Greeting

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, acalled to be an apostle, bseparated to the gospel of God 2 cwhich He promised before dthrough His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who 1was eborn of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and fdeclared to be the Son of God with power according gto the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him hwe have received grace and apostleship for iobedience to the faith among all nations jfor His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, kcalled to be saints:

lGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Desire to Visit Rome

8 First, mI thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that nyour faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For oGod is my witness, pwhom I serve 2with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that qwithout ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that rI may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by sthe mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but twas hindered until now), that I might have some ufruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

The Just Live by Faith

16 For vI am not ashamed of the gospel 3of Christ, for wit is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, xfor the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For yin it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, z“The just shall live by faith.”

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 aFor the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and bunrighteousness of men, who 4suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because cwhat may be known of God is 5manifest 6in them, for dGod has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world eHis invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and 7Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but fbecame futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 gProfessing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the hincorruptible iGod into an image made like 8corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 jTherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, kto dishonor their bodies lamong themselves, 25 who exchanged mthe truth of God nfor the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to ovile passions. For even their 9women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the 1men, leaving the natural use of the 2woman, burned in their lust for one another, 1men with 1men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

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 pwhich are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, 3sexual immorality, wickedness, 4covetousness, 5maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 6undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, 7unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, qknowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things rare deserving of death, not only do the same but also sapprove of those who practice them.