Rm 1,1-4 Paul, called to be an apostle

Letter to Romans

Romans 1

(Rm 1,1-4) Paul, called to be an apostle

[1] Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, [2] which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures, [3] the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh, [4] but established as Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(CCC 876) Intrinsically linked to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry is its character as service. Entirely dependent on Christ who gives mission and authority, ministers are truly "slaves of Christ" (Cf. Rom 1:1) in the image of him who freely took "the form of a slave" for us (Phil 2:7). Because the word and grace of which they are ministers are not their own, but are given to them by Christ for the sake of others, they must freely become the slaves of all (Cf. 1 Cor 9:19). (CCC 437) To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Lk 2:11). From the beginning he was "the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world", conceived as "holy" in Mary's virginal womb (Jn 10:36; cf. Lk 1:35). God called Joseph to "take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit," so that Jesus, "who is called Christ," should be born of Joseph's spouse into the messianic lineage of David (Mt 1:20; cf. 1:16; Rom 1:1; 2 Tim 2:8; Rev 22:16). (CCC 445) After his Resurrection, Jesus' divine sonship becomes manifest in the power of his glorified humanity. He was "designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his Resurrection from the dead"(Rom 1:3; cf. Acts 13:33). The apostles can confess: "We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14)