Romans 1:8

First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all,.... After the inscription and salutation, follows a thanksgiving, which begins the epistle: it is usual with the apostle in all his epistles…

First - In the first place, not in point of importance, but before speaking of other things, or before proceeding to the main design of the Epistle. I thank my God - The God, whom I worship and serve.…

First, I thank my God - From this to the end of Rom 1:17 belongs to the preface, in which the apostle endeavors to conciliate the good opinion of the Christians at Rome, and to prepare their minds for…

We may here observe,

I. His thanksgivings for them (Rom 1:8): First, I thank my God. It is good to begin every thing with blessing God, to make that the alpha and omega of every song, in every thing…

The good report of the Roman Church. Paul desires to visit them, and to preach the gospel of faith to them