Romans 1:14-15 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
Paul preached his message to whomever would listen. He spent a great deal of time in the market places of cities across the Roman Empire. He also preached and taught in many synagogues and forums in these cities. That means he met many different types of people from all walks of life. There is evidence in the New Testament that he led rich wealthy home owners, government officials, and poor slaves to the Lord. The early churches were a mix of all the classes of people of that time. Paul’s desire was that all people put their faith in Jesus Christ. This was one of the motivating factors for his visit to Rome. He wanted more people to hear the gospel. Going to Rome would be a great opportunity for this. Plus, he also hoped the Roman church would be able to equip him for ministry beyond, even to Spain. This type of vision for the mission of God should inspire us as well. We may not have the same call as Paul or even the same drive or energy, but we join him in this mission in the ways and places to which God leads us. The key word in this verse is “obligated,” which is also used for those who have financial debts. It is a strong word that implies that we “owe” something to someone. Paul owed it to people to tell them the good news, and so do we.
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