1This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.G3972G1401G2424G5547G2822G652G873G1519G2098G2316 2God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.G3739G4279G1223G846G4396G1722G40G1124 3The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line,G4012G846G5207G2424G5547G2257G2962G3588G1096G1537G4690G1138G2596G4561 4and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.G3724G5207G2316G1722G1411G2596G4151G42G1537G386G3498 5Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.G1223G3739G2983G5485G2532G651G1519G5218G4102G1722G3956G1484G5228G846G3686 6And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.G1722G3739G2075G5210G2532G2822G2424G5547 7I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.G3956G5607G1722G4516G27G2316G2822G40G5485G5213G2532G1515G575G2316G2257G3962G2532G2962G2424G5547 8Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.G4412G3303G2168G3450G2316G1223G2424G5547G5228G5216G3956G3754G5216G4102G2605G1722G3650G2889 9God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son.G1063G2316G2076G3450G3144G3739G3000G1722G3450G4151G1722G2098G846G5207G5613G89G4160G3417G5216G3842G1909G3450G4335 10One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you.G1189G1513G2235G4218G2137G1722G2307G2316G2064G4314G5209 11For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.G1063G1971G1492G5209G2443G3330G5213G5100G4152G5486G1519G5209G4741 12When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.G1161G5124G2076G4837G1722G5213G1223G1722G240G4102G5037G5216G2532G1700 13I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.G1161G2309G3756G50G5209G50G80G3754G4178G4388G2064G4314G5209G2532G2967G891G1204G2443G2192G5100G2590G1722G5213G2532G2531G2532G1722G3062G1484 14For 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.G1510G3781G5037G1672G2532G915G5037G4680G2532G453 15So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.G3779G2596G1691G4289G2097G5213G1722G4516G2532 16For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-the Jew first and also the Gentile.G1063G1870G3756G1870G2098G5547G1063G2076G1411G2316G1519G4991G3956G4100G2453G4412G5037G2532G1672 17This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."G1063G1722G846G601G1343G2316G601G1537G4102G1519G4102G2531G1125G1161G1342G2198G1537G4102 18But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.G1063G3709G2316G601G575G3772G1909G3956G763G2532G93G444G2722G225G1722G93 19They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.G1360G1110G2316G2076G5318G1722G846G1063G2316G5319G846 20For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.G1063G517G846G575G2937G2889G2529G3539G4161G5037G846G126G1411G2532G2305G1519G846G1511G379 21Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.G1360G1097G2316G1392G3756G5613G2316G2228G2168G235G3154G1722G846G1261G2532G846G801G2588G4654 22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.G5335G1511G4680G3471 23And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.G2532G236G1391G862G2316G1722G1504G3667G5349G444G2532G4071G2532G5074G2532G2062 24So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies.G1352G2316G2532G3860G846G3860G1519G167G1722G1939G846G2588G818G846G4983G1722G1438 25They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.G3748G3337G225G2316G1722G5579G2532G4573G2532G3000G2937G3844G2936G3739G2076G2128G1519G165G281 26That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.G1223G5124G2316G3860G846G3860G1519G819G3806G1063G5037G846G2338G3337G5446G5540G1519G3844G5449 27And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.G5037G3668G2532G730G863G5446G5540G2338G1572G1722G846G3715G1519G240G730G1722G730G2716G808G2532G618G1722G1438G489G846G4106G3739G1163 28Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.G2532G2531G1381G3756G1381G2192G2316G1722G1922G2316G3860G846G3860G1519G96G3563G4160G2520G3361G2520 29Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.G4137G3956G93G4202G4189G4124G2549G3324G5355G5408G2054G1388G2550G5588 30They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.G2637G2319G5197G5244G213G2182G2556G545G1118 31They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.G801G802G794G786G415 32They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.G3748G1921G1345G2316G3754G4238G5108G1526G514G2288G3756G3440G4160G846G235G2532G4909G4238 2You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.G1352G1488G379G5599G444G3956G2919G1063G1722G3739G2919G2087G2632G4572G1063G2919G4238G846 2And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.G1161G1492G3754G2917G2316G2076G2596G225G1909G4238G5108 3Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things?G1161G3049G5124G5599G444G2919G4238G5108G2532G4160G846G3754G4771G1628G2917G2316 4Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?G2228G2706G4149G846G5544G2532G463G2532G3115G50G3754G5543G2316G71G4571G1519G3341 5But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.G1161G2596G4675G4643G2532G279G2588G2343G4572G3709G1722G2250G3709G2532G602G1341G2316 6He will judge everyone according to what they have done.G3739G591G1538G2596G846G2041 7He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.G3303G2596G5281G18G2041G2212G1391G2532G5092G2532G861G166G2222 8But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.G1161G1537G2052G2532G544G3303G225G1161G3982G93G2372G2532G3709 9There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.G2347G2532G4730G1909G3956G5590G444G2716G2556G2453G4412G5037G2532G1672 10But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.G1161G2532G1391G5092G2532G1515G3956G2038G18G2453G4412G5037G2532G1672 11For God does not show favoritism.G1063G2076G3756G4382G3844G2316 12When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God's written law. And the Jews, who do have God's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.G1063G3745G264G460G622G2532G622G460G2532G3745G264G1722G3551G2919G1223G3551 13For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.G1063G3756G202G3551G1342G3844G2316G235G4163G3551G1344 14Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.G1063G3752G1484G3588G2192G3361G3551G4160G5449G3588G3551G3778G2192G3361G3551G1526G3551G1438 15They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.G3748G1731G2041G3551G1123G1722G846G2588G846G4893G4828G2532G3053G2723G2228G2532G626G3342G240 16And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life.G1722G2250G3753G2316G2919G2927G444G1223G2424G5547G2596G3450G2098 17You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.G2396G4771G2028G2453G2532G1879G3551G2532G2744G1722G2316 18You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.G2532G1097G2307G2532G1381G1308G2727G1537G3551 19You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.G5037G3982G4572G1511G3595G5185G5457G1722G4655 20You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge and truth.G3810G878G1320G3516G2192G3446G1108G2532G225G1722G3551 21Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?G3767G3588G1321G2087G1321G3756G4572G2784G2813G3361G2813G2813 22You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?G3004G3431G3361G3431G3431G948G1497G2416 23You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.G3739G2744G1722G3551G1223G3847G3551G818G2316 24No wonder the Scriptures say, "The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you."G1063G3686G2316G987G1722G1484G1223G5209G2531G1125 25The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.G1063G4061G3303G5623G1437G4238G3551G1161G1437G5600G3848G3551G4675G4061G1096G203 26And if the Gentiles obey God's law, won't God declare them to be his own people?G3767G1437G203G5442G1345G3551G3049G3780G846G203G3049G1519G4061 27In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it.G2532G2919G203G1537G5449G5055G3551G2919G4571G1223G1121G2532G4061G3848G3551 28For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.G1063G2076G3756G2453G1722G5318G3761G4061G1722G5318G1722G4561 29No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.G235G2453G1722G2927G2532G4061G2588G1722G4151G3756G1121G3739G1868G3756G1537G444G235G1537G2316 3Then what's the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?G5101G4053G3767G2453G2228G5101G5622G4061 2Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.G4183G2596G3956G5158G4412G3303G1063G3754G4100G3051G2316 3True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?G1063G5101G1487G5100G569G3361G2673G846G570G2673G4102G2316G2673 4Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, "You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court."G3361G1096G1161G1096G2316G1096G227G1161G3956G444G5583G2531G1125G3704G302G1344G1722G4675G3056G2532G3528G1722G4571G2919 5"But," some might say, "our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn't it unfair, then, for him to punish us?" (This is merely a human point of view.)G1161G1487G2257G93G4921G1343G2316G5101G2046G3361G2316G94G2018G3709G3004G2596G444 6Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?G3361G1096G1893G4459G2919G2316G2919G2889 7"But," someone might still argue, "how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?"G1063G1487G225G2316G4052G1722G1699G5582G1519G846G1391G5101G2089G2919G2504G2919G5613G268 8And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, "The more we sin, the better it is!" Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.G2532G3361G2531G987G2532G2531G5100G5346G2248G3004G3754G4160G2556G2443G18G2064G3739G2917G2076G1738 9Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.G5101G3767G4284G3756G3843G1063G4256G5037G2453G2532G1672G1511G3956G5259G266 10As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous—not even one.G2531G1125G3754G2076G3756G1342G3761G1520 11No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.G2076G3756G4920G2076G3756G1567G2316 12All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one."G1578G3956G1578G889G260G889G2076G3756G4160G5544G3756G2076G2193G1520 13"Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips."G846G2995G455G5028G846G1100G1387G2447G785G5259G846G5491 14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."G3739G4750G1073G685G2532G4088 15"They rush to commit murder.G846G4228G3691G1632G129 16Destruction and misery always follow them.G4938G2532G5004G1722G846G3598 17They don't know where to find peace."G2532G3598G1515G1097G3756G1097 18"They have no fear of God at all."G2076G3756G5401G2316G561G846G3788 19Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.G1161G1492G3754G3745G3551G3004G2980G1722G3551G2443G3956G4750G5420G2532G3956G2889G1096G5267G2316 20For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.G1360G1537G2041G3551G1344G3956G3756G4561G1344G846G1799G1063G1223G3551G1922G266 21But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.G1161G3570G1343G2316G5565G3551G5319G3140G5259G3551G2532G4396 22We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.G1161G1343G2316G1223G4102G2424G5547G1519G3956G2532G1909G3956G4100G1063G2076G3756G1293 23For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.G1063G3956G264G2532G5302G1391G2316 24Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.G1344G1432G846G5485G1223G629G1722G5547G2424 25For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,G3739G2316G4388G2435G1223G4102G1722G846G129G1519G1732G846G1343G1223G3929G265G4266G1722G463G2316 26for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.G4314G1732G1722G3568G2540G846G1343G1519G1511G1342G2532G1344G846G4102G1537G2424 27Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.G4226G2746G3767G1576G1223G4169G3551G2041G3780G235G1223G3551G4102 28So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.G3767G3049G444G1344G4102G5565G2041G3551 29After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is.G2228G2316G2453G3440G3780G1161G2532G1484G3483G1484G2532 30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.G1897G1520G2316G3739G1344G4061G1537G4102G2532G203G1223G4102 31Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.G2673G3767G2673G3551G1223G4102G3361G1096G235G2476G3551
the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.G3724
