Gospel Promised through the Prophets
PAUL, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6 Among whom, are you also the called of Jesus Christ.
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be holy: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pauls Desire to Visit Rome
8 ¶ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
10 Pleading, if by any means, at this time, I might have a prosperous journey in union with the will of God to come to you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that, you may be strengthened;
12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now brothers, I would not have you ignorant, that oftentimes I purposed to come to you, (but was prevented until the present time), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other nations.
14 I am under obligation, both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the foolish.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to proclaim the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
The Righteous through Faith, Shall Live
16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed through faith, as being by faith: as it is written, “The righteous through faith, shall live”.
(Hab 2:4)
The Wrath of God
18 ¶ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and the injustice of men, who hold back the truth with unrighteousness:
19 Because that which may be known of God, is known by them; for God has made it clear to them.
20 For the invisible attributes of him, from the creation of the universe are clearly knowable, being understood through the creation, even his eternal power and divine nature; as a result, they are without excuse:
21 Because knowing God, they did not honour him as God, neither gave thanks; but became worthless in their reasonings, and their foolish heart became darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And substituted the glory of the immortal God, with an image likened unto mortal man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Turned Over to Their Own Desires
24 ¶ Therefore God gave them over to the evil desires of their own hearts, to dishonouring their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who substituted the truth of God into the lie, and worshipped and served the creation instead of the Creator, who is blessed in all ages and forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God did not restrain them, rather allowed their right to give themselves over to vile sexual desires: for even their women did exchange natural sexual relations into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural sexual relations with the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is shameful, and receiving within themselves recompense for their perversion.
28 And because they did not examine God, nor acknowledge him in their understanding, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not right;
29 Being filled with every kind of injustice, sexual immorality, wickedness, greediness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malice; gossip,
30 Slanderers, haters of God, violent, arrogant, pretentious, contrivers of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Foolish, breakers of agreements, without natural affection, unforgiving, without mercy:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they, whom commit such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but also approve of others that practice them.