Romanos 1

(Writer: Paul) (56 C.E.) (Corinth)

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed set apart for the good news of God,

² He promised this long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.

³ This is about his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who came from the seed of David according to the flesh.

⁴ He was declared to be the Son of God with power through the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

⁵ Through whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, respecting his name.

⁶ You are among those called to Jesus Christ.

⁷ To all who are in Rome, beloved of God and called to be holy ones: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ First, I thank my God for all of you through Jesus Christ, for your faith is reported throughout the whole world.

⁹ God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit whole heart and mind in the good news of his Son. Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

¹⁰ I pray that I might by the will of God successfully come to you.

¹¹ I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened,

¹² that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

¹³ I want you to know, brothers, that I was often determined to come to you, but was hindered until now, that I might have some fruit among you as well as the rest of the nations.

¹⁴ I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise.

¹⁵ I am ready to preach the good news to you in Rome also.

¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the good news; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who exerts active faith believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

¹⁷ It reveals the righteousness of God from faith-to-faith for it is written: »The righteous shall live by faith.«

¹⁸ The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

¹⁹ That which is known about God is clear to them, for God revealed it to them.

²⁰ His invisible attributes are clearly seen since the creation of the world. The things made prove His eternal power and divine nature. Mankind has no excuse,

²¹ for when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God. They did not thank him and were vain in their reasoning, for their foolish hearts were darkened.

²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

²³ They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

²⁴ God gave them up to uncleanness because of the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

²⁵ They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creation more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.

²⁷ Also the men left the natural use of the woman and burned in their lust, one toward another; men with men working that which is obscene. They receive full recompense due for their error.

²⁸ They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate depraved mind, to do things that are not fitting.

²⁹ They are filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness; they are whisperers,

³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹ without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, and unmerciful.

³² They know the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death! And yet, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who do them.