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Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to thinkof himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 15:15,16
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, …

John 1:16
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

apostleship.

Acts 1:25
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

1 Corinthians 9:2
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Galatians 2:8,9
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) …

for obedience to the faith.

Romans 15:18,19
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, …

Romans 16:26
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Acts 6:7
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

among.

Romans 3:29
Is he the God of the Jews only?is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

for his name.

Malachi 1:11,14
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my nameshall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incenseshall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my nameshall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts…

Acts 15:14
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Ephesians 1:6,12
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved…

we received grace and apostleship
The "grace" mentioned here refers to the unmerited favor and empowerment given by God to the apostles. This grace is not only for personal salvation but also for the specific calling and equipping for ministry. "Apostleship" denotes the office and mission given to the apostles, particularly Paul, who was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8). This dual gift of grace and apostleship highlights the divine initiative and empowerment in the spread of the Gospel, as seen inEphesians 3:7-8, where Paul speaks of becoming a servant of the Gospel by the gift of God's grace.

to call all those among the Gentiles
The mission to the Gentiles is a significant theme in Paul's ministry. This phrase indicates the universal scope of the Gospel, breaking the boundaries of Jewish exclusivity and extending God's salvation to all nations. This aligns with the Great Commission inMatthew 28:19, where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations. Historically, the inclusion of Gentiles was a radical shift, challenging Jewish cultural and religious norms. Paul's role as the apostle to the Gentiles is further emphasized inActs 9:15, where God declares that Paul is His chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles.

to the obedience that comes from faith
This phrase highlights the relationship between faith and obedience in the Christian life. True faith in Christ results in a transformed life characterized by obedience to God's commands. This is not a legalistic obedience but one that flows naturally from a genuine faith.James 2:17 reinforces this by stating that faith without works is dead. The obedience of faith is a recurring theme in Paul's writings, as seen inRomans 16:26, where he speaks of the mystery of the Gospel being revealed to lead to the obedience of faith among all nations. This obedience is a response to the grace received and is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the sole channel of God’s saving work. Paul starts by anchoring every blessing “through Him,” reminding us that:

• “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

• All things hold together in Christ, so every spiritual gift flows out of His person and finished work (Colossians 1:17,Romans 5:1–2).

• Our focus is never on human effort but on the One who said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

The aim is the honor of Christ’s name, not personal fame.

• God set His Son’s name “above every name” so that “every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:9-11).

• Paul’s ministry exists “so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you” (2 Thessalonians 1:12).

• Carrying His name means representing His character, authority, and reputation (Acts 9:15,John 17:6).

Paul doesn’t claim merit; he highlights a gift.

• Grace is unearned favor: “We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

• Even ministry ability is grace: “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

• Saving and serving grace come together (Ephesians 2:8-9;2 Timothy 1:9).

Grace is paired with a commission.

• An apostle is a sent one with Christ-given authority (Galatians 1:1).

• Jesus told Paul, “I have appeared to you… to appoint you as a servant and witness” (Acts 26:16-18).

• This role equips God’s people for mission and maturity (Ephesians 4:11-12;Matthew 28:19-20).

The gospel invitation is global.

• God’s promise to Abraham was that “all the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

• Isaiah anticipated a “light for the nations” (Isaiah 49:6), fulfilled in Christ and proclaimed by Paul (Acts 13:47).

• The mystery is now revealed: Gentiles are “grafted in” and welcomed equally (Romans 16:26;Galatians 3:8).

Faith and obedience are inseparable; genuine trust produces godly action.

• “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).

• Jesus said, “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:21).

• The Spirit leads believers to “obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2).

• Paul’s goal is that nations “become obedient to God” through the gospel (Romans 15:18;Acts 6:7).

Romans 1:5 shows the whole sweep of gospel ministry: everything originates through Christ, aims at His honor, and is empowered by grace. That grace commissions us to go—especially to those far from God—so that they hear, believe, and live in an obedience that naturally flows from trusting Jesus.

We have received.--The Apostle means himself alone, but the plural is used (as frequently in Greek) with delicate tact, so as to avoid an appearance of egotism or assumption.

Grace and apostleship.--Grace is here divine favour manifested in various ways, but especially in his conversion. St. Augustine notes that grace is common to the Apostle with all believers--his apostleship is something special and peculiar; yet apostleship is an instance, or case, of grace. Origen distinguishes between the two--"grace for the endurance of labours, apostleship for authority in preaching;" but both terms are perhaps somewhat wider than this. Apostleship includes all those privileges which St. Paul possessed as an Apostle; grace is all those privileges that he possessed as a Christian. At the same time, in either case the meaning tends in the direction of that particular object which is expressed in the next clause. The light in which the Apostle valued most the gifts that had been bestowed upon him, was inasmuch as they enabled him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

For obedience to the faith among all nations.--Literally,For (to produce)obedience of faith (the obedience which springs from faith)among all the Gentiles.

Faith is not here equivalent to "the faith"--a positive body of doctrine received and believed--but, in its strict sense, that active habit and attitude of mind by which the Christian shows his devotion and loyalty to Christ, and his total dependence on Him (Galatians 2:19).

For his name.--For His name's sake. "His,"i.e., Christ's. The whole of that divine economy of which St. Paul himself forms part, tends to the glory of Christ. The Apostle's call to his office, his special endowment for his ministry, the success of his preaching among the Gentiles, as they proceed from Christ, so also have for their object the extension of His kingdom.