Paul was ready to preach the Gospel or as it can be translated eager to preach the Gospel to those who were in Rome(1:14). Why would he be eager to preach to those in the church? This letter is going to the church who are already believers. I have never heard a Gospel presentation that I have not been blessed by. The Gospel blesses those who already know it. Paul was going to use this church as an outpost to bless the unreached as well. Who were the unreached? Paul says that he is, "...under obligation to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, to the wise and the unwise." Many say that Rome was settled by Greeks. If you disagree with that historical note then when Alexander the Great took over much of the known world Rome was certainly part of that takeover. The Greek language was spread almost to the whole world as well as its culture. Paul is obligated to what many would say of the Greeks and that is the polished and refined as opposed to the Barbarians. The Barbarians literally meant someone who said, bar bar. Their language was ugly and inharmonious, unlike that of the Greek language that was fluid and beautiful. Paul said he was obligated to the wise and unwise. Paul was going to preach the cross to those who are educated and to the uneducated.

In verse sixteen everything comes together for this letter. All that has been said up to this point and afterwords has to do with verse 16. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes, to the Jew first and to the Greek. What can wash away my sin nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can bring you and me into a right relationship with the God of the universe--the Gospel. What is the answer that everyone is looking for it is Jesus. People are looking at so many things to bring them the happiness they long for but people are looking to the wrong things. The point is that people are looking!!!! People are searching and they do not know where to look. We must along with Paul be eager and ready to preach the Gospel of Christ. Why? We are obligated like Paul because of the grace that has been extended to us and because the Gospel is the power unto salvation.