What Does "To the Jew FIRST Mean?"

In Romans one 16 Pul famously writes, I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. But many people fail to read the rest of the verse. To the Jew first, and then to the Greek or Gentiles. At Gateway, we take this verse literally and have made Israel a first priority in our church, both in our missions giving, in our monthly services, and in many other areas of our culture.

But some Christians have a difficult time with the idea of to the Jew first, feeling it connotates a superiority of Jews over Gentiles. Scholars have defined six possible meanings for the word, “first”, in Paul’s statement. We feel the most accurate of these six definitions of first is especially. To the Jew especially, and then to the Gentiles. Paul was teaching the Roman Gentile Church that the Jewish people were still especially important to him, so much so that he sent Jesus to them first and then to the nations. I hope that you too will make a special priority for Israel and the Jewish people in your church and in your life. When you do, you’ll be connecting to God’s heart to reach his covenant people, Israel, and this is something God richly blesses.