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(Rom. 1:1-4) “Paul,” he says, “was called,” that is, called on the road to Damascus by Jesus Christ who appeared to him, who sent him to preach His Gospel (Acts 9:1). He does not say: “then I was called, when I was chosen,” but: “already chosen, like my companions, before the world was formed, to preach the Gospel of God.” As it is, so it is, Romans, there is one Gospel, one Good News, to Whom the sacred books of the prophets testified from time immemorial, communicating the promise of the Son, Who in the last times appeared among them (the Israelites), clothed in flesh, “coming from the tribe of David.” - and revealed himself as the Son of God. How did it open? “By the power and holiness of the spirit”, that is, by His powers and gifts, which with the Holy Spirit descend on His disciples. He said, Who rose from the dead. No one called Him to life. He was dead and became alive. Counted for dead according to the body that He received; alive - because of the deity. Therefore, He said: “Determined by the Son of God.” He did not say: called to life, so as not to contradict his words, but: He called Himself from the dead, so that He fulfilled and confirmed His prophecies. (Rom. 1:5-6) “Through whom we received grace.” Through the washing of baptism we also received “apostleship” along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that in His name we might not proclaim wicked and abominable deeds, and not that abominable life that we have mentioned. And you, Romans, being one of those who are called, will not be deprived of the grace that sent us to you. (Rom. 1:7–8) “To all who are in Rome... called saints,” that is, catechumens and washed through baptism. Those who were baptized were saints because of the cleansing given in baptism: “they were washed,” he says, and “sanctified” (1 Cor. 6:11). “Peace... to you... and grace... from God our Father” (Rom. 1:7), who called you and accepted you into His adoption, “and our Lord Jesus Christ”; did not say: “through” our Lord Jesus Christ. “I thank God... through Jesus Christ.” Before this he said: “from... the Lord” in order to show deity; now he says: “through the Lord,” to show humanity as well. “Your faith, as great as your city, is proclaimed throughout the world.” (Rom. 1:9-16) “God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit,” that is, with spiritual life, and not according to the laws of sacrifices, “with the gospel of His Son,” and not according to the books of Moses. “I make constant remembrance of you... in my prayers,” praying that not after a long time, but soon I would be granted to see you, “that I might teach you” something of spiritual grace, as I taught to your companions - the Galatians and Corinthians - for strengthening you, so that you would be strong during persecution, - and (that it would be granted to me) to be comforted mutually among you and to pray together with you common faith. “I don’t want you not to know that I often wanted to come to you,” and also to have among you the fruits that I bring to the greatness of the Divine, Whose disciple I am, - just as I had among other nations, among “the wise and the ignorant,” that is, among those who agree to obey us, and others who refuse. But let them obey or not, my duty is to preach. And “I am ready,” obedient Romans, proclaim the Gospel to you. He said that he was ready, either because he was away from them, or because that city worshiped idols, or because everyone had no desire to go there. (Rom. 1:16-17) “For I am not ashamed of my gospel,” precisely because of the cross proclaimed in it; for he “is the power of God,” which accomplishes that the rebellious pagans are brought to obedience, and Jews and pagans who believe in him receive certain salvation. “The truth of God,” that is, the life of the ancients, “is revealed in him... from faith to faith,” from the faith of Abraham to the faith of the sons of Abraham. That this is so, as I said, is shown by the Scriptures, which say: “The righteous... shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4). (Rom. 1:18-20) “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven,” in vengeance for the law of nature, against those who abide in unrighteousness and, although they are conscious of the truth, yet honor wickedness. The knowledge of God is known to them, for God has revealed Himself in creatures. “Which is not visible from the beginning of the world”: this speaks either about the nature of creatures, which is described by Moses, or about the Son, Who was hidden and has now revealed Himself, Whose truths are now revealed in miracles, as in the beginning - in created objects. Those who depart from Him will be inexcusable. (Rom. 1:21-23) “They knew God from among the creatures, but did not...glorify God”—the Creator of all nature—“or they gave thanks, and emptied themselves in their thoughts” of the truth of His glory. since they did not glorify Him with all His miracles, Whom they should have glorified for His miracles, they were darkened by the foolishness of their hearts and the light of their knowledge. Therefore, they became fools, they “considered themselves wise, and became fools,” moving away from God, giving glory to the images of man, birds, reptiles and four-legged animals. (Rom. 1:24-26) since they strayed from God, who loves holiness and purity, and were carried away by images that excited them to act contrary to holiness and purity, then “God... gave them over” not into riches, which they hated, but they were given over into uncleanness, into the lust of their hearts - “they dishonored their bodies... in themselves and in themselves, changing the truth of God into a lie,... and they preferred the service of the creature to the Creator." (Rom. 1:26–28) Likewise, “their women changed the law of their nature,” obeying and honoring (idols). You hear that their women also changed their laws to unjust laws, although they were not brought to this by violence from anyone. “Likewise, men themselves abandoned the natural use of women,” they themselves also fell into negligence, although not forced by anyone, driven to this not only by their lust, but also by greed. Also, “retribution for their” rebellion against their wives “received or they in themselves... themselves.” They did not want “in... themselves” to know God, although they could, - “and... God... gave them over,” that is, not into the hands of rulers or sin, but to the thoughts of deviating from this noble and useful conviction. “He gave them over to an evil mind - to do indecency,” which they had already committed. (Rom. 1:29-31) "Filled with self-will, all unrighteousness" and other vices, which he lists. Those who recognize the truth of God, those who do this are given over to the second death - and not only those who do this are worthy of death, but also those who sympathize with such deeds and whom the Apostle portrayed as "proud and arrogant, inventors of vices" who saw in comrades. Perhaps he said this about those of their judges who, bribed with gifts, not only did not interfere with crimes, but even assisted and praised those who committed bad deeds. 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