Loved by God

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints. Romans 1:7

After his general introduction to his readers in verse 6, Paul now fully identifies the recipients of his original letter: to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.

Evidently, Paul’s readers lived in the capital of the Empire, the great cosmopolitan city of Rome. With a population of 1 million (a population not to be matched until 1800 when London grew to that size), Rome was the greatest city of the ancient world. Its empire extended from Spain to Palestine and contained over 60 million people. The city of Rome was the centre of government, trade and power. It was the Super Power of the first century.

Paul’s letter, however, was not addressed to the population of Rome as a whole. It was sent to “all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.