Paul starts his letter with a customary opening for Hellenistic letters of his time by introducing himself. He emphasizes his role as a servant in two ways:

1. He is "called to be an apostle," connecting him with the original Eleven chosen by Jesus (including Matthias, who replaced Judas; Acts 1:26). Being an apostle means representing Jesus, not promoting his own agenda.
2. He is "set apart for the gospel of God," entrusted with proclaiming and safeguarding the "good news" from and about God. 

Paul underscores the earthly heritage of Jesus, a descendant of David, as significant in the human context. Yet, through the Spirit of holiness, God powerfully declared Jesus to be the Son of God. This declaration occurs through the gospel, which unites believers with the one who died and rose on their behalf, enabling them to regard him as "Jesus Christ our Lord." Having received the gift of apostleship through Jesus, Paul aims to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations for God's name. His apostolic service, driven by saving faith, is intended to elicit obedience in accordance with the faith. This faith is guided by the Holy Spirit, leading Paul and other apostles like him to spread the gospel wherever there are Gentiles. The recipients of his letters, the Romans, are among such Gentiles.

Believers in Jesus are regarded as persons summoned by God to believe in Christ, similar to how Paul was called to serve as an apostle. The purpose of their call is to belong to Jesus Christ, becoming worshippers and servants of the Son of God through faith. Paul greets his readers with "Grace to you and peace," highlighting God's merciful willingness to save sinful beings (grace) and the state of blessedness they enjoy as a result of receiving His grace (peace). Paul's gratitude is mediated through Jesus Christ, as direct access to God is only possible through a mediator. The gospel extends beyond Roman borders to places like Ethiopia and locales represented by different language groups at Pentecost.

Deeply committed to the gospel message, Paul continuously prays for his readers, signaling his deep concern for them. He anticipates meeting the Roman believers by God's will and ministering among them. This deep connection with God fosters a strong love for people, especially fellow believers, as God's love is poured into their hearts. Paul's desire to connect with Roman believers is mutual, as he longs for mutual encouragement. He anticipates preaching and teaching fervently among those in Rome due to his faith in a favorable hearing.

The gospel, the good news, is a transformative message embodying the truth of God's saving acts through His Son. The gospel offers salvation from sin, empowering believers to live a renewed life, forming the church, and providing eternal hope. However, the gospel's transformative power is only realized by those who respond in faith. The Old Testament quotation underscores the immense importance of faith: "The righteous shall live by faith," implying that true believers in Christ, deemed righteous by God's imputation of Christ's righteousness, receive eternal life. This life is both a quality of life now and a promise of life everlasting.