Romans 1:14 (DRB)

Passage

To the Greeks and to the barbarians, to the wise and to the unwise, I am a debtor.

Nearby Context

Romans 1:12 That is to say, that I may be comforted together in you by that which is common to us both, your faith and mine.

Romans 1:13 And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that I have often purposed to come unto you (and have been hindered hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

Romans 1:14 To the Greeks and to the barbarians, to the wise and to the unwise, I am a debtor.

Romans 1:15 So (as much as is in me) I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are at Rome.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first and to the Greek.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "greeks", "barbarians", "wise", "unwise", and "debtor". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "greeks" and "barbarians", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "And I would not have you ignorant..." into verse 15's "So as much as is in me...", so "greeks" and "barbarians" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "greeks" and "barbarians" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.