Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Paul declares his love for the Romans, shows what the gospel is with the fruit of it, and reproves the base nature of the flesh.

1 Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle, put apart to preach the gospel of God – ² the gospel that he promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures ³ that speak of his Son, who was begotten of the seed of David as to the flesh, ⁴ and was with power identified as the Son of God by the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies since the time that Jesus Christ our Lord rose up from death. ⁵ By him we have received grace and apostleship to bring all manner of heathen peoples to the obedience of faith, which is in his name. ⁶ Of such peoples you are a part also, who are Jesus Christ’s by calling.

⁷ To all you of Rome, beloved of God and saints by calling. Grace be with you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ The birth of Jesus Christ was this way: When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came to dwell together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being an upright man, and loathe to make an example of her, was minded to put her away quietly. ²⁰ While he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife. For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins.

²² All this was done to fulfil that which was spoken about the Lord by the prophet, saying, ²³ Behold, a maiden shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which is by interpretation, God with us.

²⁴ And Joseph, as soon as he awoke out of sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bid him and took his wife unto him, ²⁵ and knew her not till she had brought forth her first son, and called his name Jesus.