I Am Not Ashamed of the Power of

God Romans 1:16 Wuest

Greek word commentary by

K. S. Wuest

I n introducing the theme of Romans, Paul uses gar, For. Vincent says,
Marking the transition from the introduction to the treatise, I am ready to
preach at Rome, for, though I might seem to be deterred by the contempt in
which the gospel is held, and by the prospect of my own humiliation as its
preacher, I am not ashamed of it. Alford comments, Yea, to you at Rome
also, for though your city may be mistress of the world, though your emperors
may be worshipped as deities, though you may be elated by your pomps and
luxuries and victories, yet I am not ashamed of the apparently mean origin of
the gospel I preach.
And then he gives the reason why he is not ashamed of it. Coming to the city
where power is the keynote, the power of the Roman Empire, its military
might, the apostle says that the good news he brings is the power of God
unto salvation. Of the six words for power in the Greek language, Paul
chooses dunamis to describe the effectual working of the good news of
salvation. Dunamis is power, natural ability, inherent power residing in a thing
by virtue of its nature, or, power which a person or thing exerts or puts forth.
The gospel is the inherent, omnipotent power of God operating in the
salvation of a lost soul that accepts it. Unto is eis, a preposition often
signifying result. The gospel is Gods power resulting in salvation to the one
who believes. The definite article is absent before power, The gospel is a
power of God. Denney says, It does no injustice to render a divine power.
The conception of the gospel as a force pervades the epistles to the
Corinthians; its proof, so to speak, is dynamical, not logical. It is
demonstrated, not by argument, but by what it does; and looking to what it can
do, Paul is proud to preach it anywhere. Vincent says that the gospel is not
merely a powerful means in Gods hands, but in itself a divine energy. It is the
good news of salvation energized by the Holy Spirit. Our word dynamite is
the transliteration of this Greek word but not its translation. Dunamis does not
refer to an explosive powder. The Greeks knew nothing about gunpowder. The
gospel is not the dynamite of God. It is a sweet and loving message of mercy
and grace which the Holy Spirit in sovereign grace makes operative in the
heart of the sinner elected to salvation before the foundation of the universe.

Paul says, For I am not ashamed of the good news, for a power of God it is
resulting in salvation to everyone who believes, not only to the Jew first but
also to the Gentile. Paul wrote this letter before he had, after Israels repeated
rejection of the good news, pronounced the fateful words, Be it known
therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and
that they will hear it (Acts 28:28). Until then, the apostle had given the Jew
the priority in the hearing of the Word of God, but with that decision, the Jew
was put on the same footing as the Gentile.

For I am not ashamed of the good news. For Gods power it is, resulting in
salvation to everyone who believes, to a Jew first and to a Gentile, for Gods
righteousness in it is revealed on the principle of faith to faith, even as it
stands written, And the one who is just on the principle of faith shall
live. Romans 1:16, 17

The gospel is Gods power resulting in salvation to the

one who believes.