The Gospel Exalted

1Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, [†]called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God, 2which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4who was designated as the Son of God in power, according to the [†]Spirit of holiness, [†]by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of His name, 6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

7to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as [†]saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ [†]for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how without ceasing I make mention of you, 10always in my prayers earnestly asking, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 11For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be strengthened; 12that is, to be mutually encouraged, while among you, by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14I am [†]under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15In this way, for my part, I am eager to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed [†]from faith to faith; as it is written, “[†]BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth [†]in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident [†]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25For they exchanged the truth of God for [†]a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed [†]forever. Amen.

26For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions; for their females exchanged the natural function for that which is [†]unnatural, 27and in the same way also the males abandoned the natural function of the female and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing [†]indecent acts and receiving in [†]their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28And just as they did not see fit [†]to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30slanderers, [†]haters of God, violent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32and although they know the righteous requirement of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.