Augustine of Hippo — on Rom 1:5 (RUDIMENTARY EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS 6)

“Paul preserves the main point of his case very well, so that no one would dare say that he has been led to the gospel because of the merits of his previous life. How could one claim this, when even the apostles themselves … could not have received their own apostleship unless they had first … received grace, which cleanses and justifies sinners?”