Romans 1:9

For God is my witness, whom I serve,.... These words are an appeal to God, and carry in them the nature and form of an oath; the reason of the apostle's using it was, because he was personally unknown…

For God is my witness - The reason of this strong appeal to God is, to show to the Romans the deep interest which he felt in their welfare This interest was manifested in his prayers, and in his…

Whom I serve with my spirit - λατπευω Whom I worship with the profoundest religious reverence; for so the original certainly means: I not only employ all the powers of my body in this service, but all…

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…

For God is my witness A characteristic appeal. Cp. 2Co 1:23; 2Co 11:31; 2Co 12:19; Gal 1:20; Php 1:8; 1Th 2:5; 1Th 2:10. This is traceable in part, perhaps, to the incessant calumnies against his…