Paul Greets the Saints in Rome

1Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, 2separated unto the gospel of God, (which He had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures) concerning his Son, 3who was of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4but powerfully declared to be the Son of God, according to the spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord; 5by whom we have received grace and apostleship to preach the obedience of faith for his name's sake, to all nations; 6among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ;

7to all that are in Rome beloved of God, called and holy: grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unashamed of the Gospel

8And first I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is celebrated through the whole world: 9for God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how incessantly I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10intreating if I may now at length have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come unto you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, that you may be established: 12that is to say, that being among you we may be comforted together by the faith of each, both yours and mine. 13And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that I often purposed to come unto you, (but have been hindered hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the other Gentiles. 14For I am a debtor both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the learned and the unlearned: 15therefore am I ready, as much as in me lies, to preach the gospel to you also that are at Rome.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, both Jew and Greek: 17for the righteousness of God is therein revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

God’s Wrath against Sin

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who withhold the truth in unrighteousness; 19for what is to be known of God is manifest among them, for God hath manifested it to them. 20Inasmuch as from the first creation of the world, the invisible things of Him, even his eternal power and Godhead, are, if attended to, clearly seen in his works: 21so that they are inexcusable; because having thus known God they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful; but were infatuated by their own reasonings, and their heart being void of understanding was darkened. 22Pretending to be wise they Became fools: 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for an image like to corruptible man, and birds, and beasts, and reptiles.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to impurity, in the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves; 25who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature instead of the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26Therefore God gave them up to infamous passions: for even their women changed the natural use into that which is unnatural, 27and the men likewise, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust to one another, men with men committing shame, and receiving in themselves the recompence of their error which they deserved.

28And as they were not careful to acknowledge God, God gave them up to an undiscerning mind to do things that were not fit to be done: 29being filled with all injustice, lewdness, wickedness, covetousness, malignity; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and every evil habit; whisperers, 30slanderers, haters of God, injurious, haughty, proud, inventers of mischief, undutiful to parents, void of understanding, 31covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, and unmerciful: 32who though they knew the just judgement of God, (that they who commit such practises are worthy of death) yet not only do these very things, but also countenance and encourage others in the practice of them.