Paul Greets the Saints in Rome

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called an apostle, having been separated unto the gospel of God, 2which He proclaimed beforehand through His prophets in the holy scriptures, 3concerning his Son, having been born of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4having been ordained the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, from the resurrection of the dead, of Jesus Christ our Lord: 5through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, in behalf of his name: 6among whom ye are also called of Jesus Christ:

7to all the beloved of God who are in Rome, saints having been called. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unashamed of the Gospel

8In the first place, indeed, I praise my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how I unceasingly make mention of you always in my prayer; 10praying, if by any means I shall be prospered in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, in order that I may impart unto you a certain spiritual grace, that you may be established; 12but this is the consolation among you through faith in one another, both of you and me. 13But I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, that frequently I purposed to come to you, and was hindered hitherto, in order that I may have some fruit among you, as well as also among other Gentiles. 14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and the unwise: 15so to my utmost ability, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For the righteousness of God is revealed in him from faith to faith: as has been written, But the just shall live by faith.

God’s Wrath against Sin

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God has revealed it to them: 20for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are seen, being known by the things which are made, even His eternal power and divinity; so that they are without excuse: 21because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were they thankful; but they became vain in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Saying that they were wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the invisible God into the similitude of the likeness of corruptible man, and of birds, and of quadrupeds, and of creeping things.

24Therefore God gave them up, in the lusts of their hearts, to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves: 25who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for evermore: amen.

26On account of this God gave them up to the lusts of dishonor: for indeed their women changed the natural use to that which is against nature: 27likewise also the men, having left the natural use of the woman, burned in their desire towards one another; men with men working out disgrace, and receiving the reward of their error among themselves which it behooved.

28And as they did not approve to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are inappropriate; 29being filled with all injustice, wickedness, vice, covetousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceitfulness, evil affection; 30whisperers, calumniators, haters of God, insulters, proud, arrogant, practitioners of evils, disobedient to parents, 31covenant-breakers, incontinent, without natural affections, unmerciful, 32who, knowing the rightfulness of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but they even delight in those who are doing them.