問候

我是基督耶穌的奴僕保羅,蒙召作使徒,奉命傳上帝的福音。 這福音是上帝從前藉著眾先知在聖經中應許的, 講的是上帝的兒子——我們的主耶穌基督的事。從肉身來說,祂是大衛的後裔; 從聖潔的靈來看,祂從死裡復活,用大能顯明自己是上帝的兒子。 我們從祂領受了恩典並成為使徒,要帶領萬民信從祂,使祂的名得榮耀。 你們也是其中蒙召信從耶穌基督的人。 我問候所有住在羅馬、上帝所愛、蒙召做聖徒的人。願我們的父上帝和主耶穌基督賜給你們恩典和平安!

保羅渴望去羅馬

首先,我藉著耶穌基督為各位感謝我的上帝,因為你們的信心正在傳遍天下。 9-10 我在祂兒子的福音事工上全心事奉的上帝可以為我做見證:我如何在禱告中常常想到你們,並求上帝讓我照祂的旨意最終能去你們那裡。 11 因為我實在想見你們,好將一些屬靈的恩賜分給你們,使你們堅固, 12 也可以說是藉著我們彼此的信心互相激勵。

13 弟兄姊妹,我希望你們知道,我曾多次計劃去你們那裡,要在你們中間收穫一些福音的果子,像在其他外族人中一樣,只是至今仍有攔阻。 14 不論是希臘人、非希臘人[a]、智者、愚人,我對他們都有義務。 15 所以,我也切望能將福音傳給你們在羅馬的人。

16 我不以福音為恥,因為這福音是上帝的大能,要拯救一切相信的人,先是猶太人,然後是希臘人。 17 這福音顯明了上帝的義,這義始於信,終於信,正如聖經上說:「義人必靠信心而活。」

人類的罪惡

18 上帝的烈怒從天上降下,要懲罰一切心中無神、行為不義、壓制真理的人。 19 有關上帝的事情,可以讓人類知道的都已經顯而易見,因為上帝已經向人類顯明了。 20 自從創造天地以來,上帝永恆的大能和神性是明明可知的,雖然肉眼看不見,但透過受造之物就可以領悟,因而人類毫無藉口推說不知。 21 他們雖然明知有上帝,卻不把祂當作上帝,既不將榮耀歸給祂,也不感謝祂。他們的思想因此變得荒謬無用,無知的心也變得昏暗不明。 22 他們自以為聰明,其實愚不可及, 23 以必朽的人、飛禽、走獸和爬蟲的形像來取代永恆上帝的榮耀。

24 因此,上帝任憑他們隨從內心的情慾行污穢的事,玷污彼此的身體。 25 他們把上帝的真理當作謊言,祭拜、供奉受造之物,卻不敬拜、事奉造物主。主是永遠值得稱頌的。阿們!

26 因此,上帝任憑他們放縱可恥的情慾。女人放棄正常的兩性關係,做出變態反常的事。 27 男人也背棄了和女人正常的兩性關係,慾火焚燒,同性之間彼此貪戀。男人和男人做出羞恥不堪的事,他們必在自己的身體上遭受應得的報應。

28 既然他們故意不認識上帝,上帝就任憑他們心思敗壞,做不當做的事。 29 他們心裡塞滿了各種不義、邪惡、貪婪、陰險、嫉妒、兇殺、紛爭、詭詐、惡毒;說長道短、 30 背後批評、怨恨上帝、欺侮別人、心驕氣傲、自高自大、自我吹捧、無惡不作、違背父母、 31 愚鈍無知、不守信用、無情無義、毫無憐憫。 32 他們明知,按上帝公義的法則,做這些事的人該死,不但執迷不悟,還喜歡別人跟他們同流合污。

Footnotes

  1. 1·14 非希臘人」希臘文是「未開化的人」,指在希臘、羅馬文化影響之外的人。

Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, called an apostle, separated into the gospel of God [parted into the gospel of God];

which he had promised before by his prophets in holy scriptures

of his Son, which is made to him of the seed of David by the flesh, [of his Son, the which is made of the seed of David after the flesh,]

and he was before-ordained the Son of God in virtue, by the Spirit of hallowing of the again-rising of dead men, of Jesus Christ our Lord[a]

by whom we have received grace and the office of apostle [by whom we have received grace and apostlehood, or state of apostle], to obey to the faith in all folks for his name,

among which ye be also called of Jesus Christ,

to all that be at Rome, darlings of God, and called holy, grace to you [to all that be at Rome, the loved of God, called holy, grace be to you], and peace of God our Father, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

First I do thankings to my God, by Jesus Christ, for all you, for your faith is showed in all the world.

For God is a witness to me, to whom I serve in my spirit, in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mind of you ever in my prayers [whom I serve in my spirit, in the gospel of his Son, for without ceasing I make mind of you evermore in my prayers],

10 and beseech [praying], if in any manner sometime I have a speedy way in the will of God to come to you.

11 For I desire to see you, to part somewhat to you of spiritual grace [that I give to you something of spiritual grace], that ye be confirmed,

12 that is, to be comforted together in you, by [that] faith that is both yours and mine together.

13 And, brethren, I will not, that ye not know [that ye unknow], that oft I purposed to come to you, and I am letted [and I am forbidden] till this time, that I have some fruit in you, as [and] in other folks.

14 To Greeks and to barbarians, to wise men and to unwise men, I am debtor,

15 so that that is in me is ready to preach the gospel also to you that be at Rome.

16 For I shame not the gospel, for it is the virtue of God into health to each man that believeth, to the Jew first, and to the Greek.

17 For the rightwiseness of God is showed in it, of faith into faith, as it is written, For a just man liveth of faith.

18 For the wrath of God is showed from heaven on all unpiety and wickedness of those men, that withhold the truth of God in unrightwiseness. [Forsooth the wrath of God is showed from heaven upon all unpiety and unrightwiseness of those men, that withhold, or hold aback, the truth of God in unrightwiseness.]

19 For that thing of God that is known, is showed to them [For that that is known of God is shown, or made open, to them], for God hath showed to them.

20 For the invisible things of him, that be understood, be beheld of the creature of the world, by those things that be made, yea, and the everlasting virtue of him and the Godhead, so that they may not be excused. [For the invisible things of him, of the creature of the world, by those things that be made, understood be beholden, and the everlasting virtue of him, and the Godhead, so that they be unexcusable.]

21 For when they had known God, they glorified him not as God, neither did thankings; but they vanished in their thoughts, and the unwise heart of them was darked [was darked, or made dark].

22 For they saying that themselves were wise [Soothly they saying themselves to be wise men], they were made fools.

23 And they changed the glory of uncorruptible God into the likeness of an image of a deadly man [into the likeness of an image of corruptible man], and of birds, and of four-footed beasts, and of serpents.

24 For which thing God betook them into the desires of their heart, into uncleanness, that they punish with wrongs their bodies in themselves.

25 The which [men] changed the truth of God into lying, and praised and served a creature rather than the creator, that is blessed into worlds of worlds [that is blessed into worlds, or without end]. Amen.

26 Therefore God betook them into passions of shame [Therefore God betook them into passions of evil fame, or shame]. For the women of them changed the natural use into that use that is against kind.

27 Also the men [the males, or men,] forsook the natural use of woman, and burned in their desires together, and men into men wrought filthhood, and received into themselves the meed that behooved of their error [males into males working filthhood, and receiving in themselves the meed, or hire, that behooved of their error].

28 And as they proved that they had not God in knowing [And as they proved not to have God in knowing], God betook them into a reprovable wit, that they do those things that be not suitable;

29 that they be full-filled with all wickedness [full-filled with all wickedness], malice, fornication, covetousness, waywardness, full of envy, manslayings [manslaying], strife, guile, evil will,

30 privy backbiters, detractors, hateful to God, debaters, proud, and high over measure [hateful to God, wrongful despisers, proud, high over measure], finders of evil things, not obedient to father and mother,

31 unwise, unmannerly, without love [without affection, or love], without bond of peace, without mercy.

32 The which when they had known the rightwiseness of God, understood not, that they that do such things be worthy the death, not only they that do those things [not only they that do such things], but also they that consent to the doers.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:4 which is predestined, or before-ordained by grace, the Son of God in virtue, after the Spirit of hallowing of the again-rising of dead men, of Jesus Christ our Lord,

Greeting

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, (A)called to be an apostle, (B)separated to the gospel of God (C)which He promised before (D)through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who [a]was (E)born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and (F)declared to be the Son of God with power according (G)to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him (H)we have received grace and apostleship for (I)obedience to the faith among all nations (J)for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, (K)called to be saints:

(L)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Desire to Visit Rome

First, (M)I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that (N)your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For (O)God is my witness, (P)whom I serve [b]with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that (Q)without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that (R)I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by (S)the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but (T)was hindered until now), that I might have some (U)fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

The Just Live by Faith

16 For (V)I am not ashamed of the gospel [c]of Christ, for (W)it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, (X)for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For (Y)in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, (Z)“The just shall live by faith.”

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 (AA)For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and (AB)unrighteousness of men, who [d]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because (AC)what may be known of God is [e]manifest [f]in them, for (AD)God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world (AE)His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and [g]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but (AF)became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 (AG)Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the (AH)incorruptible (AI)God into an image made like [h]corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 (AJ)Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, (AK)to dishonor their bodies (AL)among themselves, 25 who exchanged (AM)the truth of God (AN)for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to (AO)vile passions. For even their [i]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the [j]men, leaving the natural use of the [k]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things (AP)which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, [l]sexual immorality, wickedness, [m]covetousness, [n]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 [o]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, [p]unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, (AQ)knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things (AR)are deserving of death, not only do the same but also (AS)approve of those who practice them.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:3 came
  2. Romans 1:9 Or in
  3. Romans 1:16 NU omits of Christ
  4. Romans 1:18 hold down
  5. Romans 1:19 evident
  6. Romans 1:19 among
  7. Romans 1:20 divine nature, deity
  8. Romans 1:23 perishable
  9. Romans 1:26 Lit. females
  10. Romans 1:27 Lit. males
  11. Romans 1:27 Lit. female
  12. Romans 1:29 NU omits sexual immorality
  13. Romans 1:29 greed
  14. Romans 1:29 malice
  15. Romans 1:31 without understanding
  16. Romans 1:31 NU omits unforgiving