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The gospel was founded on the life, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of a poor Jewish carpenter. The Romans did not look highly on the Jew, and death by crucifixion is the lowest form of execution in the empire. This is not what a Roman citizen at first glance would consider good news or even news worthy. Paul sets up his confidence clearly for these Christians who found themselves in this cultural bias. Paul was writing to the Christian’s already in Rome, but this society and culture exerted a heavy influence on its citizens. As the Christian community grew, so would this community’s persecution. There was a pressure to make your “gospel” fit the culture you live in, but the gospel is the power of God for salvation. It must stay true and remain pure to God’s design. Paul made it clear that he was completely confident in this gospel, and it was this gospel he would articulated. He wanted to be sure this gospel was understood, not watered down or made to fit culture. Instead, the power of God unto salvation would be stated and understood, so all who believed in the truth would be saved.
Paul wanted it to be absolutely clear that this gospel is his confidence and should be every believer’s confidence as well. Paul was not ashamed of this Gospel in any context or community.