Romans 1:14
New International Version
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

New Living Translation
For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike.

English Standard Version
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Berean Standard Bible
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

Berean Literal Bible
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.

King James Bible
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

New King James Version
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

New American Standard Bible
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to the uncultured, both to the wise and to the foolish.

NASB 1995
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

NASB 1977
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Legacy Standard Bible
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Amplified Bible
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.

Christian Standard Bible
I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.

American Standard Version
I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Greeks and Barbarians, wise and ignorant, for I owe a debt to preach to every person.

Douay-Rheims Bible
To the Greeks and to the barbarians, to the wise and to the unwise, I am a debtor;

English Revised Version
I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have an obligation to those who are civilized and those who aren't, to those who are wise and those who aren't.

Good News Translation
For I have an obligation to all peoples, to the civilized and to the savage, to the educated and to the ignorant.

International Standard Version
Both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to foolish people, I am a debtor.

Literal Standard Version
Both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to wise and to thoughtless, I am a debtor,

Majority Standard Bible
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

New American Bible
To Greeks and non-Greeks alike, to the wise and the ignorant, I am under obligation;

NET Bible
I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

New Revised Standard Version
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish

New Heart English Bible
I have an obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Webster's Bible Translation
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Weymouth New Testament
I am already under obligations alike to Greek-speaking races and to others, to cultured and to uncultured people:

World English Bible
I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Young's Literal Translation
Both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to wise and to thoughtless, I am a debtor,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Desire to Visit Rome
13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.…

Cross References
Acts 28:2
The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

1 Corinthians 9:16
Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!


Treasury of Scripture

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

debtor.

Romans 8:12
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Romans 13:8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Greeks.

Acts 28:4
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

1 Corinthians 14:11
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

both to.

Romans 1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

to the unwise.

Proverbs 1:22
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 8:5
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Isaiah 35:8
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

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Alike Already Barbarians Debt Debtor Foolish Foreigners Greeks Greek-Speaking Learning Nations Obligated Obligation Obligations Others Outside Races Thoughtless Unwise Wise
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Alike Already Barbarians Debt Debtor Foolish Foreigners Greeks Greek-Speaking Learning Nations Obligated Obligation Obligations Others Outside Races Thoughtless Unwise Wise
Romans 1
1. Paul commends his calling to the Romans;
9. and his desire to come to them.
16. What his gospel is.
18. God is angry with sin.
21. What were the sins of mankind.














(14, 15) Why is the Apostle so eager to come to them? Because an obligation, a duty, is laid upon him. (Comp. 1Corinthians 9:16, "necessity is laid upon me.") He must preach the gospel to men of all classes and tongues; Rome itself is no exception.

(14) To the Greeks, and to the Barbarians.--The Apostle does not intend to place the Romans any more in the one class than in the other. He merely means "to all mankind, no matter what their nationality or culture." The classification is exhaustive. It must be remembered that the Greeks called all who did not speak their own language "Barbarians," and the Apostle, writing from. Greece, adopts their point of view.

Wise and foolish.--(Comp. 1Corinthians 1:20; 1Corinthians 1:26-28.) The gospel was at first most readily received by the poor and unlearned, but it did not therefore follow that culture and education were by any means excluded. St. Paul himself was a conspicuous instance to the contrary. And so, in the next century, the Church which began with such leaders as Ignatius and Polycarp, could number among its members before the century was out, Irenaeus, and Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria, and Hippolytus, and Origen--the last, the most learned man of his time.

Verses 14, 15. - Both to Greeks and Barbarians, both to wise and unwise, I am debtor. So, as much as is in me, to you also that are at Rome, I am ready to preach the gospel. The two divisions of mankind into

(1) Ἔλληνες καὶ Βάρβαροι,

(2) σοφοὶ καὶ ἀνοήτοι, are intended to include all, independently of nationality and culture, regarded from a Greek or Roman point of view. The Greeks, as is well known, called all others than themselves Βάρβαροι, so that Ἕλληνεσ καὶ Βάρβαροι included the whole world. Here the Romans are intended to be included among Ἕλληνες, being partakers in Hellenic culture, and in fact at that time its prominent representatives (el. "Non solum Graecia et Italia, sod etiam omnis barbaria," Cicero, 'De Fin.,' 2:15). Of course, σοφοὶ also includes them. The obvious intention of the writer is to place them in each of the higher categories, and so, while after his manner he pays his expected readers a delicate compliment, to insist that his mission is to the highest in position and culture as well as the lowest, cud that, bold in his convictions, he is not ashamed to preach the cross even to them. "Audax facinus ad crucem vocare terrarum Dominos" (Alex. More. quoted by Olshausen).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I am
εἰμί (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

obligated
ὀφειλέτης (opheiletēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3781: From opheilo; an ower, i.e. Person indebted; figuratively, a delinquent; morally, a transgressor.

both
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

to Greeks
Ἕλλησίν (Hellēsin)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1672: From Hellas; a Hellen or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

non-Greeks,
Βαρβάροις (Barbarois)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 915: A foreigner, one who speaks neither Greek nor Latin; as adj: foreign. Of uncertain derivation; a foreigner.

both
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

to [the] wise
σοφοῖς (sophois)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4680: Wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. Akin to saphes; wise.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[the] foolish.
ἀνοήτοις (anoētois)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 453: Foolish, thoughtless. By implication, sensual.


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NT Letters: Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to Greeks (Rom. Ro)
Romans 1:13
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