Romans 1 – question 1
The verse Romans 1:5 where Paul says: « We have received Grace and apostleship for the obedience of Faith among all Gentiles for his name » indeed poses an interesting question of interpretation concerning the use of the plural « we ».
The main interpretations of the use of « we » in Romans 1:5
1. The Literary “We”
Many scholars believe that Paul is using a literary “we” (also called pluralis modestiae) here, a rhetorical convention of using the plural to speak of oneself in a humble manner or to give a more inclusive tone to one’s speech. In this context, it is Paul himself, referring to his own calling as an apostle, but using “we” to tone down the personal nature of the speech.
Arguments for this interpretation:
- Paul often speaks of his personal calling as an apostle in other passages, for example in Galatians 1:1 where he insists that he is an apostle, « not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ. »
- The context of the epistle seems to focus on Paul’s specific apostleship to the nations (the Gentiles), which may reinforce the idea that he is speaking primarily of himself, even if he uses the plural out of modesty or to include his entire apostolic ministry.
2. The Collective “We”
Another possible interpretation is that Paul is referring not only to himself, but also to other apostles or ministers of the Gospel who share with him this mission of bringing the Gentiles to the obedience of Faith. Here, the “we” would include people like Paul’s other apostles or co-workers, such as Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, or other leaders of the early church.
Arguments for this interpretation:
- The corporate apostleship: In several letters, Paul refers to his co-workers and fellow servants. For example, in 1 Corinthians 3:9, Paul refers to himself and Apollos as “God’s co-workers.”
- The team ministry: Paul was not the only apostle or minister responsible for the evangelization of the Gentiles. People like Barnabas were also designated as apostles (cf. Acts 14:14, where Barnabas is also called an apostle). Paul could therefore include these figures in his “we.”
3. The “we” of the apostolic church
Another approach is to interpret the “we” as representing the apostolic church as a whole. Here Paul could be speaking of the universal mission of the church to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all nations, a mission entrusted to the apostles as representatives of the Body of Christ.
Arguments for this interpretation:
- The apostleship in this sense is seen not only as a ministry reserved for the strictly defined apostles, but as a call to the whole church to participate in the mission of bringing the nations to the obedience of faith.
- Matthew 28:19 can be linked to this interpretation, where Jesus commands his disciples to go « and make disciples of all nations. » Paul could be referring here to this collective apostolic mandate.
What is the most likely interpretation ?
Considering the immediate context of Romans 1:5, as well as Paul’s other letters, the most widely accepted interpretation is that of the literary “we,” where Paul is speaking primarily of himself. He is referring here to the Grace and apostleship he has received personally to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. This is a frequent usage in Paul, who uses it to avoid putting too much emphasis on himself, while including the apostolic mission in the broader sense.
However, it is also possible that Paul is indirectly including other ministers or apostles of the gospel in this “we,” but the primary emphasis seems to be on his specific calling, as the primary apostle sent to the Gentiles.
Conclusion
It seems likely that Paul uses the “we” as a pluralis modestiae, a literary form that attenuates the individuality of his apostolate while recalling his divine mandate. However, the fact that he has collaborators in the mission to the nations (such as Barnabas or Silas) could also be implicitly included in this “we.” The point is that Paul emphasizes the apostolic mandate received from God to bring the nations to the obedience of faith, which reflects the primary objective of his mission and of the apostolic church as a whole.