Romans 1:7

“To all that be in Rome, etc..] These words contain both the inscription of the epistle, and the apostle's usual salutation, as in all his epistles, The inscription of it is not to the Roman emperor; nor to the Roman senate, nor to all the inhabitants in Rome; but to all the saints there, whether rich or poor, bond or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile, without any distinction, being all one in Christ Jesus: and these are described as beloved of God; not for any loveliness there was in them, nor because of any love in them to God, nor on account of their obedience and righteousness; but through the free favour and sovereign will and pleasure of God, who loved them before he called them,…”

“beloved of God--(Compare Deu 33:12; Col 3:12). Grace, &c.--(See on Joh 1:14). and peace--the peace which Christ made through the blood of His cross (Col 1:20), and which reflects into the believing bosom "the peace of God which passeth all understanding" (Phi 4:7). from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ--"Nothing speaks more decisively for the divinity of Christ than these juxtapositions of Christ with the eternal God, which run through the whole language of Scripture, and the derivation of purely divine influences from Him also. The name of no man can be placed by the side of the Almighty. He only, in whom the Word of the Father who is Himself God became flesh, may be named beside…”

“To all that be in Rome - That is, to all who bear the Christian name. Perhaps he here included not only the church at Rome, but all who might have been there from abroad. Rome was a place of vast concourse for foreigners; and Paul probably addressed all who happened to be there. Beloved of God - Whom God loves. This is the privilege of all Christians. And this proves that the persons whom Paul addressed were “not” those merely who had been invited to the external privileges of the gospel. The importance of this observation will appear in the progress of these notes. Called to be saints - So called, or influenced by God who had called them, as to become saints. The word “saints,” ἅγιοι…”

“To all that are in Rome - Most of these were heathens by birth, Rom 1:13, though with Jews mixed among them. They were scattered up and down in that large city, and not yet reduced into the form of a church. Only some had begun to meet in the house of Aquila and Priscilla. Beloved of God - And from his free love, not from any merit of yours, called by his word and his Spirit to believe in him, and now through faith holy as he is holy. Grace - The peculiar favour of God. And peace - All manner of blessings, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. This is both a Christian salutation and an apostolic benediction. From God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ - This is the usual way wherein the…”

“1:7 To be holy means to be set apart for God. This expression is used throughout the Old Testament to describe Israel, God’s chosen people (cp. Exod 19:6), whom God called from among all other nations to be his own. By calling the Gentile Christians his own holy people, Paul makes it clear that Gentiles are now fully included among God’s people.”

“To all: Act 15:23; Co1 1:2; Co2 1:1; Phi 1:1; Col 1:2; Jam 1:1; Pe1 1:1, Pe1 1:2; Jde 1:1; Rev 2:1, Rev 2:8, Rev 2:12, Rev 2:18, Rev 2:29, Rev 3:1, Rev 3:7, Rev 3:14, Rev 3:22 beloved: Rom 9:25; Deu 33:12; Psa 60:5; Sol 5:1; Col 3:12; Ti1 6:2 called: Rom 1:6; Co1 1:2; Col 3:15; Th1 4:7; Pe1 1:15; Pe2 1:3 Grace: Co1 1:3-9; Co2 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phi 1:2; Col 1:2; Th1 1:1; Th2 1:2; Ti1 1:2; Ti2 1:2; Tit 1:4; Plm 1:3; Pe1 1:2; Pe2 1:2; Jo2 1:3; Jde 1:2; Rev 1:4, Rev 1:5 peace: Rom 5:1 God: Mat 5:16, Mat 6:8, Mat 6:9; Joh 20:17; Gal 1:4; Phi 4:20; Th1 1:3; Th2 1:1; Jo1 3:1 and the Lord: Act 7:59, Act 7:60; Co1 16:23; Co2 12:8-10, Co2 13:14; Gal 6:18; Eph 6:23, Eph 6:24; Phi 4:13, Phi 4:23;…”