Romans 1:8 (KJV)

Passage

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Nearby Context

Romans 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Romans 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "faith", "first", "thank", "through", "jesus", "christ", and "spoken". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "faith", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "To all that be in Rome beloved..." into verse 9's "For God is my witness whom I...", so "world" and "faith" 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 "world" and "faith" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.