In Romans 1:8-17 Paul disclosed his heart for the
Roman church.  He wanted them to know:
that he was thankful for their faith (v.8),
- that he prayed all the time that he might come to
them (v. 9-10),
- that he longed to see them for their mutual
edification (v. 11-12),
- that he had planned to come so that he might
productively minister the gospel among them (v.13),
- that he was obligated by God to preach the gospel
to them (v.14-15),
- and finally that he was not ashamed of that
gospel.
All of these concerned Paul and his regard for the
Christians in Rome. Although Paul had his Roman
readers in mind when he originally wrote these words,
if we allow these words to come to us seeing them as
falling upon our ears under the Sovereign will of
God, we can be prepared to receive the rest of the
letter as coming from one with this heart for the
people God had sent him to.  Verses 16-17 transition
off of Paul's disclosure of himself to the Romans and
onto his main theme, the gospel. No longer are there
so many references to Paul and his thoughts, the
subject now switches to God and how His righteousness
is revealed in the gospel. May we receive and from
Pastor and Apostle Paul his carefully chosen words in
the rest of the letter, knowing that God gifted and
called Paul to minister the gospel to us for His
purposes.  May we honor God's intention by receiving
from Paul.