The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, having been separated to the good news of God,

which He announced before through His prophets in holy writings,

concerning His Son—who has come of the seed of David according to the flesh,

who is marked out [as the] Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of sanctification, by the resurrection from the dead—Jesus Christ our Lord;

through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, in behalf of His Name;

among whom are also you, the called of Jesus Christ;

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

Unashamed of the Gospel

First, indeed, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed in the whole world;

for God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the good news of His Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you,

always in my prayers imploring, if by any means now at length I will have a prosperous journey, by the will of God, to come to you,

for I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, that you may be established;

and that is, that I may be comforted together among you, through faith in one another, both yours and mine.

And I do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, that many times I purposed to come to you—and was hindered until the present time—that some fruit I might have also among you, even as also among the other nations.

Both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to wise and to thoughtless, I am a debtor,

so, as much as in me is, I am ready also to you who [are] in Rome to proclaim good news,

for I am not ashamed of the good news of the Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who is believing, both to Jew first, and to Greek.

For the righteousness of God in it is revealed from faith to faith, according as it has been written: “And the righteous one will live by faith,”

God’s Wrath against Sin

for the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven on all impiety and unrighteousness of men, holding down the truth in unrighteousness.

Because that which is known of God is revealed among them, for God revealed [it] to them,

for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, by the things made being understood, are plainly seen, both His eternal power and Godhead—to their being inexcusable;

because, having known God they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor gave thanks, but were made vain in their reasonings, and their unintelligent heart was darkened,

professing to be wise, they were made fools,

and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and of quadrupeds, and of reptiles.

For this reason also God gave them up, in the desires of their hearts, to uncleanness, to dishonor their bodies among themselves;

who changed the truth of God into the lie, and honored and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for all ages. Amen.

Because of this God gave them up to dishonorable affections, for even their females changed the natural use into that against nature;

and in like manner also the males having left the natural use of the female, burned in their longing toward one another; males with males working shame, and the repayment of their error that was fit, in themselves receiving.

And according as they did not approve of having God in knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things not seemly;

having been filled with all unrighteousness, whoredom, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers,

evil-speakers, God-haters, insulting, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

unintelligent, faithless, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

who the righteous judgment of God having known—that those practicing such things are worthy of death—not only do them, but also have delight with those practicing them.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,(a) called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring(b) of David according to the flesh,

who was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake;

among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ;

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

Unashamed of the Gospel

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

For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,

requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;

that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (and was hindered so far), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.

So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.

For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”(c)

God’s Wrath against Sin

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

because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.

For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse.

Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves;

who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.

Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.

Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,

backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;

who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(b)1:3 or, seed