Greeting
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1:1; 9:1; 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:11called tobe an apostle, Acts 9:15; 13:2; (Gal. 1:15)separated to the gospel of God 2 Acts 26:6which He promised before Gal. 3:8through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was 2 Sam. 7:12; 1 Chr. 17:11; Is. 9:7; Jer. 23:5; Gal. 4:4born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 andPs. 2:7; Acts 9:20; 13:33; Heb. 1:2declared tobe the Son of God with power according Ps. 16:10; (Heb. 9:14)to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him Eph. 3:8we have received grace and apostleship for Acts 6:7; Rom. 16:26obedience to the faith among all nations Acts 9:15for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, Acts 9:13; Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 1:2, 24called tobe saints:
Num. 6:25; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, 1 Cor. 1:4; Eph. 1:15; Phil. 1:3; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:13I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that Acts 28:22; Rom. 16:19your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For Rom. 9:1God is my witness, Acts 27:23whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that 1 Thess. 3:10without 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 Rom. 15:29I 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 Titus 1:4the 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 (1 Thess. 2:18)was hindered until now), that I might have some Phil. 4:17fruit 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, Iam ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
The Just Live by Faith
16 For Ps. 40:9, 10I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for 1 Cor. 1:18, 24it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, Luke 2:30; Acts 3:26; Rom. 2:9for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For Rom. 3:21; 9:30; Phil. 3:9in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38"The just shall live by faith."
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 (Acts 17:30)For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and Rom. 6:13; 2 Thess. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:13; 1 John 5:17unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because (Acts 14:17; 17:24)what may be known of God is manifest in them, for (John 1:9)God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world Job 12:7–9; Ps. 19:1–6; Jer. 5:22His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but 2 Kin. 17:15; Jer. 2:5; Eph. 4:17became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Jer. 10:14; (1 Cor. 1:20)Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:15, 16incorruptible Deut. 4:16–18; Ps. 106:20; Jer. 2:11; Acts 17:29God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Ps. 81:12; Acts 7:42; Eph. 4:18, 19Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, 1 Cor. 6:18to dishonor their bodies Lev. 18:22among themselves, 25 who exchanged 1 Thess. 1:9the truth of God Is. 44:20; Jer. 10:14; 13:25; 16:19for 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 Lev. 18:22; Eph. 5:12vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men 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 Eph. 5:4which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; theyare whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, (Rom. 2:2)knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things (Rom. 6:21)are deserving of death, not only do the same but also (Ps. 50:18); Hos. 7:3approve of those who practice them.