Scripture Notes: The Kerygma (Romans 1)

In the first few verses of his letter to the Romans, St. Paul offers a brief overview of salvation history, a summary of the most important points. This is essentially the kerygma, the proclamation of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith, presented to remind the Romans, and us, of our place in God’s plan and our responsibility with regard to that plan.

Paul begins by saying that he is a servant, actually a slave, of Jesus Christ and that he has been called to be an apostle, one sent on mission, who is set apart, consecrated, for the Gospel, the good news of Christ and God’s saving plan for human beings. This Gospel is new, appearing quite recently, but God promised it for centuries, announcing it in bits and pieces through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. In other words, God set the stage for Jesus, the Incarnate Word, the Son of God in the flesh, long before He came. To truly understand His coming, then, we have to examine that promise in the Old Testament, for it gives us important information about Who Jesus is and what He has come to do.

The Gospel centers around the Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, Who became incarnate, descended from King David in His human flesh but completely God. He revealed His divinity in many ways through His life on earth but especially in His resurrection. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but death could not hold Him, for He is God as well as man, and He rose from the dead.

Now, Paul continues, through Jesus we have received the grace we need to practice the obedience of faith. We can conform our lives to Jesus. Through Him, when can share in the divine life of God. We can keep the moral law. We can, like Paul, be sent and set apart. We can belong to Jesus Christ, entering into an intimate relationship with Him and with the Father and the Holy Spirit. And we are called to spread the Gospel to all nations and all people. We are called to be saints.