“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;”
God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers. Paul invokes God as his witness to the sincerity of his intercession and his spiritual obligation to the Romans. Serves in his spirit (latreuo en to pneumati) speaks of worship and obedience that engage the whole person, not merely external observance. His constant remembrance of the Roman church in prayer demonstrates the unity of the body of Christ transcending geographic boundaries.
Church Fathers on Romans 1:9
“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of His Son.” Words these of an Apostle's bowels of affection, the showing forth this of fatherly concernment! And what is it which he says, and why does he call God to witness? He had to declare his feeling toward them. Since then he had not as yet ever seen them, he therefore called no man to witness, but Him Who enters in the hearts. For since he was saying, “I love you,” and as a token thereof alleged his…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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