Romans 1:9

“For God is my witness, whom I serve, etc..] These words are an appeal to God, and carry in them the nature and form of an oath; the reason of the apostle's using it was, because he was personally unknown to the Romans, and they to him, and so might doubt of his affectionate regard unto them; and therefore for the confirmation thereof he uses it: this was a case which was only known to God and himself, and hence he appeals to him for the truth of it. The object of his oath or appeal, or by which he speaks, is not himself, or anything that belonged to him, nor any creature in heaven or on earth, but God; who in a solemn oath is only to be appealed to and sworn by: he describes him as the God…”

“For God . . . whom I serve--the word denotes religious service. with my spirit--from my inmost soul. in the gospel of his Son--to which Paul's whole religious life and official activity were consecrated. is my witness, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers--so for the Ephesians (Eph 1:15-16); so for the Philippians (Phi 1:3-4); so for the Colossians (Col 1:3-4); so for the Thessalonians (Th1 1:2-3). What catholic love, what all-absorbing spirituality, what impassioned devotion to the glory of Christ among men!”

“For God is my witness - The reason of this strong appeal to God is, to show to the Romans the deep interest which he felt in their welfare This interest was manifested in his prayers, and in his earnest desires to see them. A deep interest shown in this way was well suited to prepare them to receive what he had to say to them. Whom I serve - See Romans 1:1; compare Acts 17:23. The expression denotes that he was devoted to God in this manner; that he obeyed him; and had given himself to do his will in making known his gospel. With my spirit - Greek, ἐν en, in my spirit, that is, with my “heart.” It is not an external service merely; it is internal, real, sincere. He was really and sincerely…”

“God, whom I serve - As an apostle. In my spirit - Not only with my body, but with my inmost soul. In the gospel - By preaching it. Romans 1:10”

“1:9 When Paul uses the phrase with all my heart (or in my spirit), he might be describing the influence of God’s Holy Spirit on his own inner person. The word spirit also refers to the deepest part of a person, which the phrase all my heart expresses well.”

“God: Rom 9:1; Job 16:19; Co2 1:23, Co2 11:10, Co2 11:11, Co2 11:31; Gal 1:20; Phi 1:8; Th1 2:5-10; Ti1 2:7 whom: Act 27:23; Phi 2:22; Col 1:28, Col 1:29; Ti2 1:3 with: or, in, Joh 4:23, Joh 4:24; Act 19:21; Co1 14:14, Co1 14:15; Phi 3:3 the: Mar 1:1; Act 3:26; Jo1 5:9-12 that: Sa1 12:23; Luk 18:1; Act 12:5; Eph 6:18; Th1 3:10, Th1 5:17; Ti2 1:3 I make: Eph 1:16-19, Eph 3:14-21; Phi 1:4, Phi 1:9-11; Col 1:9-13; Th1 1:2; Plm 1:4 Romans 1:10”