Romans
Chapter 1
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand by his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 concerning his Son who was born from a seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was designated the Son of God in power through the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for the sake of his name, 6 among whom are you also, called of Jesus Christ. 7 To all those being 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 concerning all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how I continually make mention of you, 10 always requesting in my prayers if somehow now at last I will be successful by the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, so that I may give to you some spiritual gift, to strengthen you, 12 and this is to be mutually encouraged with you through the faith in one another, both yours and mine. 13 Now I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, that I often intended to come to you, (but I was hindered until now), so that I might have some fruit among you also, just as also among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, what is according to me is ready to proclaim the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, both to the Jew first and to the Greek. 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it has been written, “But the righteous will live by faith.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who through unrighteousness are holding back the truth, 19 because that which is known about God is visible to them, for God has made it known to them. 20 For his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and divine nature, are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being understood through the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For having known God, they did not glorify him as God, nor did they give him thanks. Instead, they became foolish in their thoughts, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became foolish, 23 and exchanged the glory of the imperishable God for the likenesses of an image of perishable man, and of birds, and of four-footed beasts, and of creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them over to the lusts of their hearts for uncleanness, for their bodies to be dishonored among themselves; 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creation instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason, God gave them over to dishonorable passions, for both their women exchanged natural relations for those contrary to nature, 27 and likewise, the men also, having left their natural relations of the female, burned in their lust for one another, male with male committing shameless acts and receiving in themselves the penalty they deserved for their error.
28 And just as they did not approve of having God in their awareness, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper. 29 Having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, and malice, they are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and evil intentions. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, faithless, heartless, and unmerciful. 32 They, having understood the righteous decree of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do these things, but also approve of those who do them.
Chapter 2
1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, anyone who is judging, for in that which you judge another you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who practice such things. 3 But consider this, O man who is judging those who are practicing such things and you are doing the same things, that you will escape from the judgment of God? 4 Or do you scorn the riches of his kindness, and his forebearance, and his patience, knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up for yourself wrath on the day of wrath, and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will pay back to each according to his deeds: 7 eternal life to those who according to consistent, good actions are seeking glory, and honor, and incorruptibility; 8 but wrath and fierce anger to those who are from selfish ambition and who are disobeying the truth but obeying unrighteousness. 9 Tribulation and distress will be on every human soul that is practicing evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 10 But glory, and honor, and peace will be to everyone who is practicing good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no favoritism with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and as many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law will not be righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, they, not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show the deeds of the law to be written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them, their thoughts between themselves both accusing or even defending them, 16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus.
17 But if you name yourself a Jew and rely upon the law and boast in God, 18 and know his will and approve of what is excellent, being instructed from the law; 19 and you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth, 21 then you who is teaching others, do you not teach yourself? You who is preaching not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who is saying not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who is hating idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it has been written. 25 For circumcision indeed benefits if you obey the law, but if you are transgressors of the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 If, then, the uncircumcised one keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be considered as circumcision? 27 And the one who, by nature uncircumcised, fulfills the law, will condemn you as a transgressor of the law, though having the letter and circumcision! 28 For not the one who is outwardly a Jew; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But the one who is inwardly a Jew, and circumcision of the heart in the Spirit, not in the letter; of him the praise is not from men but from God.
Chapter 3
1 What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of the circumcision? 2 It is great in every way. For first of all, that they were entrusted with the sayings of God. 3 For what if some of them were unfaithful? Their unbelief will not abolish the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be. Instead, let God become true, but every man a liar. Just as it has been written,
“That you might be shown to be righteous in your words,
and that you might prevail when you are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness shows the righteousness of God, what will we say? God is not unrighteous for imposing his wrath, is he? (I am speaking according to men.) 6 May it never be! Otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if the truth of God through my lie abounds to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? 8 And not, just as we are blasphemed and just as some affirm us to say, “Let us do evil, so that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.
9 What then? Are we excusing ourselves? Not at all. For we have already accused both Jews and Greeks, all of them, to be under sin. 10 Just as it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands.
There is no one who seeks God.
12 They have all turned away. They together have become useless.
There is no one doing good—there is not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave.
Their tongues have deceived.
The poison of snakes is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to pour out blood.
16 Destruction and suffering are in their paths.
17 And they have not known a way of peace.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, so that every mouth may be shut, and the whole world may become accountable to God. 20 This is because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law in his sight. For through the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known. It was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; 22 but the righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all those who believe, for there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, 24 being freely justified by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God intended him as a propitiation through faith in his blood for a demonstration of his justice, because of his overlooking of the sins that happened previously 26 in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness at this present time, so that he could be just, and the justifier of the one who is from faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. On what grounds? Of works? No, but on the grounds of faith. 28 For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God of Jews only? Is he not also of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also. 30 If, indeed, God is one, he will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! Instead, we uphold the law.
Chapter 4
1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered? 2 For if Abraham had been justified by works, he has a reason to boast, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “But Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not counted as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. 6 Even as David also speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7
“Blessed are those of whom their lawless dees are forgiven,
and of whom their sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man of whom the Lord will certainly not count sin.”
9 Then is this blessness to the circumcision, or also to the uncircumcision? For we say, “Faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it counted? Being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? It was not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith that was in his uncircumcision, so that he would be the father of all those who believe through uncircumcision, so that righteousness would be counted for them; 12 and the father of circumcision to those who are not only from the circumcision, but who also are walking in the footsteps of the uncircumcised faith of our father Abraham.
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he would be heir of the world was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those from the law are heirs, faith has been made empty, and the promise is nullified. 15 For the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there trespass. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that according to grace, the promise might be certain to all his seed—not only to those from the law, but also to those from the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all, 17 just as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations,” in the presence of God whom he trusted, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist into existence. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to what he had been told, “So will your seed be.” 19 And not becoming weak in the faith, he considered his own body as already having died (being about a hundred years old)—and the deadness of the womb of Sarah. 20 But toward the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, having given glory to God, 21 and fully convinced that what he had promised, he was also able to do. 22 Therefore this was also counted to him as righteousness. 23 Now it was not written only for his sake, that it was counted to him, 24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be counted, to those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
Chapter 5
1 Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the certain hope of the glory of God. 3 But not only this, we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. 4 But endurance produces character, and character produces certain hope, 5 and that hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Perhaps, though, someone might dare to die for a good person. 8 But God proves his own love toward us, because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more, then, now that we are justified by his blood, we will be saved by it from his wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, after having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 But not only this, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now have received this reconciliation.
12 So then, as through one man sin entered into the world, in this way death entered through sin. So death spread to all people, because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death ruled from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin like Adam’s disobedience, who is a pattern of him who was to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the trespass of one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound for the many! 16 For the gift is not like the outcome of that one man’s sin. For indeed, the judgment followed one trespass and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death ruled through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 18 So then, by one trespass condemnation came to all people, so also one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all people. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one will the many be made righteous. 20 But the law came in to increase the trespass. But where sin abounded, grace abounded even more. 21 This happened so that, as sin ruled in death, even so grace might rule through righteousness for everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Chapter 6
1 What then will we say? Should we continue in sin so that grace may abound? 2 May it never be. We who died to sin, how can we still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried, then, with him through baptism into death. This happened in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be united with his resurrection. 6 We know this, that our old man was crucified with him, in order that the body of sin might be destroyed. This happened so that we should no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For he who has died is declared righteous with respect to sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live together with him. 9 We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead he does not die again; death no longer has authority over him. 10 For in regard to the death that he died, he died to sin once for all. However, the life that he lives, he lives for God. 11 In the same way, you also must consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin rule in your mortal body in order that you may obey its lusts. 13 Do not present the parts of your body to sin, to be tools used for unrighteousness. But present yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and the parts of your body to God as tools to be used for righteousness. 14 So do not allow sin to rule over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be. 16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves to obey as slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey? This is true whether you are slaves to sin which leads to death, or slaves to obedience which leads to righteousness. 17 But thanks be to God! For you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching that you were given. 18 But you have been made free from sin, and you have been made slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak like a man because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to uncleanness and to more and more lawlessness, in the same way now, present the parts of your body as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 At that time, what fruit then did you have of the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been made free from sin and are enslaved to God, you have your fruit for sanctification. The result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Chapter 7
1 Or do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to people who know about law), that the law controls a person for as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So then, while her husband is living, if she lives with another man, she will be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so she is not an adulteress if she lives with another man. 4 Therefore, my brothers, you were also made dead to the law through the body of Christ. This is so that you could be joined to another, that is, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might produce fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the law. We have died to that by which we were held. This is so that we might serve in newness of the Spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
7 What will we say then? Is the law itself sin? May it never be. However, I would never have known sin, if it were not through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin took the opportunity through the commandment and brought about every lust in me. For without the law, sin is dead. 9 But at one time I was alive without the law, but when the commandment came, sin regained life, 10 and I died. The commandment that was to bring life turned out to be death for me. 11 For sin took the opportunity through the commandment and deceived me, and through the commandment it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and righteous, and good.
13 So did what is good become death to me? May it never be. But sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin through what is good, brought about death in me. This was in order that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh. I have been sold under slavery to sin. 15 For what I do, I do not really understand. For what I want to do, this I do not do. But what I hate, this I do. 16 But if what I do not want, that I do, I agree with the law that the law is good. 17 But now it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that lives in me. 18 For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, lives no good thing. For the desire for good is with me, but not the ability to do that good. 19 For the good that I want I do not do, but the evil that I do not want, that I do. 20 Now if what I do not want to do, this I do, then it is no longer I who am doing it, but rather sin that lives in me. 21 I find, then, the principle in me that I want to do what is good, but that evil is actually present in me. 22 For I rejoice in the law of God with the inner man. 23 But I see a different principle in my body parts. It fights against that new principle in my mind. It takes me captive by the principle of sin that is in my body parts. 24 I am a miserable man! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind. However, with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Chapter 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was unable to do because it was weak through the flesh, God did. He sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be an offering for sin, and he condemned sin in the flesh. 4 He did this in order that the requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us, we who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh pay attention to the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit pay attention to the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 This is because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to the law of God, for it is not able to do so. 8 But those who are in the flesh are not able to please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed God’s Spirit lives in you. But if someone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, the body is dead with respect to sin, but the spirit is alive with respect to righteousness. 11 If indeed the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, but not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you are about to die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the body’s actions, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you slaves, so that you live in fear again; but you received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 17 And if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God. And we are joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to us. 19 For the eager expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in the certain hope 21 that also the creation itself will be delivered from slavery to decay, and that it will be brought into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors in pain together even now. 23 Not only that, but even we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit—even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For in this certain hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he can see? 25 But if we have certain hope about what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 But in the same way, the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groans. 27 But he who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes on behalf of the saints according to the will of God. 28 For we know that for those who love God, God works all things together for good, [1] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 Because those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined, these he also called. And those whom he called, these he also justified. And those whom he justified, these he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but delivered him up on behalf of us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring any accusation against God’s chosen ones? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died—but more than that, who was raised—who also is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“For your benefit we are killed all day long.
We were considered as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 But in all these things we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us. 38 For I have been convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor governments, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Chapter 9
1 I tell the truth in Christ. I do not lie, and my conscience bears witness with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that for me there is great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself would be cursed and set apart from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites. They have the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the gift of the law, and the worship of God, and the promises. 5 Theirs are the ancestors from whom also Christ has come with respect to the flesh—he who is God over all. May he be praised forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the promises of God have failed. For it is not everyone who is from Israel who truly belongs to Israel. 7 Neither are all Abraham’s descendants truly his children. But, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will be called.” 8 That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God. But the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and a son will be given to Sarah.” 10 Not only this, but after Rebekah also had conceived by one man, our father Isaac— 11 for the children were not yet born and had not yet done anything good or bad, so that the purpose of God according to his choice might stand, 12 not because of actions, but because of him who calls—it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 It is just as had been written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What then will we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be. 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 16 So then, it is not of him who wills, nor because of him who runs, but of God, who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, so that I might demonstrate my power in you, and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then, God has mercy on whom he wishes, but whom he wishes, he makes stubborn.
19 You will say then to me, “Why then does he still find fault? For who has ever withstood his will?” 20 On the contrary, man, who are you who answers against God? Will what has been molded say to the one who molds it, “Why did you make me this way?” 21 Does the potter not have the right over the clay to make from the same lump a container for special use, and another container for daily use? 22 But what if God, who is willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience containers of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this in order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon containers of mercy, which he had previously prepared for glory? 24 And what if he did this for us, whom he also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles? 25 As he says also in Hosea:
“I will call my people who were not my people,
and her beloved who was not beloved.
26 Then it will be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called’sons of the living God.’”
27 But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,
“Though the number of the sons of Israel were as the sand of the sea,
it will be a remnant that will be saved,
28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence on the earth,
completely and without delay.”
29 As Isaiah had said previously,
“If the Lord of hosts had not left us descendants,
we would be like Sodom,
and we would have become like Gomorrah.”
30 What will we say then? That the Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, obtained righteousness, but righteousness that is by faith. 31 But Israel, who did pursue a law of righteousness, did not attain it through the law. 32 Why not? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but by works. They stumbled over the stone of stumbling, 33 as it has been written,
“Look, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
He who believes in it will not be ashamed.”
Chapter 10
1 Brothers, the desire of my heart and my request to God is for them, for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they do not know of God’s righteousness, and they seek to establish their own righteousness. They did not submit to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says this, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); 7 and do not say, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”
That is the word of faith, which we proclaim. 9 For if with your mouth you confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation. 11 For scripture says, “Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is Lord of all, and he is rich to all who call upon him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 How then can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach, unless they are sent?—As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the gospel!”
16 But not all of them obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, “Did they not hear?” Yes, most certainly.
“Their sound has gone out into all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”
19 Moreover, I say, “Did Israel not know?” First Moses says,
“I will provoke you to jealousy by what is not a nation.
By means of a nation without understanding, I will stir you up to anger.”
20 Then Isaiah was very bold when he says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me.
I appeared to those who did not ask for me.”
21 But to Israel he says, “All the day long I reached out my hands to a disobedient and stubborn people.”
Chapter 11
1 I say then, did God reject his people? May it never be. For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what does God’s answer say to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bent the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant because of the choice of grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer by works. Otherwise grace would no longer be grace. [1] 7 What then? The thing that Israel was seeking, it did not obtain, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened. 8 It is just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of dullness, eyes so that they should not see, and ears so that they should not hear, to this very day.” 9 Then David says,
“Let their table become a net and a trap,
and a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see,
and bend their backs continually.”
11 I say then, “Did they stumble so as to fall?” May it never be. Instead, by their failure, salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if their failure is the riches of the world, and if their loss is the riches of the Gentiles, how much greater will their completion be? 13 But now I am speaking to you Gentiles, and as long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry. 14 Perhaps I will provoke to jealousy those who are of my own flesh. Perhaps I will save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 But if the firstfruits are holy, so is the lump of dough. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and if you, a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them, and if you shared with them in the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over the branches. But if you do boast, it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. Because of their unbelief they were broken off, but you stand firm because of your faith. Do not think too highly of yourself, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Look at, then, the kind actions and the severity of God: severity came on those who fell, but God’s kindness comes on you, if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive tree, how much more will these, who are the natural, be grafted back into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, of this mystery, in order that you will not be wise in your own thinking. This mystery is that a partial hardening has occurred in Israel, until the completion of the Gentiles come in. 26 Thus all Israel will be saved, just as it is written:
“Out of Zion will come the Deliverer.
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob,
27 and this will be my covenant with them,
when I will take away their sins.”
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake. But as far as election is concerned, they are beloved because of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the call of God are unchangeable. 30 For just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 and in the same way, now these Jews have been disobedient. The result was that by the mercy shown to you they may also now receive mercy. 32 For God has shut up all into disobedience, in order that he might show mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond discovering!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has become his advisor?
35 Or who has first given anything to God,
that God must repay him?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Chapter 12
1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. This is your reasonable service. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. By doing this you will prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, because of the grace that was given to me, that everyone who is among you should not think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. Instead, they should think in a wise way, just as God has given out to each one a certain amount of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body, but not all the members have the same function, 5 in the same way, we who are many are one body in Christ, and are individually members of each other. 6 But we have different gifts according to the grace that was given to us: if giving, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in serving; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if encouraging, in encouragement; giving, in generosity; leading, with care; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; hold on to that which is good. 10 Concerning love of the brothers, be affectionate to one another. Concerning honor, respect one another. 11 Concerning diligence, do not be hesitant. Concerning the spirit, be eager. Concerning the Lord, serve him. 12 Rejoice in certain hope, be patient in suffering, be faithful in prayer. 13 Share in the needs of the saints. Find many ways to practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not think in proud ways, but accept lowly people. Do not be wise in your own thoughts. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Do good things in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all people. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give way to his wrath, for it is written, “‘Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him a drink.
For if you do this, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Chapter 13
1 Let every soul be obedient to higher authorities, for there is no authority unless it comes from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2 Therefore he who resists that authority opposes the command of God; and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good deeds, but to evil deeds. Now do you desire to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive his approval. 4 For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not carry the sword for no reason. For he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath on the one who does evil. 5 Therefore you must obey, not only because of the wrath, but also because of conscience. 6 For because of this you pay taxes also. For they are servants of God, who attend to this very thing continually. 7 Pay to everyone what is owed to them. Tax to whom tax is due, toll to whom toll is due; fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 Indeed, the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does not cause harm to one’s neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this because we know the time, that it is already time for us to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night has advanced, and the day has come near. Let us therefore put aside the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk appropriately, as in the day, not in drunken celebrations or drunkenness; and let us not walk in sexual immorality or in uncontrolled lust, and not in strife or jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its lusts.
Chapter 14
1 But receive the one who is weak in faith, without giving judgment about arguments. 2 One person has faith to eat anything, but another who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let the one who eats not despise the one who does not eat; and let the one who does not eat not judge the one who eats. For God has accepted him. 4 Who are you, who judges a servant belonging to someone else? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. But he will be made to stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person values one day above another day. But another person values every day equally. Let each person be convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord; and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. He who does not eat, refrains from eating for the Lord, he also gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself, and none dies for himself. 8 For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Then whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this purpose Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and those who are living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? And you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,
“As I live,” says the Lord, “to me every knee will bend,
and every tongue will confess to God.”
12 So then, each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another, but instead decide this, that no one will place a stumbling block or a snare for his brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean by itself. Only for him who considers anything to be unclean, for him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not allow what you consider to be good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not about food and drink, but about righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by people. 19 So then, let us pursue the things of peace and the things that build up one another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God because of food. All things are indeed clean, but it is evil for that person who eats and causes him to stumble. 21 It is good not to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is led into sin, or becomes weak. 22 The faith you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not from faith. And whatever is not from faith is sin.
Chapter 15
1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and ought not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, in order to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself. Instead, it was just as it is written, “The insults of those who insulted you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was previously written was written for our instruction, in order that through patience and through encouragement of the scriptures we would have certain hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with each other according to Christ Jesus. 6 May he do this in order that with one mind you may praise with one mouth the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore receive one another, even as Christ also received you, to the praise of God. 8 For I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision on behalf of God’s truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles
and sing praise to your name.”
10 Again it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
and let all the peoples praise him.”
12 Again, Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come, even the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will have hope.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace for believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, hope will increase in you.
14 But I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers, that also you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to also exhort one another. 15 But I am writing more boldly to you about some things in order to remind you, because of the grace given me by God. 16 This gift was that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus sent to the Gentiles, to offer as a priest the gospel of God. I should do this so that the offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, consecrated by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus I therefore have reason to boast of my service for God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me for the obedience of the Gentiles. These are things done by word and action, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. This was so that from Jerusalem, and round about as far as Illyricum, I might fully carry out the gospel of Christ. 20 In this way, my desire has been to proclaim the gospel, but not where Christ is known by name, in order that I might not build upon another man’s foundation. 21 But as it is written:
“Those to whom no tidings of him came will see him,
and those who have not heard will understand.”
22 Therefore I was also hindered many times from coming to you. 23 But now, I no longer have any place in these regions, and I have been longing for many years to come to you. 24 I indeed hope that I will see you in passing when I go to Spain, and to be helped by you along my journey there, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem, bringing aid to the believers. 26 For it was the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution to the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 Indeed they were pleased to do this, because they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received what was collected, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 But I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. 32 Pray that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and that I may, together with you, find rest. 33 Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Chapter 16
1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church that is in Cenchrea, 2 in order that you may receive her in the Lord, in a manner worthy of the saints, and stand by her in whatever matter she may have need of you. For she herself as well has become a helper of many, and of myself as well.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own lives. I give thanks to them, and not only I, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus my beloved, who is the firstfruit of Asia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are prominent among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who work hard in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the believers who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
17 Now I urge you, brothers, to think about those who are causing divisions and obstacles, contrary to the teaching that you have learned. Turn away from them. 18 For people such as these do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach. By their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent. 19 For your obedience reaches everyone. I rejoice, therefore, over you, but I want you to be wise as to that which is good, but innocent to that which is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I, Tertius, who write this epistle, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, the host for me and for the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, with Quartus the brother. 24[1] [May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages,
26 but now has been revealed and made known through the prophetic writings to all nations, by the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.
27 To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever. Amen.