The Letter to the Romans

The Letter to the Romans

The Letter to the Romans is the most significant theological work of the Apostle Paul and provides a comprehensive explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It explores the themes of sin and grace and the necessity of faith for the justification of every human being. We see how the righteousness of God is revealed in the sacrifice of the Savior and how we are invited to share in His life. This book teaches us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us to bring us into a new life of freedom.

The narrative emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification and the hope of future glory for the entire creation. We find practical instructions on how to live as a living sacrifice and how to relate to one another in the community of faith. Paul stresses the importance of humility and the rejection of a spirit of judgment toward our fellow believers. The Letter to the Romans encourages us to trust in the depth of the riches and wisdom of God and to live for His eternal glory.

Explore The Letter to the Romans Study Guide →

Chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Chapter 1

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an Apostle, separated for the Gospel of God, ? 2which he had promised beforehand, through his Prophets, in the Holy Scriptures, ? 3about his Son, who was made for him from the offspring of David according to the flesh, ? 4the Son of God, who was predestined in virtue according to the Spirit of sanctification from the resurrection of the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ, ? 5through whom we have received grace and Apostleship, for the sake of his name, for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, ? 6from whom you also have been called by Jesus Christ: ? 7To all who are at Rome, the beloved of God, called as saints. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ? 8Certainly, I give thanks to my God, through Jesus Christ, first for all of you, because your faith is being announced throughout the entire world. ? 9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit by the Gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I have kept a remembrance of you ? 10always in my prayers, pleading that in some way, at some time, I may have a prosperous journey, within the will of God, to come to you. ? 11For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you a certain spiritual grace to strengthen you, ? 12specifically, to be consoled together with you through that which is mutual: your faith and mine. ? 13But I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you, (though I have been hindered even to the present time) so that I might obtain some fruit among you also, just as also among the other Gentiles. ? 14To the Greeks and to the uncivilized, to the wise and to the foolish, I am in debt. ? 15So within me there is a prompting to evangelize to you also who are at Rome. ? 16For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation for all believers, the Jew first, and the Greek. ? 17For the justice of God is revealed within it, by faith unto faith, just as it was written: �For the just one lives by faith.� ? 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven over every impiety and injustice among those men who fend off the truth of God with injustice. ? 19For what is known about God is manifest in them. For God has manifested it to them. ? 20For unseen things about him have been made conspicuous, since the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made; likewise his everlasting virtue and divinity, so much so that they have no excuse. ? 21For although they had known God, they did not glorify God, nor give thanks. Instead, they became weakened in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was obscured. ? 22For, while proclaiming themselves to be wise, they became foolish. ? 23And they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of flying things, and of four-legged beasts, and of serpents. ? 24For this reason, God handed them over to the desires of their own heart for impurity, so that they afflicted their own bodies with indignities among themselves. ? 25And they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. And they worshipped and served the creature, rather than the Creator, who is blessed for all eternity. Amen. ? 26Because of this, God handed them over to shameful passions. For example, their females have exchanged the natural use of the body for a use which is against nature. ? 27And similarly, the males also, abandoning the natural use of females, have burned in their desires for one another: males doing with males what is disgraceful, and receiving within themselves the recompense that necessarily results from their error. ? 28And since they did not prove to have God by knowledge, God handed them over to a morally depraved way of thinking, so that they might do those things which are not fitting: ? 29having been completely filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness; full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, spite, gossiping; ? 30slanderous, hateful toward God, abusive, arrogant, self-exalting, devisers of evil, disobedient to parents, ? 31foolish, disorderly; without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. ? 32And these, though they had known the justice of God, did not understand that those who act in such a manner are deserving of death, and not only those who do these things, but also those who consent to what is done. ?

Chapter 2

1For this reason, O man, each one of you who judges is inexcusable. For by that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you do the same things that you judge. ? 2For we know that the judgment of God is in accord with truth against those who do such things. ? 3But, O man, when you judge those who do such things as you yourself also do, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God? ? 4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and patience and forbearance? Do you not know that the kindness of God is calling you to repentance? ? 5But in accord with your hard and impenitent heart, you store up wrath for yourself, unto the day of wrath and of revelation by the just judgment of God. ? 6For he will render to each one according to his works: ? 7To those who, in accord with patient good works, seek glory and honor and incorruption, certainly, he will render eternal life. ? 8But to those who are contentious and who do not acquiesce to the truth, but instead trust in iniquity, he will render wrath and indignation. ? 9Tribulation and anguish are upon every soul of man that works evil: the Jew first, and also the Greek. ? 10But glory and honor and peace are for all who do what is good: the Jew first, and also the Greek. ? 11For there is no favoritism with God. ? 12For whoever had sinned without the law, will perish without the law. And whoever had sinned in the law, will be judged by the law. ? 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are just before God, but rather it is the doers of the law who shall be justified. ? 14For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature those things which are of the law, such persons, not having the law, are a law unto themselves. ? 15For they reveal the work of the law written in their hearts, while their conscience renders testimony about them, and their thoughts within themselves also accuse or even defend them, ? 16unto the day when God shall judge the hidden things of men, through Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel. ? 17But if you are called by name a Jew, and you rest upon the law, and you find glory in God, ? 18and you have known his will, and you demonstrate the more useful things, having been instructed by the law: ? 19you become confident within yourself that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ? 20an instructor to the foolish, a teacher to children, because you have a type of knowledge and truth in the law. ? 21As a result, you teach others, but you do not teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, but you yourself steal. ? 22You speak against adultery, but you commit adultery. You abominate idols, but you commit sacrilege. ? 23You would glory in the law, but through a betrayal of the law you dishonor God. ? 24(For because of you the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles, just as it was written.) ? 25Certainly, circumcision is beneficial, if you observe the law. But if you are a betrayer of the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. ? 26And so, if the uncircumcised keep the justices of the law, shall not this lack of circumcision be counted as circumcision? ? 27And that which is by nature uncircumcised, if it fulfills the law, should it not judge you, who by the letter and by circumcision are a betrayer of the law? ? 28For a Jew is not he who seems so outwardly. Neither is circumcision that which seems so outwardly, in the flesh. ? 29But a Jew is he who is so inwardly. And circumcision of the heart is in the spirit, not in the letter. For its praise is not of men, but of God. ?

Chapter 3

1So then, what more is the Jew, or what is the usefulness of circumcision? ? 2Much in every way: First of all, certainly, because the eloquence of God was entrusted to them. ? 3But what if some of them have not believed? Shall their unbelief nullify the faith of God? Let it not be so! ? 4For God is truthful, but every man is deceitful; just as it was written: �Therefore, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.� ? 5But if even our injustice points to the justice of God, what shall we say? Could God be unfair for inflicting wrath? ? 6(I am speaking in human terms.) Let it not be so! Otherwise, how would God judge this world? ? 7For if the truth of God has abounded, through my falseness, unto his glory, why should I still be judged as such a sinner? ? 8And should we not do evil, so that good may result? For so we have been slandered, and so some have claimed we said; their condemnation is just. ? 9What is next? Should we try to excel ahead of them? By no means! For we have accused all Jews and Greeks to be under sin, ? 10just as it was written: �There is no one who is just. ? 11There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks God. ? 12All have gone astray; together they have become useless. There is no one who does good; there is not even one. ? 13Their throat is an open sepulcher. With their tongues, they have been acting deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips. ? 14Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. ? 15Their feet are swift to shed blood. ? 16Grief and unhappiness are in their ways. ? 17And the way of peace they have not known. ? 18There is no fear of God before their eyes.� ? 19But we know that whatever the law speaks, it speaks to those who are in the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the entire world may be subject to God. ? 20For in his presence no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law. For knowledge of sin is through the law. ? 21But now, without the law, the justice of God, to which the law and the prophets have testified, has been made manifest. ? 22And the justice of God, though the faith of Jesus Christ, is in all those and over all those who believe in him. For there is no distinction. ? 23For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God. ? 24We have been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ? 25whom God has offered as a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to reveal his justice for the remission of the former offenses, ? 26and by the forbearance of God, to reveal his justice in this time, so that he himself might be both the Just One and the Justifier of anyone who is of the faith of Jesus Christ. ? 27So then, where is your self-exaltation? It is excluded. Through what law? That of works? No, but rather through the law of faith. ? 28For we judge a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law. ? 29Is God of the Jews only and not also of the Gentiles? On the contrary, of the Gentiles also. ? 30For One is the God who justifies circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith. ? 31Are we then destroying the law through faith? Let it not be so! Instead, we are making the law stand. ?

Chapter 4

1So then, what shall we say that Abraham had achieved, who is our father according to the flesh? ? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he would have glory, but not with God. ? 3For what does Scripture say? �Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.� ? 4But for he who works, wages are not accounted according to grace, but according to debt. ? 5Yet truly, for he who does not work, but who believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is reputed unto justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God. ? 6Similarly, David also declares the blessedness of a man, to whom God brings justice without works: ? 7�Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered. ? 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin.� ? 9Does this blessedness, then, remain only in the circumcised, or is it even in the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was reputed to Abraham unto justice. ? 10But then how was it reputed? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. ? 11For he received the sign of circumcision as a symbol of the justice of that faith which exists apart from circumcision, so that he might be the father of all those who believe while uncircumcised, so that it might also be reputed to them unto justice, ? 12and he might be the father of circumcision, not only for those who are of circumcision, but even for those who follow the footsteps of that faith which is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham. ? 13For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith. ? 14For if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith becomes empty and the Promise is abolished. ? 15For the law works unto wrath. And where there is no law, there is no law-breaking. ? 16Because of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before God, ? 17in whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: �I have established you as the father of many nations.� ? 18And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: �Thus shall your posterity shall be.� ? 19And he was not weakened in faith, nor did he consider his own body to be dead (though he was then almost one hundred years old), nor the womb of Sarah to be dead. ? 20And then, in the Promise of God, he did not hesitate out of distrust, but instead he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ? 21knowing most fully that whatever God has promised, he is also able to accomplish. ? 22And for this reason, it was reputed to him unto justice. ? 23Now this has been written, that it was reputed to him unto justice, not only for his sake, ? 24but also for our sake. For the same shall be reputed to us, if we believe in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, ? 25who was handed over because of our offenses, and who rose again for our justification. ?

Chapter 5

1Therefore, having been justified by faith, let us be at peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. ? 2For through him we also have access by faith to this grace, in which we stand firm, and to glory, in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. ? 3And not only that, but we also find glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation exercises patience, ? 4and patience leads to proving, yet truly proving leads to hope, ? 5but hope is not unfounded, because the love of God is poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ? 6Yet why did Christ, while we were still infirm, at the proper time, suffer death for the impious? ? 7Now someone might barely be willing to die for the sake of justice, for example, perhaps someone might dare to die for the sake of a good man. ? 8But God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time, ? 9Christ died for us. Therefore, having been justified now by his blood, all the more so shall we be saved from wrath through him. ? 10For if we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, while we were still enemies, all the more so, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ? 11And not only that, but we also glory in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. ? 12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into this world, and through sin, death; so also death was transferred to all men, to all who have sinned. ? 13For even before the law, sin was in the world, but sin was not imputed while the law did not exist. ? 14Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses, even in those who have not sinned, in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come. ? 15But the gift is not entirely like the offense. For though by the offense of one, many died, yet much more so, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, has the grace and gift of God abounded to many. ? 16And the sin through one is not entirely like the gift. For certainly, the judgment of one was unto condemnation, but the grace toward many offenses is unto justification. ? 17For though, by the one offense, death reigned through one, yet so much more so shall those who receive an abundance of grace, both of the gift and of justice, reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. ? 18Therefore, just as through the offense of one, all men fell under condemnation, so also through the justice of one, all men fall under justification unto life. ? 19For, just as through the disobedience of one man, many were established as sinners, so also through the obedience of one man, many shall be established as just. ? 20Now the law entered in such a way that offenses would abound. But where offenses were abundant, grace was superabundant. ? 21So then, just as sin has reigned unto death, so also may grace reign through justice unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. ?

Chapter 6

1So what shall we say? Should we remain in sin, so that grace may abound? ? 2Let it not be so! For how can we who have died to sin still live in sin? ? 3Do you not know that those of us who have been baptized in Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death? ? 4For through baptism we have been buried with him into death, so that, in the manner that Christ rose from the dead, by the glory of the Father, so may we also walk in the newness of life. ? 5For if we have been planted together, in the likeness of his death, so shall we also be, in the likeness of his resurrection. ? 6For we know this: that our former selves have been crucified together with him, so that the body which is of sin may be destroyed, and moreover, so that we may no longer serve sin. ? 7For he who has died has been justified from sin. ? 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live together with Christ. ? 9For we know that Christ, in rising up from the dead, can no longer die: death no longer has dominion over him. ? 10For in as much as he died for sin, he died once. But in as much as he lives, he lives for God. ? 11And so, you should consider yourselves to be certainly dead to sin, and to be living for God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ? 12Therefore, let not sin reign in your mortal body, such that you would obey its desires. ? 13Nor should you offer the parts of your body as instruments of iniquity for sin. Instead, offer yourselves to God, as if you were living after death, and offer the parts of your body as instruments of justice for God. ? 14For sin should not have dominion over you. For you are not under the law, but under grace. ? 15What is next? Should we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Let it not be so! ? 16Do you not know to whom you are offering yourselves as servants under obedience? You are the servants of whomever you obey: whether of sin, unto death, or of obedience, unto justice. ? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be the servants of sin, now you have been obedient from the heart to the very form of the doctrine into which you have been received. ? 18And having been freed from sin, we have become servants of justice. ? 19I am speaking in human terms because of the infirmity of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of your body to serve impurity and iniquity, for the sake of iniquity, so also have you now yielded the parts of your body to serve justice, for the sake of sanctification. ? 20For though you were once the servants of sin, you have become the children of justice. ? 21But what fruit did you hold at that time, in those things about which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. ? 22Yet truly, having been freed now from sin, and having been made servants of God, you hold your fruit in sanctification, and truly its end is eternal life. ? 23For the wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ?

Chapter 7

1Or do you not know, brothers, (now I am speaking to those who know the law) that the law has dominion over a man only so long as he lives? ? 2For example, a woman who is subject to a husband is obligated by the law while her husband lives. But when her husband has died, she is released from the law of her husband. ? 3Therefore, while her husband lives, if she has been with another man, she should be called an adulteress. But when her husband has died, she is freed from the law of her husband, such that, if she has been with another man, she is not an adulteress. ? 4And so, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law, through the body of Christ, so that you may be another one who has risen from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. ? 5For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were under the law, operated within our bodies, so as to bear fruit unto death. ? 6But now we have been released from the law of death, by which we were being held, so that now we may serve with a renewed spirit, and not in the old way, by the letter. ? 7What should we say next? Is the law sin? Let it not be so! But I do not know sin, except through the law. For example, I would not have known about coveting, unless the law said: �You shall not covet.� ? 8But sin, receiving an opportunity through the commandment, wrought in me all manner of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. ? 9Now I lived for some time apart from the law. But when the commandment had arrived, sin was revived, ? 10and I died. And the commandment, which was unto life, was itself found to be unto death for me. ? 11For sin, receiving an opportunity through the commandment, seduced me, and, through the law, sin killed me. ? 12And so, the law itself is indeed holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. ? 13Then was what is good made into death for me? Let it not be so! But rather sin, in order that it might be known as sin by what is good, wrought death in me; so that sin, through the commandment, might become sinful beyond measure. ? 14For we know that the law is spiritual. But I am carnal, having been sold under sin. ? 15For I do things that I do not understand. For I do not do the good that I want to do. But the evil that I hate is what I do. ? 16So, when I do what I do not want to do, I am in agreement with the law, that the law is good. ? 17But I am then acting not according to the law, but according to the sin which lives within me. ? 18For I know that what is good does not live within me, that is, within my flesh. For the willingness to do good lies close to me, but the carrying out of that good, I cannot reach. ? 19For I do not do the good that I want to do. But instead, I do the evil that I do not want to do. ? 20Now if I do what I am not willing to do, it is no longer I who am doing it, but the sin which lives within me. ? 21And so, I discover the law, by wanting to do good within myself, though evil lies close beside me. ? 22For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inner man. ? 23But I perceive another law within my body, fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me with the law of sin which is in my body. ? 24Unhappy man that I am, who will free me from this body of death? ? 25The grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord! Therefore, I serve the law of God with my own mind; but with the flesh, the law of sin. ?

Chapter 8

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh. ? 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and death. ? 3For though this was impossible under the law, because it was weakened by the flesh, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and because of sin, in order to condemn sin in the flesh, ? 4so that the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us. For we are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. ? 5For those who are in agreement with the flesh are mindful of the things of the flesh. But those who are in agreement with the spirit are mindful of the things of the spirit. ? 6For the prudence of the flesh is death. But the prudence of the spirit is life and peace. ? 7And the wisdom of the flesh is inimical to God. For it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be. ? 8So those who are in the flesh are not able to please God. ? 9And you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if it is true that the Spirit of God lives within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. ? 10But if Christ is within you, then the body is indeed dead, concerning sin, but the spirit truly lives, because of justification. ? 11But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives within you, then he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall also enliven your mortal bodies, by means of his Spirit living within you. ? 12Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, so as to live according to the flesh. ? 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, by the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live. ? 14For all those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. ? 15And you have not received, again, a spirit of servitude in fear, but you have received the Spirit of the adoption of sons, in whom we cry out: �Abba, Father!� ? 16For the Spirit himself renders testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God. ? 17But if we are sons, then we are also heirs: certainly heirs of God, but also co-heirs with Christ, yet in such a way that, if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him. ? 18For I consider that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with that future glory which shall be revealed in us. ? 19For the anticipation of the creature anticipates the revelation of the sons of God. ? 20For the creature was made subject to emptiness, not willingly, but for the sake of the One who made it subject, unto hope. ? 21For the creature itself shall also be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the sons of God. ? 22For we know that every creature groans inwardly, as if giving birth, even until now; ? 23and not only these, but also ourselves, since we hold the first-fruits of the Spirit. For we also groan within ourselves, anticipating our adoption as the sons of God, and the redemption of our body. ? 24For we have been saved by hope. But a hope which is seen is not hope. For when a man sees something, why would he hope? ? 25But since we hope for what we do not see, we wait with patience. ? 26And similarly, the Spirit also helps our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself asks on our behalf with ineffable sighing. ? 27And he who examines hearts knows what the Spirit seeks, because he asks on behalf of the saints in accordance with God. ? 28And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together unto good, for those who, in accordance with his purpose, are called to be saints. ? 29For those whom he foreknew, he also predestinated, in conformity with the image of his Son, so that he might be the Firstborn among many brothers. ? 30And those whom he predestinated, he also called. And those whom he called, he also justified. And those whom he justified, he also glorified. ? 31So, what should we say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ? 32He who did not spare even his own Son, but handed him over for the sake of us all, how could he not also, with him, have given us all things? ? 33Who will make an accusation against the elect of God? God is the One who justifies; ? 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus who has died, and who has indeed also risen again, is at the right hand of God, and even now he intercedes for us. ? 35Then who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation? Or anguish? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or peril? Or persecution? Or the sword? ? 36For it is as it has been written: �For your sake, we are being put to death all day long. We are being treated like sheep for the slaughter.� ? 37But in all these things we overcome, because of him who has loved us. ? 38For I am certain that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor the present things, nor the future things, nor strength, ? 39nor the heights, nor the depths, 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

1I am speaking the truth in Christ; I am not lying. My conscience offers testimony to me in the Holy Spirit, ? 2because the sadness within me is great, and there is a continuous sorrow in my heart. ? 3For I was desiring that I myself might be anathemized from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh. ? 4These are the Israelites, to whom belongs adoption as sons, and the glory and the testament, and the giving and following of the law, and the promises. ? 5Theirs are the fathers, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all things, blessed God, for all eternity. Amen. ? 6But it is not that the Word of God has perished. For not all those who are Israelites are of Israel. ? 7And not all sons are the offspring of Abraham: �For your offspring will be invoked in Isaac.� ? 8In other words, those who are the sons of God are not those who are sons of the flesh, but those who are sons of the Promise; these are considered to be the offspring. ? 9For the word of promise is this: �I will return at the proper time. And there shall be a son for Sarah.� ? 10And she was not alone. For Rebecca also, having conceived by Isaac our father, from one act, ? 11when the children had not yet been born, and had not yet done anything good or bad (such that the purpose of God might be based on their choice), ? 12and not because of deeds, but because of a calling, it was said to her: �The elder shall serve the younger.� ? 13So also it was written: �I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.� ? 14What should we say next? Is there unfairness with God? Let it not be so! ? 15For to Moses he says: �I will pity whomever I pity. And I will offer mercy to whomever I will pity.� ? 16Therefore, it is not based on those who choose, nor on those who excel, but on God who takes pity. ? 17For Scripture says to the Pharaoh: �I have raised you up for this purpose, so that I may reveal my power by you, and so that my name may be announced to all the earth.� ? 18Therefore, he takes pity on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. ? 19And so, you would say to me: �Then why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?� ? 20O man, who are you to question God? How can the thing that has been formed say to the One who formed him: �Why have you made me this way?� ? 21And does not the potter have the authority over the clay to make, from the same material, indeed, one vessel unto honor, yet truly another unto disgrace? ? 22What if God, wanting to reveal his wrath and to make his power known, endured, with much patience, vessels deserving wrath, fit to be destroyed, ? 23so that he might reveal the wealth of his glory, within these vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory? ? 24And so it is with those of us whom he has also called, not only from among the Jews, but even from among the Gentiles, ? 25just as he says in Hosea: �I will call those who were not my people, �my people,� and she who was not beloved, �beloved,� and she who had not obtained mercy, �one who has obtained mercy.� ? 26And this shall be: in the place where it was said to them, �You are not my people,� there they shall be called the sons of the living God.� ? 27And Isaiah cried out on behalf of Israel: �When the number of the sons of Israel is like the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. ? 28For he shall complete his word, while abbreviating it out of equity. For the Lord shall accomplish a brief word upon the earth.� ? 29And it is just as Isaiah predicted: �Unless the Lord of hosts had bequeathed offspring, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made similar to Gomorrah.� ? 30What should we say next? That the Gentiles who did not follow justice have attained justice, even the justice that is of faith. ? 31Yet truly, Israel, though following the law of justice, has not arrived at the law of justice. ? 32Why is this? Because they did not seek it from faith, but as if it were from works. For they stumbled over a stumbling block, ? 33just as it was written: �Behold, I am placing a stumbling block in Zion, and a rock of scandal. But whoever believes in him shall not be confounded.� ?

Chapter 10

1Brothers, certainly the will of my heart, and my prayer to God, is for them unto salvation. ? 2For I offer testimony to them, that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ? 3For, being ignorant of the justice of God, and seeking to establish their own justice, they have not subjected themselves to the justice of God. ? 4For the end of the law, Christ, is unto justice for all who believe. ? 5And Moses wrote, about the justice that is of the law, that the man who will have done justice shall live by justice. ? 6But the justice that is of faith speaks in this way: Do not say in your heart: �Who shall ascend into heaven?� (that is, to bring Christ down); ? 7�Or who shall descend into the abyss?� (that is, to call back Christ from the dead). ? 8But what does Scripture say? �The word is near, in your mouth and in your heart.� This is the word of faith, which we are preaching. ? 9For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised him up from the dead, you shall be saved. ? 10For with the heart, we believe unto justice; but with the mouth, confession is unto salvation. ? 11For Scripture says: �All those who believe in him shall not be confounded.� ? 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is over all, richly in all who call upon him. ? 13For all those who have called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ? 14Then in what way will those who have not believed in him call upon him? Or in what way will those who have not heard of him believe in him? And in what way will they hear of him without preaching? ? 15And truly, in what way will they preach, unless they have been sent, just as it has been written: �How beautiful are the feet of those who evangelize peace, of those who evangelize what is good!� ? 16But not all are obedient to the Gospel. For Isaiah says: �Lord, who has believed our report?� ? 17Therefore, faith is from hearing, and hearing is through the Word of Christ. ? 18But I say: Have they not heard? For certainly: �Their sound has gone forth throughout all the earth, and their words unto the limits of the whole world.� ? 19But I say: Has Israel not known? First, Moses says: �I will lead you into a rivalry with those who are not a nation; in the midst of a foolish nation, I will send you into wrath.� ? 20And Isaiah dares to say: �I was discovered by those who were not seeking me. I appeared openly to those who were not asking about me.� ? 21Then to Israel he says: �All day long I have stretched out my hands to a people who do not believe and who contradict me.� ?

Chapter 11

1Therefore, I say: Has God driven away his people? Let it not be so! For I, too, am an Israelite of the offspring of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. ? 2God has not driven away his people, whom he foreknew. And do you not know what Scripture says in Elijah, how he calls upon God against Israel? ? 3�Lord, they have slain your Prophets. They have overturned your altars. And I alone remain, and they are seeking my life.� ? 4But what is the Divine response to him? �I have retained for myself seven thousand men, who have not bent their knees before Baal.� ? 5Therefore, in the same way, again in this time, there is a remnant that has been saved in accord with the choice of grace. ? 6And if it is by grace, then it is not now by works; otherwise grace is no longer free. ? 7What is next? What Israel was seeking, he has not obtained. But the elect have obtained it. And truly, these others have been blinded, ? 8just as it was written: �God has given them a spirit of reluctance: eyes that do not perceive, and ears that do not hear, even until this very day.� ? 9And David says: �Let their table become like a snare, and a deception, and a scandal, and a retribution for them. ? 10Let their eyes be obscured, so that they may not see, and so that they may bow down their backs always.� ? 11Therefore, I say: Have they stumbled in such a way that they should fall? Let it not be so! Instead, by their offense, salvation is with the Gentiles, so that they may be a rival to them. ? 12Now if their offense is the riches of the world, and if their diminution is the riches of the Gentiles, how much more is their fullness? ? 13For I say to you Gentiles: Certainly, as long as I am an Apostle to the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry, ? 14in such a way that I might provoke to rivalry those who are my own flesh, and so that I may save some of them. ? 15For if their loss is for the reconciliation of the world, what could their return be for, except life out of death? ? 16For if the first-fruit has been sanctified, so also has the whole. And if the root is holy, so also are the branches. ? 17And if some of the branches are broken, and if you, being a wild olive branch, are grafted on to them, and you become a partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree, ? 18do not glorify yourself above the branches. For though you glory, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. ? 19Therefore, you would say: The branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted on. ? 20Well enough. They were broken off because of unbelief. But you stand on faith. So do not choose to savor what is exalted, but instead be afraid. ? 21For if God has not spared the natural branches, perhaps also he might not spare you. ? 22So then, notice the goodness and the severity of God. Certainly, toward those who have fallen, there is severity; but toward you, there is the goodness of God, if you remain in goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ? 23Moreover, if they do not remain in unbelief, they will be grafted on. For God is able to graft them on again. ? 24So if you have been cut off from the wild olive tree, which is natural to you, and, contrary to nature, you are grafted on to the good olive tree, how much more shall those who are the natural branches be grafted on to their own olive tree? ? 25For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery (lest you seem wise only to yourselves) that a certain blindness has occurred in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has arrived. ? 26And in this way, all of Israel may be saved, just as it was written: �From Zion shall arrive he who delivers, and he shall turn impiety away from Jacob. ? 27And this will be my covenant for them, when I will take away their sins.� ? 28Certainly, according to the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But according to the election, they are most beloved for the sake of the fathers. ? 29For the gifts and the call of God are without regret. ? 30And just as you also, in times past, did not believe in God, but now you have obtained mercy because of their unbelief, ? 31so also have these now not believed, for your mercy, so that they might obtain mercy also. ? 32For God has enclosed everyone in unbelief, so that he may have mercy on everyone. ? 33Oh, the depths of the richness of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable are his ways! ? 34For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? ? 35Or who first gave to him, so that repayment would be owed? ? 36For from him, and through him, and in him are all things. To him is glory, for all eternity. Amen. ?

Chapter 12

1And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind. ? 2And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect. ? 3For I say, through the grace that has been given to me, to all who are among you: Taste no more than it is necessary to taste, but taste unto sobriety and just as God has distributed a share of the faith to each one. ? 4For just as, within one body, we have many parts, though all the parts do not have the same role, ? 5so also we, being many, are one body in Christ, and each one is a part, the one of the other. ? 6And we each have different gifts, according to the grace that has been given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the reasonableness of faith; ? 7or ministry, in ministering; or he who teaches, in doctrine; ? 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, in simplicity; he who governs, in solicitude; he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness. ? 9Let love be without falseness: hating evil, clinging to what is good, ? 10loving one another with fraternal charity, surpassing one another in honor: ? 11in solicitude, not lazy; in spirit, fervent; serving the Lord; ? 12in hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, ever-willing; ? 13in the difficulties of the saints, sharing; in hospitality, attentive. ? 14Bless those who are persecuting you: bless, and do not curse. ? 15Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Weep with those who are weeping. ? 16Be of the same mind toward one another: not savoring what is exalted, but consenting in humility. Do not choose to seem wise to yourself. ? 17Render to no one harm for harm. Provide good things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. ? 18If it is possible, in so far as you are able, be at peace with all men. ? 19Do not defend yourselves, dearest ones. Instead, step aside from wrath. For it is written: �Vengeance is mine. I shall give retribution, says the Lord.� ? 20So if an enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in doing so, you will heap burning coals upon his head. ? 21Do not allow evil to prevail, instead prevail over evil by means of goodness. ?

Chapter 13

1Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God. ? 2And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves. ? 3For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them. ? 4For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil. ? 5For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience. ? 6Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this. ? 7Therefore, render to all whatever is owed. Taxes, to whom taxes is due; revenue, to whom revenue is due; fear, to whom fear is due; honor, to whom honor is due. ? 8You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. ? 9For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ? 10The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law. ? 11And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from sleep. For already our salvation is closer than when we first believed. ? 12The night has passed, and the day draws near. Therefore, let us cast aside the works of darkness, and be clothed with the armor of light. ? 13Let us walk honestly, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and sexual immorality, not in contention and envy. ? 14Instead, be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in its desires. ?

Chapter 14

1But accept those who are weak in faith, without disputing about ideas. ? 2For one person believes that he may eat all things, but if another is weak, let him eat plants. ? 3He who eats should not despise him who does not eat. And he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. For God has accepted him. ? 4Who are you to judge the servant of another? He stands or falls by his own Lord. But he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand. ? 5For one person discerns one age from the next. But another discerns unto every age. Let each one increase according to his own mind. ? 6He who understands the age, understands for the Lord. And he who eats, eats for the Lord; for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, does not eat for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. ? 7For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself. ? 8For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ? 9For Christ died and rose again for this purpose: that he might be the ruler of both the dead and the living. ? 10So then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ? 11For it is written: �As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.� ? 12And so, each one of us shall offer an explanation of himself to God. ? 13Therefore, we should no longer judge one another. Instead, judge this to a greater extent: that you should not place an obstacle before your brother, nor lead him astray. ? 14I know, with confidence in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in and of itself. But to him who considers anything to be unclean, it is unclean to him. ? 15For if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are not now walking according to love. Do not allow your food to destroy him for whom Christ died. ? 16Therefore, what is good for us should not be a cause of blasphemy. ? 17For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but rather justice and peace and joy, in the Holy Spirit. ? 18For he who serves Christ in this, pleases God and is proven before men. ? 19And so, let us pursue the things that are of peace, and let us keep to the things that are for the edification of one another. ? 20Do not be willing to destroy the work of God because of food. Certainly, all things are clean. But there is harm for a man who offends by eating. ? 21It is good to refrain from eating meat and from drinking wine, and from anything by which your brother is offended, or led astray, or weakened. ? 22Do you have faith? It belongs to you, so hold it before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in that by which he is tested. ? 23But he who discerns, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not of faith. For all that is not of faith is sin. ?

Chapter 15

1But we who are stronger must bear with the feebleness of the weak, and not so as to please ourselves. ? 2Each one of you should please his neighbor unto good, for edification. ? 3For even Christ did not please himself, but as it was written: �The reproaches of those who reproached you fell upon me.� ? 4For whatever was written, was written to teach us, so that, through patience and the consolation of the Scriptures, we might have hope. ? 5So may the God of patience and solace grant you to be of one mind toward one another, in accord with Jesus Christ, ? 6so that, together with one mouth, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ? 7For this reason, accept one another, just as Christ also has accepted you, in the honor of God. ? 8For I declare that Christ Jesus was the minister of circumcision because of the truth of God, so as to confirm the promises to the fathers, ? 9and that the Gentiles are to honor God because of his mercy, just as it was written: �Because of this, I will confess you among the Gentiles, O Lord, and I will sing to your name.� ? 10And again, he says: �Rejoice, O Gentiles, along with his people.� ? 11And again: �All Gentiles, praise the Lord; and all peoples, magnify him.� ? 12And again, Isaiah says: �There shall be a root of Jesse, and he shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, and in him the Gentiles shall hope.� ? 13So may the God of hope fill you with every joy and with peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope and in the virtue of the Holy Spirit. ? 14But I am also certain about you, my brothers, that you also have been filled with love, completed with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another. ? 15But I have written to you, brothers, more boldly than to the others, as if calling you to mind again, because of the grace which has been given to me from God, ? 16so that I may be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, sanctifying the Gospel of God, in order that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and may be sanctified in the Holy Spirit. ? 17Therefore, I have glory in Christ Jesus before God. ? 18So I dare not speak of any of those things which Christ does not effect through me, unto the obedience of the Gentiles, in word and deed, ? 19with the power of signs and wonders, by power of the Holy Spirit. For in this way, from Jerusalem, throughout its surroundings, as far as Illyricum, I have replenished the Gospel of Christ. ? 20And so I have preached this Gospel, not where Christ was known by name, lest I build upon the foundation of another, ? 21but just as it was written: �Those to whom he was not announced shall perceive, and those who have not heard shall understand.� ? 22Because of this also, I was greatly hindered in coming to you, and I have been prevented until the present time. ? 23Yet truly now, having no other destination in these regions, and having already had a great desire to come to you over the past many years, ? 24when I begin to set out on my journey to Spain, I hope that, as I pass by, I may see you, and I may be guided from there by you, after first having borne some fruit among you. ? 25But next I will set out for Jerusalem, to minister to the saints. ? 26For those of Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make a collection for those of the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. ? 27And this has pleased them, because they are in their debt. For, since the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they also ought to minister to them in worldly things. ? 28Therefore, when I have completed this task, and have consigned to them this fruit, I shall set out, by way of you, to Spain. ? 29And I know that when I come to you I shall arrive with an abundance of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ. ? 30Therefore, I beg you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and though the love of the Holy Spirit, that you assist me with your prayers to God on my behalf, ? 31so that I may be freed from the unfaithful who are in Judea, and so that the oblation of my service may be acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem. ? 32So may I come to you with joy, through the will of God, and so may I be refreshed with you. ? 33And may the God of peace be with you all. Amen. ?

Chapter 16

1Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is in the ministry of the church, which is at Cenchreae, ? 2so that you may receive her in the Lord with the worthiness of the saints, and so that you may be of assistance to her in whatever task she will have need of you. For she herself has also assisted many, and myself also. ? 3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus, ? 4who have risked their own necks on behalf of my life, for whom I give thanks, not I alone, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; ? 5and greet the church at their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is among the first-fruits of Asia in Christ. ? 6Greet Mary, who has labored much among you. ? 7Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow captives, who are noble among the Apostles, and who were in Christ prior to me. ? 8Greet Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord. ? 9Greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ Jesus, and Stachys, my beloved. ? 10Greet Apelles, who has been tested in Christ. ? 11Greet those who are from the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodian, my kinsman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. ? 12Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, most beloved, who has labored much in the Lord. ? 13Greet Rufus, elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine. ? 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers who are with them. ? 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ? 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. ? 17But I beg you, brothers, to take note of those who cause dissensions and offenses contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and to turn away from them. ? 18For ones such as these do not serve Christ our Lord, but their inner selves, and, through pleasing words and skillful speaking, they seduce the hearts of the innocent. ? 19But your obedience has been made known in every place. And so, I rejoice in you. But I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple in what is evil. ? 20And may the God of peace quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ? 21Timothy, my fellow laborer, greets you, and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. ? 22I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. ? 23Gaius, my host, and the entire church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. ? 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. ? 25But to him who is able to confirm you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accord with the revelation of the mystery which has been hidden from time immemorial, ? 26(which now has been made clear through the Scriptures of the Prophets, in accord with the precept of the eternal God, unto the obedience of faith) which has been made known among all the Gentiles: ? 27to God, who alone is wise, through Jesus Christ, to him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. ?