Romans 1
Amplified Bible
The Gospel Exalted
1 Paul, a [a]bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative), set apart for [preaching] the [b]gospel of God [the good news of salvation], 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures— 3 [the good news] regarding His Son, who, as to the flesh [His human nature], was born a descendant of David [to fulfill the covenant promises], 4 and [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated to be the Son of God with power [in a triumphant and miraculous way] by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 It is through Him that we have received grace and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the Gentiles, 6 and you also are among those who are called of Jesus Christ to belong to Him;
7 [I am writing] to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called to be saints (God’s people) and set apart for a sanctified life, [that is, set apart for God and His purpose]: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith [your trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] is being proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit by preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how continuously I mention you 10 in my prayers; always pleading that somehow, by God’s will, I may now at last come to you. 11 For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift, to strengthen and establish you; 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, [c]brothers and sisters, that many times I have planned to come to you, (and have been prevented so far) so that I may have some fruit [of my labors] among you, even as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I have a duty to perform and a debt to pay both to Greeks and to barbarians [the cultured and the uncultured], both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am ready and eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “The just and upright shall live by faith.”(A)
Unbelief and Its Consequences
18 For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them [in their inner consciousness], for God made it evident to them. 20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.(B) 21 For even though [d]they knew God [as the Creator], they did not [e]honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God for [f]an image [worthless idols] in the shape of mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their own hearts to [sexual] impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin], 25 because [by choice] they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.(C)
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading and vile passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural [a function contrary to nature], 27 and in the same way also the men turned away from the natural function of the woman and were consumed with their desire toward one another, men with men committing shameful acts and in return receiving in their own bodies the inevitable and appropriate penalty for their wrongdoing.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or consider Him worth knowing [as their Creator], God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do things which are improper and repulsive, 29 until they were filled (permeated, saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice and mean-spiritedness. They are gossips [spreading rumors], 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors [of new forms] of evil, disobedient and disrespectful to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful [without pity]. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them.
Footnotes
- Romans 1:1 I.e. a person in bondage. One who belongs to another.
- Romans 1:1 In ancient Greece the word translated as “good news” or “gospel” was used to denote, among other things, success in a battle.
- Romans 1:13 Lit brethren, includes all born-again believers: men, women, and children.
- Romans 1:21 Anyone who attributes the existence of the world to chance or to a different creator is already guilty of deliberately rejecting God, because to deny the true God one must set aside common sense.
- Romans 1:21 Lit glorify.
- Romans 1:23 Paul’s indictment of idolatry (images) is logical and devastating. He emphasizes that idols are essentially copies of living creatures, whether in human form (as, for example, in ancient Greek myth) or otherwise (as in Egyptian idolatry and metaphysics). These lifeless images are clearly powerless, and even the living creatures which they supposedly represent are either nonexistent hybrids and monsters, or else ordinary creatures on earth who could hardly create so much as a grain of sand.
Romans 1
1599 Geneva Bible
The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans
1 1 He first showeth on what authority his Apostleship standeth. 15 Then he commendeth the Gospel, 16 by which God setteth out his power to those that are saved, 17 by faith, 21 but were guilty of wicked unthankfulness to God: 26 For which his wrath was worthily powered on them, 29 so that they ran headlong to all kinds of sin.
1 PAUL [a]a [b][c]servant of JESUS Christ called to be an [d]Apostle, (A)[e]put apart to preach the Gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his Prophets in the holy Scriptures)
3 [f]Concerning his [g]Son Jesus Christ our Lord (which was [h]made of the seed of David [i]according to the flesh,
4 And [j]declared [k]mightily to be the Son of God, touching the Spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead)
5 [l]By whom we have received [m]grace and Apostleship (that [n]obedience might be given unto the faith) for his name [o]among all the Gentiles,
6 Among whom ye be also the [p]called of Jesus Christ:
7 To all you that be at Rome beloved of God, called to be Saints: [q]Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 [r]First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is [s]published throughout the [t]whole world.
9 For God is my witness (whom I serve in my [u]spirit in the [v]Gospel of his Son) that without ceasing I make mention of you.
10 Always in my prayers, beseeching that by some means, one time or other I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come unto you.
11 For I long to see you, that I might bestow among you some spiritual gift, that you might be strengthened:
12 That is, that [w]I might be comforted together with you, through our mutual faith, both yours and mine.
13 Now my brethren, I would that ye should not be ignorant, how that I have oftentimes purposed to come unto you (but have been let hitherto) that I might have some fruit also among you, as I have among the other Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to the Grecians, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise men and to the unwise.
15 Therefore, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you also that are at [x]Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: [y]for it is the [z]power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the [aa]Grecian.
17 [ab]For by it the righteousness of God is revealed from [ac]faith to faith: [ad]as it is written, (B)The just shall live by faith.
18 [ae]For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against [af]all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, which withhold the [ag]truth in unrighteousness.
19 [ah]Forasmuch as that, which may be known of God, is manifest in [ai]them, for God hath showed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him, that is, his eternal power and Godhead, are seen by the creation of the world, being [aj]considered in his works, to the intent that they should be without excuse:
21 Because that when they knew God, they [ak]glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became [al]vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was full of darkness.
22 When they [am]professed themselves to be wise, they became fools.
23 For they turned the glory of the [an]incorruptible God to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and four footed beasts, and of creeping things.
24 [ao]Wherefore [ap]also God [aq]gave them up to their hearts lusts, unto uncleanness, to defile their own bodies between themselves:
25 Which turned the truth of God unto a lie, and worshipped and served the creature, forsaking the Creator which is blessed forever, Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.
27 And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burned in their lust one toward another, and man with man wrought filthiness, and received in themselves such [ar]recompense of their error, as was meet.
28 [as]For as they regarded not to acknowledge God, even so God delivered them up unto a [at]reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient,
29 Being full of all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, of murder, of debate, of deceit, taking all things in the evil part, whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, [au]covenant breakers, without natural affection, such as can never be appeased, merciless.
31 Which men, though they knew the [av]Law of God, how that they which commit such things are worthy of death, yet not only do the same, but also [aw]favor them that do them.
Footnotes
- Romans 1:1 The first part of the Epistle containing a most profitable preface unto verse 16.
- Romans 1:1 He moving the Romans to give diligent ear unto him in that he showeth that he cometh not in his own name, but as God’s messenger unto the Gentiles, entreateth with them of the weightiest matter, that is promised long since by God, by many fit witnesses, and now at length performed indeed.
- Romans 1:1 A Minister, for this word servant, is not taken in this place, as set against this word, Freeman, but declareth his ministry and office.
- Romans 1:1 Whereas he said before in a general term, that he was a minister, now he cometh to a more special name, and saith that he is an Apostle, and that he took not upon him this office of his own lead, but being called of God, and therefore in this his writing to the Romans, doeth nothing but his duty.
- Romans 1:1 Appointed of God to preach the Gospel.
- Romans 1:3 By declaring the sum of the doctrine of the Gospel, he stirreth up the Romans to good consideration of the matter whereof he entreateth: So then he showeth that Christ (who is the very substance and sum of the Gospel) is the only son of God the Father, who as touching his humanity, is made of the seed of David, but touching his divine and spiritual nature, whereby he sanctified himself, is begotten of the Father from everlasting, as by his mighty resurrection manifestly appeareth.
- Romans 1:3 This is a plain testimony of the person of Christ, that he is but one, and of his two natures, and their properties.
- Romans 1:3 Which took flesh of the virgin, David’s daughter.
- Romans 1:3 As he is man: for this word Flesh, by the figure Synecdoche, is taken for man.
- Romans 1:4 Showed and made manifest.
- Romans 1:4 The divine and mighty power is set against the weakness of the flesh, for that overcame death.
- Romans 1:5 Of whom.
- Romans 1:5 This marvelous liberal and gracious gift, which is given me, the least of all the Saints, to preach, etc., Eph. 3:8.
- Romans 1:5 That men through faith might obey God.
- Romans 1:5 For his Name’s sake.
- Romans 1:6 Which through God’s goodness, are Christ’s.
- Romans 1:7 God’s free good will: by peace, the Hebrews mean a prosperous success in all things.
- Romans 1:8 He procureth their favorable patience, in that he reckoneth up their true commendation, and his true Apostolic good will toward them, confirmed by taking God himself to witness.
- Romans 1:8 Because your faith is such, that it is commended in all Churches.
- Romans 1:8 In all Churches.
- Romans 1:9 Very willingly and with all my heart.
- Romans 1:9 In preaching his Son.
- Romans 1:12 Though Paul were never so excellent, yet by teaching the Church, he might be instructed by it.
- Romans 1:15 He meaneth all them that dwelt in Rome, though some of them were not Romans, see the end of the epistle.
- Romans 1:16 The second part of the Epistle unto the beginning of Chap. 9. Now the whole end and purpose of the disputation is this: that is to say: to show that there is but one way to attain unto salvation (which is set forth unto us of God in the Gospel, without any difference of nations) and that is Jesus Christ apprehended by faith.
- Romans 1:16 God’s mighty and effectual instrument to save men by.
- Romans 1:16 When this word Grecian, is set against this word Jew, then doth it signify a Gentile.
- Romans 1:17 The confirmation of the former proposition: we are taught in the Gospel that we are justified before God by faith which increaseth daily: and therefore also saved.
- Romans 1:17 From faith which increaseth daily.
- Romans 1:17 The proof as well of the first as the second proposition, out of Habakkuk, who attributeth and giveth unto faith both justice and life before God.
- Romans 1:18 Another confirmation of that principal question: All men being considered in themselves or without Christ, are guilty both of [ungodliness], and also unrighteousness, and therefore are subject to condemnation: Therefore must they needs seek righteousness in some other.
- Romans 1:18 Against all kinds of ungodliness.
- Romans 1:18 By truth, Paul meaneth all the light that is left in man since his fall, not as though they being led thereby were able to come into favor with God, but that their own reason might condemn them of wickedness both against God and man.
- Romans 1:19 Their ungodliness he proveth hereby, that although all men have a most clear and evident glass wherein to behold the everlasting and almighty nature of God, even in his creatures, yet have they fallen away from those principles to most foolish and sound devices of their own brains, in consituting and appointing the service of God.
- Romans 1:19 In their hearts.
- Romans 1:20 Thou seest not God, and yet thou acknowledgest him as God by his works, Cicero.
- Romans 1:21 They did not honor him with that honor, and service, which was meet for his everlasting power and Godhead.
- Romans 1:21 As if he said, became so mad of themselves.
- Romans 1:22 Or thought themselves.
- Romans 1:23 For the true God they took another.
- Romans 1:24 The unrighteousness of men he setteth forth first, in this, that even against nature following their lusts, they defiled themselves one with another, by the just judgment of God.
- Romans 1:24 The contempt of religion, is the fountain of all mischief.
- Romans 1:24 As a just judge.
- Romans 1:27 A meet reward for their deserts.
- Romans 1:28 He proveth the unrighteousness of man by a large rehearsal of many kinds of wickedness, from which (if not from all, yet at the least from many of them) no man is altogether free.
- Romans 1:28 Into a mad and froward mind, whereby it cometh to pass, that the conscience being once put out, and having almost no more remorse of sin, men run headlong into all kinds of mischief.
- Romans 1:30 Unmindful of their covenants and bargains.
- Romans 1:31 By the Law of God he meaneth that which the Philosophers called the Law of nature, and the Lawyers themselves termed the Law of nations.
- Romans 1:31 Are fellows and partakers with them in their wickedness, and besides that, commend them which do amiss.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
