What does Romans 1:16 mean?

Paul says he is not embarrassed by the gospel because it is God’s power to save everyone who believes, starting with the Jews and extending to the Greeks. He gives the reason for his confidence. The message works because God works through it, so it does not depend on the messenger’s polish or the audience’s approval.

Why was Paul tempted to be ashamed of the gospel?

Because it announced a crucified Messiah, which sounded foolish or offensive to many Jews and Greeks, and Paul was writing to the capital of the empire. Elsewhere he admits the message of the cross seems like foolishness to people who are perishing, and he says so in 1 Corinthians 1:18.

What does the power of God unto salvation mean?

It means the gospel is the means by which God actually saves, not just information about salvation. The verse treats the message as active. People who trust it are rescued, so the gospel does something in them that persuasion on its own cannot do.

Why does Paul say to the Jew first and also to the Greek?

Because the promises came through Israel before they reached the nations, and the early preaching in Acts usually began in synagogues. The phrase describes the order of the message, not a ranking of worth. The very next clause makes clear it is for everyone who believes.

Does being not ashamed mean being pushy?

No. Paul speaks openly but he also adapts to his hearers, as in Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians 9. Being unashamed means refusing to hide the message from embarrassment. It does not call for pressure, argument for its own sake, or ignoring what the person in front of you is asking.

How does Making Heaven Crowded share the gospel?

Volunteers offer food, water and conversation in downtown Tampa and downtown Gainesville and are open about their faith when someone asks. The ministry also takes prayer requests online, and new volunteers learn by walking alongside experienced team members. Nobody is required to listen to anything in order to receive help.

Making Heaven Crowded volunteers praying with a person during a street outreach

Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 explained: not ashamed of the gospel

Paul writes to a church in the capital of the empire and says he is not ashamed. Here is what he means, and why the reason he gives matters more than the boldness.

The short answer

Not ashamed, because it is God’s power

In Romans 1:16 Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and also to the Greek. He does not claim to be unembarrassed by temperament. He gives a reason: the message does something that no argument or personality can do, so there is nothing to apologize for.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 (KJV)

The letter

Written to a church Paul had not yet visited

Romans is Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome, a city he had not yet visited. In verses 14-15 he says he is under obligation to all kinds of people, Greeks and non-Greeks, the wise and the unwise, and that he is eager to preach the gospel in Rome as well. Verse 16 follows, and it begins with “for,” which tells the reader it is giving the reason for his eagerness.

Rome was the center of imperial power. A message about a crucified Jewish teacher raised from the dead was easy to be embarrassed by in that setting. That is the pressure Paul has in mind when he says he is not ashamed.

Three phrases

What the verse actually says

“The power of God.” The gospel is not a method for improving people. It is God’s own power at work, so the messenger’s skill is not what saves anyone.
“Unto salvation to every one that believeth.” The goal is salvation, and the condition is trust. No one is excluded by background, and no one is included by it either.
“To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The message came through Israel, and it is for everyone. Paul does not set one group above the other. He is describing the order in which it went out.

What comes next

Verse 17 and the reason behind it

Verse 17 explains the power: in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, from faith to faith, as it is written that the just shall live by faith. Paul is quoting the prophet Habakkuk. The idea running through the rest of Romans is that people are put right with God through trust in Jesus and not through their own record.

That is why Paul has no reason to be ashamed. If the gospel were his own idea, he might feel the need to defend it. Because it is God’s power and God’s promise, his job is only to announce it.

In Tampa and Gainesville

Saying it plainly, without pressure

Making Heaven Crowded describes itself without hedging: it is a Christian evangelism and missions nonprofit and its stated mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Volunteers in downtown Tampa and downtown Gainesville hand out food and water and are glad to talk about their faith with anyone who wants to. Not being ashamed does not mean pushing, and nobody has to listen to be helped.

Readers who want to know what the message contains can start with what the Gospel is, and anyone wondering whether they are allowed to share it can read whether Making Heaven Crowded is a church to see where the ministry sits.

Questions

Romans 1:16, answered plainly

What does Romans 1:16 mean?: Paul says he is not embarrassed by the gospel because it is God’s power to save everyone who believes, starting with the Jews and extending to the Greeks. He gives the reason for his confidence. The message works because God works through it, so it does not depend on the messenger’s polish or the audience’s approval.
Why was Paul tempted to be ashamed of the gospel?: Because it announced a crucified Messiah, which sounded foolish or offensive to many Jews and Greeks, and Paul was writing to the capital of the empire. Elsewhere he admits the message of the cross seems like foolishness to people who are perishing, and he says so in 1 Corinthians 1:18.
What does the power of God unto salvation mean?: It means the gospel is the means by which God actually saves, not just information about salvation. The verse treats the message as active. People who trust it are rescued, so the gospel does something in them that persuasion on its own cannot do.
Why does Paul say to the Jew first and also to the Greek?: Because the promises came through Israel before they reached the nations, and the early preaching in Acts usually began in synagogues. The phrase describes the order of the message, not a ranking of worth. The very next clause makes clear it is for everyone who believes.
Does being not ashamed mean being pushy?: No. Paul speaks openly but he also adapts to his hearers, as in Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians 9. Being unashamed means refusing to hide the message from embarrassment. It does not call for pressure, argument for its own sake, or ignoring what the person in front of you is asking.
How does Making Heaven Crowded share the gospel?: Volunteers offer food, water and conversation in downtown Tampa and downtown Gainesville and are open about their faith when someone asks. The ministry also takes prayer requests online, and new volunteers learn by walking alongside experienced team members. Nobody is required to listen to anything in order to receive help.

Sources

Read the passages on Bible Gateway (King James Version): Romans 1:14-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Habakkuk 2:4.

Where to go next

Ask a question, or come and see

You are welcome to join an outreach, send a prayer request, or write to the team.

Become a Tampa volunteer All ways to get involved

Questions? Email Makingheavencrowdedtampa@gmail.com or call (941) 718-2867.