1 Paul,
a 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 theflesh;
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 ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7 To
all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be
saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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 Making
request, if by any means now at length I might have a
prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto
you.
11 For
I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some
spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12 That
is, that I may be comforted together with you by the
mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now
I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that
oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let
hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you
also, even as among other Gentiles.
14 I
am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians;
both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15 So,
as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel
to you that are at Rome also.
16 For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For
therein is the righteousness of God revealed from
faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live
by faith.
18 For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the
truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because
that which may be known of God is manifest in them;
for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For
the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him
not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in
their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened.
22 Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And
changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an
image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore
God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts
of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies
between themselves:
25 Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped
and served the creature more than the Creator, who is
blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For
this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for
even their women did change the natural use into that
which is against nature:
27 And
likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the
woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men
with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving
in themselves that recompence of their error which was
meet.
28 And
even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to
do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being
filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters,
haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without
understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such things are worthy of death, not only do the same,
but have pleasure in them that do them.
