Chapter 1

Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

which he had promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

concerning his Son who was born to him according to the flesh of the offspring of David;

who was foreordained Son of God by an act of power in keeping with the holiness of his spirit, by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

through whom we have received the grace of apostleship to bring about obedience of faith among all the nations for his name's sake;

among whom are you also called to be Jesus Christ's---

to all God's beloved who are in Rome, called to be saints: grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Commendation and Desire to Visit Them

First I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed all over the world.

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

always imploring in my prayers that somehow I may at last by God's will come to you after a safe journey.

For I long to see you that I may impart some spiritual grace unto you to strengthen you,

that is, that among you I may be comforted together with you by that faith which is common to us both, yours and mine. Why He Wishes to Visit Them

Now I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that I have often intended to come to see you (and have been hindered until now) that I may produce some results among you also, as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

To Greeks and to foreigners, to learned and unlearned, I am debtor;

so, for my part, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also who are at Rome. Theme of the Epistle

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to Jew first and then to Greek.

For in it the justice of God is revealed, from faith unto faith, as it is written, "He who is just lives by faith." The Pagans Adore Idols

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those men who in wickedness hold back the truth of God,

seeing that what may be known about God is manifest to them. For God has manifested it to them.

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen---his everlasting power also and divinity---being understood through the things that are made. And so they are without excuse,

seeing that, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless minds have been darkened.

For while professing to be wise, they have become fools,

and they have changed the glory of the incorruptible God for an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Punishment of Idolaters

Therefore God has given them up in the lustful desires of their hearts to uncleanness, so that they dishonor their own bodies among themselves---

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

For this cause God has given them up to shameful lusts; for their women have exchanged the natural use for that which is against nature,

and in like manner the men also, having abandoned the natural use of the woman, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men doing shameless things and receiving in themselves the fitting recompense of their perversity.

And as they have resolved against possessing the knowledge of God, God has given them up to a reprobate sense, so that they do what is not fitting;

being filled with all iniquity, malice, immorality, avarice, wickedness; being full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity; being whisperers,

detractors, hateful to God, irreverent, proud, haughty, plotters of evil; disobedient to parents,

foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.

Although they have known the ordinance of God, they have not understood that those who practice such things are deserving of death. And not only do they do these things, but they applaud others doing them.