Romans 5-11

New Catholic Bible

Faith, the Riches of Life^[a]

Chapter 5

At Peace with God

Hope Does Not Disappoint. ¹ Therefore, now that we have been justified by faith, we are at peace^[b] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom by faith we have been given access to this grace in which we now live, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we realize that suffering develops perseverance, ⁴ and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. ⁵ Such hope will not be doomed to disappointment,^[c] because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Reconciliation Already Obtained. ⁶ At the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Indeed, it is seldom that anyone will die for a just person, although perhaps for a good person someone might be willing to die. ⁸ Thus, God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

⁹ And so, now that we have been justified by Christ’s blood, how much more certainly will we be saved through him from divine retribution.^{[d] 10} For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more certain it is that, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we now even trust exultantly in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already been granted reconciliation.

Adam and Christ—Sin and Grace^[e]

¹² Humanity’s Sin through Adam. Therefore, sin entered the world as the result of one man, and death^[f] as a result of sin, and thus death has afflicted the entire human race inasmuch as everyone has sinned. ¹³ Sin was already in the world before there was any Law, even though sin is not reckoned when there is no Law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned by disobeying a command, as did Adam who prefigured the one who was to come.

¹⁵ Grace and Life through Christ. However, the gift is not like the transgression. For if the transgression of one man led to the death of the many,^[g] how much greater was the overflowing effect of the grace of God and the gift of the one man Jesus Christ that has abounded for the many. ¹⁶ The gift of God cannot be compared with the sin of the one man. For the one sin resulted in the judgment that brought condemnation, but the gift freely given after many transgressions resulted in justification. ¹⁷ For if, because of one man’s transgression, death reigned through that man, how much more shall those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness come to reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ Therefore, just as one man’s transgression brought condemnation for all, so one man’s righteous act resulted in justification and life for all. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous.^[h]

²⁰ Purpose of the Law. When the Law was added, offenses multiplied; but the increase in sins was far exceeded by the increase in grace. ²¹ Hence, as sin’s reign resulted in death, so the grace of God also might reign through righteousness resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Death and Life with Christ^[i]

Chapter 6

Baptized in Christ Jesus.^{[j] 1} What then shall we say? Should we persist in sin in order that grace may abound? ² Of course not! We have died to sin. How can we live in it any longer? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ Through that baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,^[k] so we too might begin to live a new life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶ We know that our old^[l] self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be destroyed and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For whoever has died has been freed from sin.

⁸ However, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.^{[m] 9} We know that Christ, once raised from the dead, will never die again. Death no longer has power over him. ¹⁰ When he died, he died to sin once and for all. However, the life he lives, he lives for God. ¹¹ In the same way, you must regard yourselves as being dead to sin and alive for God in Christ Jesus.

¹² Therefore, do not allow sin to reign over your mortal body and make you obey its desires. ¹³ Nor should you present any part of your body as an instrument for wickedness leading to sin. Rather, present yourselves to God as having been raised from death to life and the parts of your body to God as instruments for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin is no longer to have any power over you, since you are not under the Law but under grace.

¹⁵ A Slave of Righteousness. What then? Should we sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Of course not! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you offer yourself as an obedient slave, you are the slave of the one you obey—either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

¹⁷ Once you were slaves of sin, but, thanks be to God, you have become obedient in your heart to that pattern of teaching to which you have been delivered. ¹⁸ Now, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

¹⁹ I am speaking in human terms because you are still weak human beings. For just as you once offered your bodies as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to greater iniquity, so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.

²⁰ When you were slaves of sin, you were free from the restraints of righteousness. ²¹ But what advantage did you get then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. ²² However, now that you have been freed from sin and bound to the service of God, the benefit you receive is sanctification, and the end is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift freely given by God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ Has Freed Us from the Law^[n]

Chapter 7

The Time of the Law Has Passed.^{[o] 1} Are you aware, brethren (for I am certain that you are people who have knowledge of the Law), that a person is bound by the Law only during that person’s lifetime? ² For example, a woman is bound by the Law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from her husband in regard to the Law. ³ Therefore, she will be judged to be an adulteress if she has relations with another man while her husband is still alive. However, if her husband dies, she is free from that provision of the Law, and if she then has relations with another man, she is not an adulteress.

⁴ In the same way, brethren, through the body of Christ you have died to the Law and have been set free to belong to another, that is, to the one who rose from the dead in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For when we were in the flesh, our sinful passions were aroused by the Law and at work in our bodies, and they bore fruit for death. ⁶ But now, we are released from the Law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit in contrast to the old written code.^[p]

The Function of the Law.^{[q] 7} What then should we say? That the Law is sinful? Absolutely not! Yet if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known what sin was. I would not have known what covet is if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin seized the opportunity offered by the commandment and produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the Law, sin is dead.

⁹ I lived apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin came to life, ¹⁰ and I died. The commandment that was for life proved to be death for me. ¹¹ For sin, seizing an opportunity offered by the commandment, deceived me,^[r] and through it killed me. ¹² And so the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.

¹³ Did what is good, then, cause my death? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as such, it brought about my death through what is good, and therefore through the commandment sin became completely sinful.

¹⁴ Sin and Death. We clearly understand that the Law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want; rather, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, then I agree that the Law is good.^{[s] 17} This indicates that it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot do what is good. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I desire; rather, it is the evil I do not desire that I end up doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not desire, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I have thus discovered this principle: when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. ²² In my innermost self, I delight in the Law of God, ²³ but I perceive in the members of my body another law at war with the Law that I cherish in my mind. Thus, I am made captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body destined for death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with my mind I am a slave to the Law of God, but with my flesh to the law of sin.

The Spirit of God Dwells in Christians^[t]

Chapter 8

There Is No Longer Any Condemnation. ¹ Hence, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ That which the Law, weakened by the flesh, was unable to do, God has done. By sending his own Son in the likeness of our sinful nature as a sin offering, he condemned sin in the flesh ⁴ so that the righteous requirements of the Law^[u] might be fulfilled in us who live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Animated by the Spirit and Rendered Children of God.^{[v] 5} Those who live according to the flesh fix their attention on the things of the flesh, while those who live according to the Spirit set their thoughts on spiritual things. ⁶ The desires of the flesh result in death, but the desires of the Spirit result in life and peace. ⁷ Indeed, the desires of the flesh will be hostile to God, for they do not submit to the Law of God, nor could they do so. ⁸ Those who live according to the flesh can never be pleasing to God.

⁹ You, however, do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not possess the Spirit of Christ cannot belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though the body is dead as a result of sin, the Spirit is alive in you because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then the one who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.^[w]

¹² Consequently, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh and obliged to live according to the flesh. ¹³ If you do live according to the flesh, you will die. However, if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

^14 [x]Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading to fear; rather, you received the Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God. ¹⁷ And if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, provided that we share his sufferings so that we may also share his glory.

¹⁸ The Future Glory That Shall Be Revealed.^[y] I consider that the sufferings we presently endure are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed in us. ¹⁹ Indeed, creation itself eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God. ²⁰ For creation was subjected to frustration, not of its own choice but by the will of the one who subjected it, in the hope ²¹ that creation itself will be freed from its slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.

²² As we know, the entire creation has been groaning in labor pains until now— ²³ and not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for our adoption as children, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in hope we were saved. Now to see something does not involve hope. For why should we hope for what we have already seen? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet see, then we wait for it with patience.

²⁶ In the same way, even the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs that cannot be put into words. ²⁷ And the one who searches hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

²⁸ We know that God makes all things work together for good for those who love him^[z] and who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son so that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹ Who Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ? What then can we say in response to all this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for all of us. How then can he fail also to give us everything else along with him?

³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who acquits. ³⁴ Who will condemn? Christ Jesus, who died, or rather rose again, who is at God’s right hand and intercedes for us?^{[aa] 35} Who then can separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

³⁷ No, throughout all these things we are conquerors because of him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth,^[ab] nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Lot of the Jewish People^[ac]

Chapter 9

Paul’s Love for Israel. ¹ I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying, as my conscience bears witness for me through the Holy Spirit ² that I have great sorrow and unending anguish in my heart. ³ I would even be willing to be accursed, cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren who are my kinsmen according to the flesh. ⁴ They are Israelites^[ad] who have the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the Law, the worship, and the promises. ⁵ To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, came the Christ, God forever, who is over all.^[ae] Amen.

The Word of God Has Not Proved False. ⁶ It is not as though the word of God has proved false. For not all who were Israelites truly belong to Israel, ⁷ and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that descendants will bear your name.”

⁸ In other words, it is not through physical descent that people are regarded as children of God. Rather, the children of the promise are those who are counted as descendants. ⁹ For this is how the promise was worded: “About this time next year I shall return, and Sarah will have a son.”

¹⁰ And not only that, but Rebekah became pregnant by one man, her husband Isaac. ¹¹ Yet even before her children had been born or done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose of election might prevail, ¹² dependent not on human works but on his call, she was told, “The older shall serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written,

¹⁴ Has God Been Unjust?^[ag]What then are we to say to that? Has God been unjust? Of course not! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ Therefore, it does not depend on anyone’s will or exertion but on God’s mercy. ¹⁷ For Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed throughout the earth.” ¹⁸ Consequently, he shows mercy to whomever he wills, and he hardens the hearts of whomever he wills.

¹⁹ In response, you will say to me, “Why then does he still find fault? Who can resist his will?” ²⁰ But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Can something that is made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?” ²¹ Surely, the potter can mold the clay as he wishes. Does he not have the right to make out of the same lump of clay one vessel for a noble purpose and another for ordinary use?

²² What if God, although wishing to show his wrath and to make known his power, nevertheless with great patience endured the objects of his wrath^[ah] destined for destruction? ²³ He did so in order to make known the riches of his glory to the recipients of his mercy whom he prepared long ago for glory. ²⁴ We are the ones whom he has called not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.

²⁵ Witness of the Old Testament. As indeed he says in Hosea,

²⁷ And Isaiah cries out in regard to Israel:

²⁹ Isaiah had foretold previously:

³⁰ A Misguided Zeal. What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who did not strive for righteousness have achieved it, that is, righteousness based on faith, ³¹ but that Israel, who did strive for righteousness based on the Law, did not succeed in attaining it? ³² Why did this happen? Because they did not pursue it by faith but on the basis of works. They tripped over the stone that causes one to stumble, ³³ as it is written:

Chapter 10

¹ Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² I can testify to the zeal that they have for God, but it is not based on knowledge. ³ For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and thereby seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted themselves to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the fulfillment of the Law for the justification of all who believe.

The Word Is Near You.^{[aj] 5} Concerning the righteousness that comes from the Law, Moses writes, “The person who does these things will attain life by them.” ⁶ However, the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), ⁷ or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”^{[ak] 8} But what does it say?

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim).

⁹ If you confess with your lips, “Jesus is Lord,”^[al] and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For one believes in the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. ¹¹ As Scripture asserts, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all, and his generosity is manifested to all who call upon him. ¹³ Indeed, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ Not All Have Responded to the Good News. But how can they call on him if they have not come to believe in him? And how can they believe in someone about whom they have never heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach to them? ¹⁵ And how will there be people to preach if they are not sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the good news!”

¹⁶ However, not all have accepted the good news. As Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ So then, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

¹⁸ And so I ask: Have they not heard? Indeed, they have:

¹⁹ Well then, I ask: Is it possible that Israel failed to understand? First Moses says:

²⁰ And Isaiah boldly states:

²¹ But regarding Israel, he says:

Chapter 11

The Remnant of Israel.^{[am] 1} I ask, then: Has God rejected his people? Of course not! I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. You surely must know what Scripture asserts in the passage about Elijah where he pleads with God against Israel: ³ “Lord, they have killed your Prophets, they have torn down your altars. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”

⁴ What was God’s response to him? “I have spared for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt before Baal.” ⁵ So too, at the present time, there is a remnant, chosen by grace. ⁶ But if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What follows, then? Israel was unable to attain what it was seeking. The elect attained it, but the rest were hardened, ⁸ as it is written:

⁹ And David says:

¹¹ A Providential Misstep.^[an] And so I ask: Have they stumbled so that they might fall? By no means! However, through their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, and this has stirred them to envy. ¹² Now if their transgression results in riches for the world, and their loss results in riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full participation bring!

¹³ Now I am addressing you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that it will arouse the jealousy of those who are of my flesh so that some might be saved. ¹⁵ For if their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

¹⁶ The Gentiles’ Salvation.^[ao] If the firstfruits are holy, then so is the whole lump of dough. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in their place to share in the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast over against the branches! If you start to boast, remember that it is not you who support the root but the root that supports you.

¹⁹ You will assert, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you hold your place only because of your faith. Therefore, do not rise up in pride but be filled with awe. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he might not spare you either.

²² Therefore, keep in mind the kindness and the severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but his kindness to you provided that you remain deserving of that kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off, ²³ while those who do not persist in their unbelief will be grafted in, since God has the power to do so again. ²⁴ For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated one, how much more easily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

²⁵ All Israel Will Be Saved.^[ap] I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brethren, lest you think yourselves too wise: this hardening that has afflicted Israel will continue only until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ This is how all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake. However, as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of the patriarchs. ²⁹ For the gifts of God and his calling are irrevocable.

³⁰ Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that, through the mercy shown to you, they too may receive mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may show mercy to all.

³³ The Judgments of God Are Unfathomable.^[aq] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!

³⁶ For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.