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The Gospel Exalted

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, [a](A)called as an apostle, having been (B)set apart for (C)the gospel of God, which He (D)promised beforehand through His (E)prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born (F)of the seed of David (G)according to the flesh, who was designated as (H)the Son of God in power, according to the [b]Spirit of holiness, [c]by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we received grace and (I)apostleship for the (J)obedience of faith among (K)all the Gentiles for the sake of His name, among whom you also are the (L)called of Jesus Christ;

to all who are (M)beloved of God in Rome, called as [d](N)saints: (O)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, (P)I thank my God through Jesus Christ [e]for you all, because (Q)your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. For (R)God, whom I (S)serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how without ceasing (T)I make mention of you, 10 always in my prayers earnestly asking, if perhaps now at last by (U)the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 11 For (V)I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be strengthened; 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged, while among you, by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 (W)I do not want you to be unaware, (X)brothers, that often I (Y)have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may have some (Z)fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 (AA)I am [f]under obligation both to Greeks and to (AB)barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 In this way, for my part, I am eager to (AC)proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not (AD)ashamed of the gospel, for (AE)it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the (AF)Jew first and also to (AG)the Greek. 17 For in it (AH)the righteousness of God is revealed [g]from faith to faith; as it is written, “[h](AI)But the righteous will live by faith.”

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For (AJ)the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who (AK)suppress the truth [i]in unrighteousness, 19 because (AL)that which is known about God is evident [j]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For (AM)since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, (AN)being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became (AO)futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 (AP)Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and (AQ)exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore (AR)God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be (AS)dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for [k]a (AT)lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, (AU)who is blessed [l]forever. Amen.

26 For this reason (AV)God gave them over to (AW)dishonorable passions; for their (AX)females exchanged the natural function for that which is [m]unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the (AY)males abandoned the natural function of the female and burned in their desire toward one another, (AZ)males with males committing [n]indecent acts and receiving in [o]their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28 And just as they did not see fit [p]to acknowledge God, (BA)God gave them over to an unfit mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are (BB)gossips, 30 slanderers, [q](BC)haters of God, violent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, (BD)disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, (BE)unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the righteous requirement of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of (BF)death, they not only do the same, but also (BG)give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:1 Lit a called apostle
  2. Romans 1:4 Or spirit
  3. Romans 1:4 Or as a result of
  4. Romans 1:7 Or holy ones
  5. Romans 1:8 Or concerning you all, that...
  6. Romans 1:14 Lit debtor
  7. Romans 1:17 Or by
  8. Romans 1:17 Or But he who is righteous by faith shall live
  9. Romans 1:18 Or by
  10. Romans 1:19 Or among
  11. Romans 1:25 Lit the lie
  12. Romans 1:25 Lit to the ages
  13. Romans 1:26 Lit against nature
  14. Romans 1:27 Lit the shameless deed
  15. Romans 1:27 Lit themselves
  16. Romans 1:28 Lit to have God in knowledge
  17. Romans 1:30 Or hateful to God

The Gospel of God for Rome

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle[a](A) and set apart(B) for the gospel of God(C) which he promised beforehand(D) through his prophets(E) in the Holy Scriptures— concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David[b](F) according to the flesh(G) and was appointed to be the powerful(H) Son of God(I) according to the Spirit of holiness[c] by the resurrection of the dead. Through him we have received grace and apostleship(J) to bring about[d] the obedience(K) of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,[e](L) including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.(M)

To all who are in Rome, loved by God,(N) called(O) as saints.(P)

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

Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith[f] is being reported in all the world.(Q) God is my witness,(R) whom I serve with my spirit(S) in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you,(T) 10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.(U) 11 For I want very much to see you,(V) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 Now I don’t want you to be unaware,(W) brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now(X)) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry[g] among you,(Y) just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians,[h](Z) both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel(AA) to you also who are in Rome.

The Righteous Will Live by Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel,[i](AB) because it is the power of God for salvation(AC) to everyone who believes, first to the Jew,(AD) and also to the Greek.(AE) 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith,[j](AF) just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.[k][l](AG)

The Guilt of the Gentile World

18 For God’s wrath(AH) is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,(AI) 19 since what can be known[m] about God is evident among them,(AJ) because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world,(AK) being understood through what he has made.(AL) As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.(AM) 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools(AN) 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.(AO)

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts(AP) to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,(AQ) and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever.(AR) Amen.

From Idolatry to Depravity

26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions.(AS) Their women[n] exchanged natural sexual relations[o] for unnatural ones. 27 The men[p] in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men(AT) and received in their own persons[q] the appropriate penalty of their error.

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness,[r] evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,(AU) 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful,(AV) inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,(AW) 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving,[s](AX) and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die[t](AY)—they not only do them, but even applaud[u](AZ) others who practice them.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Or Jesus, a called apostle
  2. 1:3 Lit was of the seed of David
  3. 1:4 Or the spirit of holiness, or the Holy Spirit
  4. 1:5 Or him for; lit him into
  5. 1:5 Or nations, also in v. 13
  6. 1:8 Or because your faith
  7. 1:13 Lit have some fruit
  8. 1:14 Or non-Greeks
  9. 1:16 Other mss add of Christ
  10. 1:17 Or revealed out of faith into faith
  11. 1:17 Or The one who is righteous by faith will live
  12. 1:17 Hab 2:4
  13. 1:19 Or what is known
  14. 1:26 Lit females, also in v. 27
  15. 1:26 Lit natural use, also in v. 27
  16. 1:27 Lit males, also later in v.
  17. 1:27 Or in themselves
  18. 1:29 Other mss add sexual immorality
  19. 1:31 Other mss add unforgiving
  20. 1:32 Lit things are worthy of death
  21. 1:32 Lit even take pleasure in