Romans 1:1-7

Expanded Bible

1 From Paul, a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Christ Jesus. ·God called me [^L…called] to be an ·apostle [messenger] and ·chose me [set me apart; appointed me] to tell the ·Good News [Gospel].

² God promised this ·Good News [Gospel] ·long ago [beforehand; previously] through his prophets, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures. ³ The Good News is about God’s Son. ·As a man [or With reference to his earthly life; ^LAccording to the flesh], he was born ·from the family [a descendant; ^Lof the seed] of David [2 Sam. 7:11–14]. ⁴ But through the Spirit of holiness [^Ca Jewish way of referring to the Holy Spirit] he was ·declared [or designated; appointed] to be God’s Son with great power by rising from the dead [^Cthough eternally the Son of God, Jesus was appointed such “with power” at his resurrection; see Ps. 2:7; 110:1–2]. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through ·Christ [^Lwhom], ·God gave me the special work of an apostle [^Lwe have received apostleship; ^C“we” could be a formal way of saying “I,” or could refer to Paul and the other apostles], which was to lead ·people of all nations [the Gentiles] to ·believe and obey [or the obedience that comes from faith; or the obedience that is faith]. I do this work for ·him [^Lhis name]. ⁶ And you who are in Rome are also among those [^CGentiles] called to belong to Jesus Christ.

⁷ To all of you in Rome whom God loves and has called to be ·his holy people [^Tsaints]:

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