<p>1:8&nbsp;<i>First</i>- the most important thing for Paul was that those he had expended spiritual effort for were strong in the faith. We sense the same in John&rsquo;s letters of 2 and 3 John. Our focus should be on helping others reach the Kingdom.</p><p><i>I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world</i><i>-&nbsp;</i>The fact we praise God and come directly to Him&nbsp;<i>dia</i>, through the Lord Jesus, does not mean that our words come to the Father through the Son as if He were a sieve or telephone line. We come direct to the Father&nbsp;<i>dia</i>, on account of, for the sake of, the work Christ achieved. The following are a few of many examples which give the flavour of&nbsp;<i>dia</i>: John was put in prison&nbsp;<i>dia Herodias</i>, for the sake of Herodias (Mt. 14:3); the Pharisees transgressed the commandment of God&nbsp;<i>dia</i>, on account of, through, their tradition (Mt. 15:3); the disciples couldn't heal&nbsp;<i>dia</i>, for the sake of, their unbelief (Mt. 17:20); the Angels of the &quot;little ones&quot;&nbsp;<i>dia</i>&nbsp;, for their sakes, behold the face of the Father (Mt. 18:10); because the Pharisees pretended to be pious they would&nbsp;<i>dia</i>, on this account, receive greater condemnation (Mt. 23:14); the faithful will be persecuted&nbsp;<i>dia</i>&nbsp;, for the sake of, Christ's name (Mt. 24:9);&nbsp;<i>dia</i>&nbsp;the elect's sake, on their account, the days will be shortened (Mt. 24:22). &quot;I thank my God&nbsp;<i>dia</i>&nbsp;(through) Jesus Christ my Lord&quot; (Rom. 1:8) doesn't therefore necessarily mean that Paul prays to God 'through' the Lord Jesus as some kind of connecting tunnel; he thanks God on account of, for the sake of Christ. The very same Greek construction occurs a few chapters later: &quot;Who shall deliver me...? I thank God, through Jesus Christ&quot; (Rom. 7:24,25). He thanks God that his deliverance is possible on account of the Lord Jesus.</p>