A Letter to Rome: Romans 1:1-17

The lamp flickered in Gaius's house in Corinth. Paul sat, his eyes distant, composing in his mind before speaking. Tertius waited, stylus ready, fresh parchment spread before him.

Paul began.

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God."

Tertius wrote. The stylus scratched against parchment. Paul—who had once been Saul, who had once breathed threats, who had once held coats at a stoning—now called himself servant. Doulos. Slave of Christ Jesus.