Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,(A) because your faith is being reported all over the world.(B) God, whom I serve(C) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness(D) how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times;(E) and I pray that now at last by God’s will(F) the way may be opened for me to come to you.(G)

11 I long to see you(H) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift(I) to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware,(J) brothers and sisters,[a](K) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)(L) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14 I am obligated(M) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.(N)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel,(O) because it is the power of God(P) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:(Q) first to the Jew,(R) then to the Gentile.(S) 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed(T)—a righteousness that is by faith(U) from first to last,[b] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[c](V)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

18 The wrath of God(W) is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.(X) 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,(Y) so that people are without excuse.(Z)

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.(AA) 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools(AB) 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images(AC) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over(AD) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.(AE) 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,(AF) and worshiped and served created things(AG) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.(AH) Amen.(AI)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 7:1, 4; 8:12, 29; 10:1; 11:25; 12:1; 15:14, 30; 16:14, 17.
  2. Romans 1:17 Or is from faith to faith
  3. Romans 1:17 Hab. 2:4

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

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