Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
The question of Paul's name hardly warrants much time, yet I note the common view that he bore two names, as was customary among Jews: Saul from his parents to mark his religion and descent, Paul added later to declare his Roman citizenship. The fanciful notion that he took the name when Sergius was converted contradicts Luke's account, which shows he was so called before that time.
AI summary
Paul titles himself a servant of Christ, his glory, not his shame. He was called to apostleship, not self-appointed like the false teachers. He was separated to the Gospel by God's counsel itself, set apart from birth to be entirely devoted to it, the Gospel of God Himself, divine in origin and extraction.
AI summary
Commenting on Romans 1:1-7
Paul was not his own servant, nor Satan's, nor Moses' slave, he was the servant of Christ alone, redeemed and changed by grace into a willing bond-servant. Called apostle means directly sent by Christ with His authority and miraculous power, never thrusting himself into what he deemed himself unworthy to hold.
AI summary