To the Jew First, and Also to the Greek

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)

What Paul wrote about the power of the Gospel would shake believers. He made clear that it is not merely a cultural or historical narrative. It is the power of God, active and effective for salvation. It is also not only for the Jewish people. It is available to everyone who believes, regardless of background or heritage. Paul specifically mentions both Jews and Greeks to make clear that this power crosses every ethnic and cultural line without losing any of its strength.

This matters because the Gospel's power does not depend on who receives it. It is the same power for every person who places their trust in it. The Word of God carries the same authority and produces the same results whether the person reading it comes from a long religious heritage or from no religious background whatsoever. Truth does not change based on the audience.

Paul was not ashamed of this Gospel, even though it was regularly mocked and dismissed in his own culture. That same confidence is available to believers today. The Gospel has not lost any of its power simply because the surrounding culture has grown skeptical of it. It remains exactly what Paul described: the power of God unto salvation, available equally to anyone who will believe it.

Practical Application

Refuse to hesitate to share the Gospel today or to stand up for the truth it proclaims, no matter how it might be received. Its power does not depend on cultural approval. It is the power of God and is available to all who receive it.

Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:10