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regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David,
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and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
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And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
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To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
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God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
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that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
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That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
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For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
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For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
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God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
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since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
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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, so that people are without excuse.
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Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
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They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
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Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
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God’s Righteous Judgment
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
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Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
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Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
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To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
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But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
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There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;
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but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
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All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
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For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
