“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.”
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. Paul's apostolic obligation extends universally across the boundaries of ethnicity, education, and social status. The pairing of Greeks and non-Greeks encompasses the known world; the pairing of wise and foolish cuts across intellectual hierarchy. This universalism reflects the gospel's inclusive scope and Paul's sense of indebtedness to proclaim Christ to all humanity.
Church Fathers on Romans 1:14
“I am a debtor to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise.” Which also he said when writing to the Corinthians. And he says it, to ascribe the whole to God. 1 Corinthians 9:16
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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