Being a debtor!

Gospel

14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to the uncultured, both to the wise and to the foolish.

– Romans 1:14
(NASB® © 2020)

Paul once called himself a “debtor”. Strange, isn’t it? Weren’t the recipients of his ministry – and therefore also us – his debtors?

“I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.” (Romans 1:14).

Most Bible readers would no doubt agree that many nations are debtors to Paul – to this man who did not shy away from arduous journeys and who did not let opposition or problems among believers hold him back. He traveled far and wide and worked extremely hard – night and day – spreading the Christian faith.

But Paul did not consider the recipients of his ministry to be his debtors. The reverse was the case: he felt that he was a debtor to them: “I am a debtor.”

And, going further, he did not limit his debt to those who were waiting to receive his instruction in one way or another. No, he says: “I am a debtor to both Greeks and barbarians, to both the wise and the unwise.” A lack of culture or intelligence on the part of the recipients would never be an excuse for not bringing them the gospel. That would not absolve him of his guilt!

And what about us? Do we not also owe a debt to those who need to hear the gospel? And to those who have never been able to hear the sound teaching of biblical themes, especially about Christ, the Christian faith, the assembly (congregation, church), the Christian hope, etc.?

Despite this “great guilt,” we do not find a word that this would have depressed Paul. He knew “the excellencies of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8). And he knew the value of the “goods” he had to offer. For he knew that the “gospel of God about his Son, Jesus Christ,” was “God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes.“

Paul really was a happy debtor!

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