning "Grace and Peace"), infusing it with immense spiritual weight. Historically, the church in Rome was a vibrant, though perhaps internally diverse (Jew and Gentile believers), community that Paul had not yet visited. His letter aimed to establish his apostolic authority, unify believers around the core tenets of the gospel, and secure their support for his mission to Spain, making the opening address particularly significant. This greeting implicitly challenges the prevailing Roman culture where "grace" and "peace" were often associated with imperial patronage or personal merit, redirecting their source entirely to God and Christ.

Romans 1 7 Word analysis

• To all: Greek pasin (πᾶσιν). Signifies universality of Paul's address, not exclusive to certain individuals or groups within the Roman church. This inclusive scope immediately broadens the recipients beyond any singular ethnic or social distinction, encompassing both Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome.
• in Rome: The specific geographic location highlights Paul's strategic interest in the capital of the empire. This early Christian community's well-being and understanding of the gospel were crucial for the wider spread of Christianity.
• who are loved by God: Greek agapetois Theou (ἀγαπητοῖς Θεοῦ). This phrase expresses a divine passive: they are the objects of God's deep, unconditional, and personal love (ἀγάπη, agape). It emphasizes that their standing before God is based entirely on His initiative and affection, not on their merit or action. This sets a tone of divine election and predestination.
• and called to be saints: Greek klētois hagiois (κλητοῖς ἁγίοις).
  • called: Greek klētois signifies a divine summons or invitation. It underscores that their identity as "saints" is not self-appointed or earned, but a result of God's effective call into a relationship with Him through the gospel.
  • saints: Greek hagiois (holy ones) refers not to an elite group, but to all believers who have been set apart and consecrated by God for His purposes. It speaks of their positional holiness, their new status and identity in Christ, and also their ethical call to live in accordance with that separation unto God. This implies both a status bestowed by God and a resulting manner of life.
• Grace: Greek charis (χάρις). Paul's characteristic greeting, going beyond common Hellenistic greetings. It means "unmerited favor" and is the central theme of Paul's theology. It refers to God's benevolent act in bestowing salvation and every spiritual blessing freely upon humanity through Christ, apart from human deserving. It is both the foundation of salvation and the divine enablement for Christian living.
• to you: Direct address, reiterating the personal nature of the blessing.
• and peace: Greek eirēnē (εἰρήνη). The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew shalom. This goes beyond the mere absence of conflict; it signifies wholeness, well-being, reconciliation, harmony, prosperity, and a state of divinely bestowed spiritual tranquility and security. It refers primarily to peace with God through Christ, which then extends to internal peace and reconciliation with others. It is the natural fruit of God's grace.
• from God our Father: Identifies the primary source of grace and peace as God, emphasizing His paternal care and sovereign authority.
• and the Lord Jesus Christ: Identifies Jesus as an equally authoritative source of grace and peace. The juxtaposition of "God our Father" and "the Lord Jesus Christ" implicitly elevates Jesus to a divine level, indicating co-equality in the bestowal of these blessings and signifying Trinitarian unity. "Lord" (κύριος, Kurios) signifies Jesus' divine authority and sovereignty; "Christ" (Χριστός, Christos) signifies His role as the anointed Messiah; "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous) is His human name.

Romans 1 7 Bonus section

• Pauline Standard: This precise phrase, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," becomes Paul's signature greeting, appearing consistently across nearly all his epistles. This standardization speaks to its profound theological importance for him, solidifying core beliefs about the nature of God, the person of Christ, and the fundamental blessings of salvation.
• Hellenistic vs. Christian Greetings: Paul transforms the common Greek greeting chairein (rejoice, hello) into charis (grace) and eirēnē (peace), blending Hellenistic cultural forms with Old Testament concepts of shalom (peace) and distinctly Christian theological content. This masterful adaptation injects deep spiritual meaning into what would otherwise be a perfunctory salutation, signaling the profound spiritual reality of the gospel message from the very first words.
• Indicative Before Imperative: The structure "loved by God and called to be saints" (indicative statements of identity/fact) precedes "Grace to you and peace" (a desiderative wish or prayer). This order highlights a key Pauline theological principle: Christian identity and blessing flow from God's prior action, not from human effort. What God has already done for and in us (love, calling) is the basis for what we receive (grace, peace) and how we ought to live.

Romans 1 7 Commentary

Romans 1:7 encapsulates a rich theology within a seemingly simple greeting. It reveals that the identity of every Christian is rooted in God's initiating, unmerited love and His sovereign call to a life consecrated to Him. This divine love and calling are the bedrock, establishing the believer's standing before God. Flowing from this divine foundation are "grace"—God's empowering, freely given favor that alone can save and sustain—and "peace"—a profound, comprehensive well-being that reconciles one to God and brings inner tranquility. Crucially, these vital blessings proceed equally and simultaneously from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, underscoring their unified divine authority and challenging any human-centric view of spiritual blessings. This greeting is not a mere pleasantry but a succinct declaration of the gospel: our standing and blessings derive wholly from the Triune God. For practical usage, this verse reminds believers that their identity in Christ (loved, called saints) precedes their actions, and their spiritual resources (grace, peace) flow solely from God and Christ, providing a basis for humble assurance and thankful living. For instance, in moments of doubt, recall "loved by God"; when feeling inadequate, remember "grace"; facing turmoil, embrace "peace."