First, some comments on the beginning of his letter. It may be the longest of beginnings to any of his letters, covering 7 verses:
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
In these verses, Paul establishes his call, the gospel, the Incarnation, Jesus Christ as Lord, and connects with those in Rome who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, who are loved by God, and called to be saints.
The expression which jumped out at me is in verses 4 and 5: "Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all nations." The church in Rome contained representatives of many nations. There were Jews and Gentiles from various backgrounds now learning how to be one, what it meant to belong to Jesus Christ, to be loved by God, to be called to be saints. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, both in the beginning of this letter and throughout, Paul would address all of them.
Second, some comments on his doxology in Romans 11:33-36: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable are his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."
We need to back up to the verses preceding this to understand what caused this outburst of praise. In verses 25-32, Paul discusses the mystery of Israel's salvation. Because most of the Roman believers were Gentiles, God directed Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to remind them of this: "Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (11:25).
"For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too now have been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all" (11:30-32).
It is no wonder that Paul breaks forth in such a doxology. God's saving mercy to such as Jew and Gentile alike should bring forth such wonder and such praise from every heart.
