1Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3[This is the Good News] concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. 5Through him, we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his Name’s sake. 6Among them, you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9Surely, God (to whom I offer divine service1562 in my spirit in the Good News of his Son) is my witness, how unceasingly I always make mention of you in my prayers. 10I request, if by any means now at last I may be blessed by the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift with the purpose that you may be established;1563 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
The wrath of God—Idolatry and immorality
13Now I do not desire to have you unaware, brethren, that I have often planned to come to you, but so far, I have been hindered. [My goal] is that I might have some fruit among you also, even as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. 14I am a debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15This is why there is so much eagerness on my part to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.
16Indeed, I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ!1564 It is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 17For in the Gospel1565 God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”1566 18However, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20Indeed, since the creation of the world, his invisible things are clearly seen. They are perceived through created things, even his everlasting power and divinity. This is so that they may be without excuse, 21because knowing God, they did not glorify him as God or give [him] thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
22Thinking themselves to be wise, they became fools! 23They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, of birds, of four-footed animals, and creeping things.1567 24Therefore, God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves. 25Having exchanged the truth of God for a lie, they exalted1568 and offered divine service1569 to the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen.
26For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions: their women changed the natural function into what is against nature, 27and the men did likewise. They abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. 28Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a worthless1570 mind, to do those things which are not fitting. 29They have become filled with all [kinds of] unrighteousness, sexual immorality,1571 wickedness, covetousness, and malice. They are also full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and evil habits. [They are] secret slanderers, 30backbiters, hateful of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving,1572 and unmerciful. 32Knowing the ordinance of God, (that those who practice such things are worthy of death), they not only do these [very] things but also approve of those who practice them.
The judgment of God
- Greek latreu,w
- Or “made more solid”
- CT omits “of Christ”
- Greek “it,” or “Good News”
- Habakkuk 2:4
- The 1560 Geneva Bible and the 1611 Authorized Version associate Wisdom 12:24 with Romans 1:23 in a marginal reference (compare Romans 1:20-32 with Wisdom 13-15).
- Here, “exalted” is used to translate se,besqai, not prokuneo
- Greek evla,treusan
- Or “reprobate (KJV)/debased (NRS)/depraved (NIV)/undiscerning (NAB)”
- CT omits “sexual immorality”
- CT omits “unforgiving”
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
