(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

ROMANS 1:2KJV
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Romans 1:2 (KJV)

What does Romans 1:2 mean?

Romans 1:2 says that the good news Paul is introducing was not a sudden change of plan. God had already promised it through his prophets, and those promises were recorded in the holy scriptures.

The verse sits inside parentheses because Paul is adding a detail to his opening sentence. The word “Which” points back to the “gospel of God” in verse 1: “gospel” means good news.

The Greek behind Romans 1:2

  • “afore” — προεπαγγέλλομαι (proepangellomai): The Greek carries the sense of promising beforehand. The timing matters: the promise came before the good news Paul is announcing.
  • “scriptures” — γραφαί (graphai): This word refers to writings. Here, “holy scriptures” points to the sacred writings that preserved the prophets’ words.

Why Romans 1:2 matters

  • Paul presents his message as connected to earlier sacred writings. His phrase “by his prophets” links the good news to people understood to have spoken for God.
  • The promise has a subject beyond the promise itself. Romans 1:3 continues the sentence with “concerning his Son,” identifying Jesus as the one the good news concerns.

Where else these words appear

“scriptures” Greek G1124 · used in 51 verses

  • Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
  • John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
  • Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

“prophets” Greek G4396 · used in 143 verses

  • Matthew 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
  • Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
  • Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.