Romans 1:5

“By whom we have received grace and apostleship, etc..] That is, either by the Holy Spirit, from whom all grace and gifts come, qualifying for the discharge of any office; or by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is full of grace and truth, has received gifts for, and gives them to men to fit them for whatsoever service he is pleased to call them to. By “grace and apostleship” may be meant, either one and the same thing, the favour and honour of being the apostles of Christ; or different things, and the one in order to the other. Grace may design special saving grace in calling, justification, pardon, and adoption, and sanctification, which was received in common with other saints, and is absolutely…”

“By whom--as the ordained channel. we have received grace--the whole "grace that bringeth salvation" (Tit 2:11). and apostleship--for the publication of that "grace," and the organization of as many as receive it into churches of visible discipleship. (We prefer thus taking them as two distinct things, and not, with some good interpreters, as one--"the grace of apostleship"). for obedience to the faith--rather, "for the obedience of faith"--that is, in order to men's yielding themselves to the belief of God's saving message, which is the highest of all obedience. for his name--that He might be glorified.”

“By whom - The apostle here returns to the subject of the salutation of the Romans, and states to them his authority to address them. That authority he had derived from the Lord Jesus, and not from man. On this fact, that he had received his apostolic commission, not from man, but by the direct authority of Jesus Christ, Paul not infrequently insisted. Galatians 1:12, “for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Ephesians 3:1-3. We - The plural here is probably put for the singular; see Colossians 4:3; compare Ephesians 6:19-20. It was usual for those who were clothed with authority to express themselves in this manner.…”

“By whom we have received - I and the other apostles. Grace and apostleship - The favour to be an apostle, and qualifications for it. For obedience to the faith in all nations - That is, that all nations may embrace the faith of Christ. For his name - For his sake; out of regard to him. Romans 1:6”

“1:5 given us . . . apostles: Here Paul might have been thinking both of himself and of the other apostles, or he might be using an editorial plural to refer only to himself. • Privilege and authority could specify two separate things, but one might explain the other, as in the privilege of having apostolic authority. Paul always makes it clear that his distinctive authority is a gift from God (see also 15:15-16). • so that they will believe and obey him: This summary of Paul’s purpose in preaching to Gentiles brackets the book of Romans, as he repeats the same idea in slightly different language at the end of the letter (16:26). Paul wanted Gentiles to believe in Jesus Christ; he underscored…”

“we have: Rom 12:3, Rom 15:15, Rom 15:16; Joh 1:16; Co1 15:10; Co2 3:5, Co2 3:6; Gal 1:15, Gal 1:16; Eph 3:2-9; Ti1 1:11, Ti1 1:12 apostleship: Act 1:25; Co1 9:2; Gal 2:8, Gal 2:9 for obedience to the faith: or, to the obedience of faith, Rom 15:18, Rom 15:19, Rom 16:26; Act 6:7; Co2 10:4-6; Heb 5:9 among: Rom 3:29 for his name: Mal 1:11, Mal 1:14; Act 15:14; Eph 1:6, Eph 1:12; Pe1 2:9, Pe1 2:10 Romans 1:6”