Romans 1: 5?

[Jim_Baur]

Romans 1: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name

What is obedience?

I apologize for such an easy question.

What does St. Paul mean by obedience to faith?

THANKS!

 

[bmullins]

I think reading it in the RSV-CE helps bring to light the meaning behind this verse:

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-5 RSV-CE

In this sense the verse is saying that their goal as Apostles is to bring about conversion and an adherence to the faith as presented by the Apostles, the teaching of Christ as handed on to them. The early Church, Paul included, did not envision many different denominations, but only one faith. Obedience here has the connotation of obey, but also to submit and to hear. That means that one not only hears the Gospel as offered by the Apostle, but also submits to and follows the faith. He is talking about their mission, to bring the Gospel to all nations.

 

[Jim_Baur]

Thanks!