Romans 1:1-15 ▼

1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative), set apart for [preaching] the gospel of God [the good news of salvation],

2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures—

3 [the good news] regarding His Son, who, as to the flesh [His human nature], was born a descendant of David [to fulfill the covenant promises],

4 and [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated to be the Son of God with power [in a triumphant and miraculous way] by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

5 It is through Him that we have received grace and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the Gentiles,

6 and you also are among those who are called of Jesus Christ to belong to Him;

7 [I am writing] to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called to be saints (God’s people) and set apart for a sanctified life, [that is, set apart for God and His purpose]: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith [your trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] is being proclaimed in all the world.

9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit by preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how continuously I mention you

10 in my prayers; always pleading that somehow, by God’s will, I may now at last come to you.

11 For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift, to strengthen and establish you;

12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that many times I have planned to come to you, (and have been prevented so far) so that I may have some fruit [of my labors] among you, even as I have among the rest of the Gentiles.

14 I have a duty to perform and a debt to pay both to Greeks and to barbarians [the cultured and the uncultured], both to the wise and to the foolish.

15 So, for my part, I am ready and eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.