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Romans 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Job 16:19
Also now, behold, my witnessis in heaven, and my recordis on high.

2 Corinthians 1:23
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

whom.

Acts 27:23
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Philippians 2:22
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

Colossians 1:28,29
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: …

with.

John 4:23,24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him…

Acts 19:21
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

1 Corinthians 14:14,15
For if I pray in anunknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful…

the.

Mark 1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Acts 3:26
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

1 John 5:9-12
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son…

that.

1 Samuel 12:23
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto themto this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Acts 12:5
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

in preaching the gospel of His Son
Paul's mission is centered on the proclamation of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. This phrase underscores the centrality of Christ in Paul's message, fulfilling the prophecies of a coming Messiah (Isaiah 53). The "gospel of His Son" indicates the divine nature of Jesus, affirming His role as the Son of God, a key tenet of Christian faith. Paul's dedication to this mission is evident throughout his epistles, as seen in1 Corinthians 9:16, where he states, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

is my witness
Paul calls upon God as his witness, a solemn declaration of truthfulness and integrity. This reflects the cultural and historical context of the time, where oaths and witnesses were crucial in affirming one's honesty (Hebrews 6:16). By invoking God as his witness, Paul assures the Roman believers of his genuine concern and commitment to them, even though he has not yet visited them.

how constantly I remember you
Paul's constant remembrance of the Roman believers in his prayers demonstrates his pastoral heart and deep love for the church. This aligns with his practice of praying for all the churches he established or hoped to visit, as seen in his letters to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:4) and Ephesians (Ephesians 1:16). His persistent prayers reflect the early Christian emphasis on intercessory prayer and the unity of the body of Christ, transcending geographical boundaries.

Paul begins by anchoring everything in the Person of God Himself.

• The focus is not on Paul’s effort but on the One he serves (Psalm 115:1).

• God’s centrality in every aspect of ministry mirrors1 Corinthians 3:7, where “neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God.”

• By naming God first, Paul reminds readers that any genuine Christian work starts and ends with the Lord (Isaiah 42:8).

• “Serve” conveys wholehearted devotion, the same attitude seen inJoshua 24:15—“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

• Service for Paul isn’t occasional or half-hearted; it is continuous, as inActs 27:23 where he says, “the God whose I am and whom I serve.”

• True service flows from love (John 14:15) rather than duty alone.

• Paul’s primary arena of service is internal—his spirit—showing genuine worship that springs from the heart (John 4:24).

• This inner reality guards against empty religious activity (Matthew 15:8).

•Philippians 3:3 echoes the same idea: “we who worship by the Spirit of God… put no confidence in the flesh.”

• The content of Paul’s service is crystal clear: the gospel centered on God’s Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16).

• “His Son” highlights Jesus’ divine origin and authority (Matthew 3:17).

• Paul’s singular focus on gospel proclamation aligns with1 Corinthians 2:2—“I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

• This commitment governs his entire life direction (Acts 20:24).

• Paul calls on God to verify his sincerity, following the pattern of2 Corinthians 1:23—“I call God as my witness.”

• Invoking God’s witness underscores Paul’s integrity and transparency (Proverbs 15:3).

• It reassures the Roman believers that his words arise from genuine affection, not flattery (1 Thessalonians 2:5).

• Paul’s remembrance is continual, demonstrated in parallel statements such asPhilippians 1:3-4 and1 Thessalonians 1:2—he prays for believers “always.”

• This constancy shows a shepherd’s heart, valuing people over projects (Acts 20:31).

• Such persistent intercession reflects the call to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Romans 1:9 reveals a life wholly God-centered: Paul serves God from the depths of his spirit by tirelessly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Calling God as witness, he assures the Roman believers that they are continually in his prayers. The verse models authentic ministry—rooted in God, fueled by heartfelt worship, laser-focused on the gospel, marked by integrity, and saturated with constant intercession for fellow believers.

Whom I serve.--The word for "serve" is strictly used for voluntary service paid to God, especially in the way of sacrifice and outward worship. Here it is somewhat metaphorical: "Whom I serve, not so much with outward acts as with the ritual of the spirit."

With my spirit.--"Spirit" is with St. Paul the highest part or faculty in the nature of man. It is the seat of his higher consciousness--the organ by which he communicates with God. "Certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature." (Bacon,Essay on Atheism.) Of itself the "spirit" of man is neutral. When brought into contact with the Spirit of God, it is capable of a truly religious life; but apart from this influence, it is apt to fall under the dominion of the "flesh"--i.e., of those evil appetites and desires to which man is exposed by his physical organisation.

In the gospel of his Son.--The sphere to which the Apostle feels himself called, and in which this heart-worship of his finds its field of operation, is the defence and preaching, &c., of the gospel.

(9-11) It is the constant subject of the Apostle's prayers that he may succeed in making his way to Rome; so anxious is he to open his heart to that Church in personal- apostolic intercourse.