1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his
prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4And
declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of
holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5By whom we have received
grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for
his name: 6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7To all
that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and
peace 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. 9For 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;
10Making
request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey
by the will of God to come unto you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I
purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have
some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14I am debtor
both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the
unwise. 15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to
you that are at Rome also.
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by
faith.
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in
them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For 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:
21Because 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. 22Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to
birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts
of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.
Amen.
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even
their women did change the natural use into that which is against
nature: 27And 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 meet.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate,
deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they
which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but
have pleasure in them that do them.