The Revelation of a Personal Introduction
Romans 1:1
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” -Romans 1:1
How a person introduces himself is revealing. Recall how you introduce yourself at various gatherings: at work-related cocktail party, at a church potluck, to a new neighbor, to some stranger you sit next to on an airplane.
Since the Apostle Paul had not yet been to Rome, the letter he was writing to the church organized there required a proper introduction. The way he introduced himself needed to give them some idea of his person and ministry.
To this end, Paul identifies himself as a doulos (bond servant) of Jesus Christ. Doulos can also be translated slave. Either way, the description implies he is under the complete and utter control of Christ.
Next, he acknowledges that he is called to the office of an apostle. A couple of observations are noteworthy. To be called is to be officially invited. And such invitations, while voluntary, are not optional.
In medieval times, the expression, durante bene placito regis (meaning "during the good pleasure of the king”), was used to convey the essential idea that someone was holding their official position at the King's will. On the flip side, they also recognized they could be removed from that office at any time without explanation. Today, we often hear the expression, “I serve at the pleasure of the President.” This is the idea that Paul has in mind.
In its most generic sense, an apostle in the early church often denoted anyone who proclaimed the gospel, and was not strictly limited. However, more formerly, it was a designation given to one who had been sent by Christ, a title that was applied to highly honored believers who had been recognized by the church to have a special function as God’s envoys.1
Finally, Paul is set apart for the gospel of God. That is, he has been consecrated to do a specific work, the work of preaching and ministering to Gentiles. Thus, his use most likely falls into the latter, more formal designation.
Taking this altogether, the language Paul uses seems to indicate that he had, at least proverbially, identified with the OT slaves who affirmed their allegiance to their masters even after their obligations were up, because the circumstances on his Master’s estate were clearly blessed of God and ultimately a better situation for him and his family:
“Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.” -Exodus 21:1–6
In essence, like the slave, Paul could honestly say, ‘I love my master…I will not go out free.’
William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 122.