Romans 1
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God,
This letter comes from Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ. I was called to be an apostle by God. God appointed me to announce the good news
2 ( Which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures, )
that he had previously promised through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh;
The good news is about his Son, whose human forefather was David,
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
but who was revealed as God's Son by his resurrection from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
It was through him that I received the privilege of becoming an apostle to call all nations to obedient trust in him.
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
You are also included among those who were called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I'm writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God, and called to be his special people. Grace and peace to you 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.
Let me begin by saying that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the way in which you trust in God is spoken about all over the 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;
I'm always praying for you, as God can confirm—the God I serve with the whole of my being as I share the good news about his Son.
10 Making request, if by any means now at length I may have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you.
In my prayers I'm always asking that I might eventually come and see you, if that's what God wants.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established;
I really want to visit you and share with you a spiritual blessing to strengthen you.
12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
In this way we can be encouraged together by each others' trust in God, both your trust and mine.
13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that I have often purposed to come to you, ( but was hindered until now, ) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
I want you to know, my brothers and sisters, I often planned to visit you, but I was kept from coming up till now. I want to see some good spiritual results among you just as I've seen among other people.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
For I have an obligation to work for both the civilized and the uncivilized, both the educated and the uneducated.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
That's why I'm really keen to come to Rome and share the good news with you.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I'm certainly not ashamed about the good news, for it's God's power to save everyone who trusts in him—to the Jewish people first, and then to everyone else as well.
17 For in this is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
For in the good news God is revealed as good and right, trustworthy from start to finish. As Scripture says, “Those who are right with God live by trusting him.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
God's hostility is revealed from heaven against those who are godless and who are not morally right, those who suppress the truth through the evil that they do.
19 Because that which may be known of God is evident in them; for God hath shown it to them.
What can be known about God is obvious, because he has made it very clear to 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: (aïdios g126)
Ever since the creation of the world, the invisible aspects of God—his eternal power and divinity—are clearly visible in what he has made. Such people have no excuse, (aïdios g126)
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.
because even though they knew God, they did not praise him or thank him, but instead their thinking about God turned into complete foolishness, and darkness filled their empty minds.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Even though they claimed to be wise, they became foolish.
23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for idols, images of mortal human beings, birds, animals, and reptiles.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
So God abandoned them to the evil desires of their depraved minds, and they did shameful, degrading things to each other.
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. (aiōn g165)
They exchanged God's truth for a lie, worshiping and serving creatures instead of the Creator, who deserves praise forever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
26 For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:
That's why God abandoned them to their evil desires. Their women exchanged natural sex for that which is unnatural,
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 due.
and in the same way the men gave up sex with women and burned with lust for each other. Men did indecent things to each other, and as a result they suffered the inevitable consequences of their perversions.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not proper;
Since they didn't consider it worthwhile to get to know God, he abandoned them to their worthless, distrustful way of thinking, doing things that should never be done.
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
They filled themselves with all that's wrong: evil, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malice, and gossip.
30 Backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
They're back-stabbers and God-haters. They're arrogant, proud, and boastful. They devise new ways of sinning. They rebel against their parents.
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
They don't want to understand, they don't keep their promises, they don't show any kindness or compassion.
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Even though they realize exactly what God requires, they do things that deserve death. Not only do they do such things themselves, they also support others in doing them.
