1:1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God, 1:2which he promised before through
his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 1:3concerning
his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 1:4who was declared to be the Son of
God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection
from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 1:5through whom
we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the
nations, for his name's sake; 1:6among whom you are also called to
belong to Jesus Christ; 1:7to all who are in Rome, beloved of
God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:8First, I thank my God through
Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the
whole world. 1:9For God is my witness, whom I
serve in my spirit in the Gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make
mention of you always in my prayers, 1:10requesting,
if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come
to you. 1:11For I long to see you, that I may
impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;
1:12that is, that I with you may be
encouraged in you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.
1:13Now I don't desire to have you
unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered
so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the
rest of the Gentiles. 1:14I am debtor both to Greeks and to
foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. 1:15So, as much
as is in me, I am eager to preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome.
1:16For I am not ashamed of the
Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone
who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 1:17For in it is revealed God's
righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the
righteous shall live by faith." 1:18For the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 1:19because that which is known of
God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 1:20For the invisible things of him
since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through
the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that
they may be without excuse. 1:21Because, knowing God, they didn't
glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their
reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.
1:22Professing themselves to be wise,
they became fools, 1:23and traded the glory of the
incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of
birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. 1:24Therefore
God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that
their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, 1:25who
exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
1:26For this reason, God gave them up
to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that
which is against nature. 1:27Likewise also the men, leaving
the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one
another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in
themselves the due penalty of their error. 1:28Even as
they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a
reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 1:29being filled with all
unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret
slanderers, 1:30backbiters, hateful to God,
insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, 1:31without understanding,
covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; 1:32who, knowing the ordinance of
God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do
the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
2:1Therefore you are without excuse,
O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you
condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. 2:2We know that the judgment of God
is according to truth against those who practice such things. 2:3Do you think this, O man who
judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will
escape the judgment of God? 2:4Or do you despise the riches of
his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of
God leads you to repentance? 2:5But according to your hardness and
unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of
wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; 2:6who "will pay back to
everyone according to their works:" 2:7to those who
by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruptibility,
eternal life; 2:8but to those who are self-seeking,
and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and
indignation, 2:9oppression and anguish, on every
soul of man who works evil, on the Jew first, and also on the Greek.
2:10But glory and honor and peace to
every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 2:11For there is no partiality with
God. 2:12For as many as have sinned
without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under
the law will be judged by the law. 2:13For it
isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers
of the law will be justified 2:14(for when Gentiles who don't have
the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are
a law to themselves, 2:15in that they show the work of the
law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and
their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them) 2:16in the day when God will judge
the secrets of men, according to my Gospel, by Jesus Christ.
2:17Indeed you bear the name of a
Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God, 2:18and know
his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out
of the law, 2:19and are confident that you
yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
2:20a corrector of the foolish, a
teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the
truth. 2:21You therefore who teach another,
don't you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn't steal, do
you steal? 2:22You who say a man shouldn't
commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob
temples? 2:23You who glory in the law, through
your disobedience of the law do you dishonor God? 2:24For
"the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you," just as it is written. 2:25For
circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are
a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 2:26If therefore the uncircumcised
keep the ordinances of the law, won't his uncircumcision be accounted as
circumcision? 2:27Won't the uncircumcision which is
by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and
circumcision are a transgressor of the law? 2:28For he is
not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is
outward in the flesh; 2:29but he is a Jew who is one
inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the
letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
3:1Then what advantage does the Jew
have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 3:2Much in
every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the oracles of
God. 3:3For what if some were without
faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God? 3:4May it never be! Yes, let God be
found true, but every man a liar. As it is written,
"That you might be justified in your words,
And might prevail when you come into
judgment."
3:5But if our unrighteousness
commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous
who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. 3:6May it never
be! For then how will God judge the world? 3:7For if the
truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still
judged as a sinner? 3:8Why not (as we are slanderously
reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil, that good
may come?" Those who say so are justly condemned. 3:9What then? Are we better than
they? No, in no way. For we previously charged both Jews and Greeks, that
they are all under sin. 3:10As it is written,
"There is no one righteous.
No, not one.
3:11There is no one who understands.
There is no one who seeks after God.
3:12They have all turned aside.
They have together become
unprofitable.
There is no one who does good,
No, not, so much as one."
3:13"Their throat is an open
tomb.
With their tongues they have used
deceit."
"The poison of vipers is under their lips;"
3:14"Whose
mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
3:15"Their feet are swift to
shed blood.
3:16Destruction
and misery are in their ways.
3:17The way of
peace, they haven't known."
3:18"There is no fear of God
before their eyes."
3:19Now we know that whatever things
the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth
may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
3:20Because by the works of the law,
no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the
knowledge of sin. 3:21But now apart from the law, a
righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the
prophets; 3:22even the righteousness of God
through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For
there is no distinction, 3:23for all have sinned, and fall
short of the glory of God; 3:24being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 3:25whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a
demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins,
in God's forbearance; 3:26to demonstrate his righteousness
at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of
him who has faith in Jesus.
3:27Where then is the boasting? It is
excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 3:28We maintain therefore that a man
is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 3:29Or is God the God of Jews only?
Isn't he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 3:30since indeed there is one God who
will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through
faith. 3:31Do we then nullify the law
through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
4:1What then will we say that
Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 4:2For if Abraham was justified by
works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 4:3For what does the Scripture say?
"Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness." 4:4Now to him who works, the reward
is not counted as grace, but as debt. 4:5But to him
who doesn't work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith
is accounted for righteousness. 4:6Even as David also pronounces
blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,
4:7"Blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven,
Whose sins are covered.
4:8Blessed is the man whom the Lord
will by no means charge with sin."
4:9Is this blessing then pronounced
on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith
was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 4:10How then
was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in
circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 4:11He received
the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which
he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all
those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness
might also be accounted to them. 4:12The father
of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who
also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had
in uncircumcision. 4:13For the promise to Abraham and to
his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn't through the law, but
through the righteousness of faith. 4:14For if
those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is
made of no effect. 4:15For the law works wrath, for
where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. 4:16For this cause it is of faith,
that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure
to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also
which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 4:17As it is written, "I have
made you a father of many nations." This is in the presence of him
whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things
that are not, as though they were. 4:18Who in hope
believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many
nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So will your seed
be." 4:19Without being weakened in faith,
he didn't consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being
about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 4:20Yet, looking to the promise of
God, he didn't waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith,
giving glory to God, 4:21and being fully assured that what
he had promised, he was able also to perform. 4:22Therefore
it also was "reckoned to him for righteousness." 4:23Now it was not written that it
was accounted to him for his sake alone, 4:24but for our
sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised
Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, 4:25who was
delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
5:1Being therefore justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 5:2through whom we also have our
access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of
the glory of God. 5:3Not only this, but we also rejoice
in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; 5:4and perseverance, proven
character; and proven character, hope: 5:5and hope
doesn't disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our
hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 5:6For while we
were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 5:7For one will hardly die for a
righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare
to die. 5:8But God commends his own love
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5:9Much more then, being now
justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him. 5:10For if, while we were enemies, we
were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we will be saved by his life.
5:11Not only so, but we also rejoice
in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
the reconciliation. 5:12Therefore, as sin entered into
the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to
all men, because all sinned. 5:13For until the law, sin was in the
world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 5:14Nevertheless death reigned from
Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren't like Adam's
disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 5:15But the free gift isn't like the
trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did
the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,
abound to the many. 5:16The gift is not as through one
who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free
gift came of many trespasses to justification. 5:17For if by
the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will
those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 5:18So then as
through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of
righteousness, all men were justified to life. 5:19For as
through the one man's disobedience many were made sinners, even so through
the obedience of the one will many be made righteous. 5:20The law came in besides, that the
trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more
exceedingly; 5:21that as sin reigned in death,
even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
6:1What shall we say then? Shall we
continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2May it never
be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? 6:3Or don't you know that all we who
were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 6:4We were buried therefore with him
through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
6:5For if we have become united with
him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his
resurrection; 6:6knowing this, that our old man was
crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that
we would no longer be in bondage to sin. 6:7For he who
has died has been freed from sin. 6:8But if we
died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 6:9knowing that Christ, being raised
from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! 6:10For the death that he died, he
died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 6:11Thus also consider yourselves
also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6:12Therefore don't let sin reign in
your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 6:13Neither present your members to
sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as
alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to
God. 6:14For sin will not have dominion
over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. 6:15What then? Shall we sin, because
we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! 6:16Don't you know that to whom you
present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you
obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 6:17But thanks be to God, that,
whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart
to that form of teaching whereunto you were delivered. 6:18Being made free from sin, you
became bondservants of righteousness.
6:19I speak in human terms because of
the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants
to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your
members as servants to righteousness for sanctification. 6:20For when you were servants of
sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 6:21What fruit
then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death. 6:22But now,
being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your
fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. 6:23For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
7:1Or don't you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the
law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives? 7:2For the
woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives,
but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 7:3So then if, while the husband
lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress.
But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no
adulteress, though she is joined to another man. 7:4Therefore,
my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of
Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from
the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God. 7:5For when we
were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked
in our members to bring forth fruit to death. 7:6But now we
have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were
held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the
letter.
7:7What shall we say then? Is the law
sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through
the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said,
"You shall not covet." 7:8But sin,
finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of
coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. 7:9I was alive
apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I
died. 7:10The commandment, which was for
life, this I found to be for death; 7:11for sin,
finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it
killed me. 7:12Therefore the law indeed is holy,
and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
7:13Did then that which is good
become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be
sin, by working death to me through that which is good; that through the
commandment sin might become exceeding sinful. 7:14For we know
that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin. 7:15For I don't know what I am doing.
For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. 7:16But if what I don't desire, that
I do, I consent to the law that it is good. 7:17So now it
is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 7:18For I know
that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is
present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good. 7:19For the good which I desire, I
don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice. 7:20But if what I don't desire, that
I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 7:21I find then the law, that, to me,
while I desire to do good, evil is present. 7:22For I
delight in God's law after the inward man, 7:23but I see a
different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and
bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24What a wretched man I am! Who
will deliver me out of the body of this death? 7:25I thank God
through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve
God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law.
8:1There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to
the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 8:2For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and
of death. 8:3For what the law couldn't do, in
that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 8:4that the ordinance of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. 8:5For those who live according to
the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 8:6For the mind
of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 8:7because the mind of the flesh is
hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed
can it be. 8:8Those who are in the flesh can't
please God. 8:9But you are not in the flesh but
in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if
any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 8:10If Christ is in you, the body is
dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 8:11But if the Spirit of him who
raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus
from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit
who dwells in you. 8:12So then, brothers, we are
debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 8:13For if you
live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death
the deeds of the body, you will live. 8:14For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 8:15For you didn't receive the spirit
of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom
we cry, "Abba! Father!"
8:16The Spirit himself testifies with
our spirit that we are children of God; 8:17and if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if indeed
we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. 8:18For I consider that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which will be revealed toward us. 8:19For the
creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be
revealed. 8:20For the creation was subjected to
vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
8:21that the creation itself also
will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory
of the children of God. 8:22For we know that the whole
creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 8:23Not only so, but ourselves also,
who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. 8:24For we were saved in hope, but
hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? 8:25But if we hope for that which we
don't see, we wait for it with patience. 8:26In the same
way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray
as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with
groanings which can't be uttered. 8:27He who
searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit's mind, because he makes
intercession for the saints according to God.
8:28We know that all things work
together for good for those who love God, to those who are called
according to his purpose. 8:29For whom he foreknew, he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers. 8:30Whom he
predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also
justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
8:31What then shall we say about
these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 8:32He who didn't spare his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely
give us all things? 8:33Who could bring a charge against
God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies. 8:34Who is he
who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the
dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
8:35Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 8:36Even as it
is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were
accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 8:37No, in all
these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 8:38For I am persuaded, that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers, 8:39nor height, nor depth, nor any
other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
9:1I tell the truth in Christ. I am
not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit, 9:2that I have great sorrow and
unceasing pain in my heart. 9:3For I could wish that I myself
were accursed from Christ for my brothers' sake, my relatives according to
the flesh, 9:4who are Israelites; whose is the
adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service,
and the promises; 9:5of whom are the fathers, and from
whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed
forever. Amen.
9:6But it is not as though the word
of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of
Israel. 9:7Neither, because they are
Abraham's seed, are they all children. But, "In Isaac will your seed
be called." 9:8That is, it is not the children of
the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are
counted as a seed. 9:9For this is a word of promise,
"At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son."
9:10Not only so, but Rebecca also
conceived by one, by our father Isaac. 9:11For being
not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose
of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who
calls, 9:12it was said to her, "The
elder will serve the younger." 9:13Even as it
is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
9:14What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 9:15For he said
to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I have compassion." 9:16So then it
is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy. 9:17For the Scripture says to
Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I
might show in you my power, and that my name might be published abroad in
all the earth." 9:18So then, he has mercy on whom he
desires, and he hardens whom he desires. 9:19You will
say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his
will?" 9:20But indeed, O man, who are you to
reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why
did you make me like this?" 9:21Or hasn't
the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a
vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 9:22What if
God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with
much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction, 9:23and that he
might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he
prepared beforehand for glory, 9:24us, whom he also called, not from
the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? 9:25As he says
also in Hosea,
"I will call them 'my people,' which were not my people;
And her 'beloved,' who was not
beloved."
9:26"It will be that in the
place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,'
There they will be called 'children
of the living God.'"
9:27Isaiah cries concerning Israel,
"If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of
the sea,
It is the remnant who will be saved;
9:28For He will finish the work and
cut it short in righteousness,
Because the LORD will make a short
work upon the earth."
9:29As Isaiah has said before,
"Unless the Lord of Armies had left us a
seed,
We would have become like Sodom,
And would have been made like
Gomorrah."
9:30What shall we say then? That the
Gentiles, who didn't follow after righteousness, attained to
righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 9:31but Israel, following after a law
of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness. 9:32Why? Because they didn't seek it
by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the
stumbling stone; 9:33even as it is written,
"Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of
offense;
And no one who believes in him will
be disappointed."
10:1Brothers, my heart's desire and
my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 10:2For I testify about them that
they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 10:3For being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they
didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 10:4For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who
believes. 10:5For Moses writes about the
righteousness of the law, "The one who does them will live by
them." 10:6But the righteousness which is of
faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into
heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down); 10:7or, 'Who
will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the
dead.)" 10:8But what does it say? "The
word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the
word of faith, which we preach: 10:9that if you
will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10:10For with the heart, one believes
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11For the Scripture says,
"Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed."
10:12For there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to
all who call on him. 10:13For, "Whoever will call on
the name of the Lord will be saved." 10:14How then
will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they
believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a
preacher? 10:15And how will they preach unless
they are sent? As it is written:
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel
of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good
things!"
10:16But they didn't all listen to
the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our
report?" 10:17So faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God. 10:18But I say, didn't they hear?
Yes, most assuredly,
"Their sound went out into all the earth,
Their words to the ends of the
world."
10:19But I ask, didn't Israel know?
First Moses says,
"I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no
nation,
With a nation void of understanding I
will make you angry."
10:20Isaiah is very bold, and says,
"I was found by those who didn't seek me.
I was revealed to those who didn't
ask for me."
10:21But as to Israel he says,
"All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary
people."
11:1I ask then, Did God reject his
people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of
Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 11:2God didn't
reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture
says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: 11:3"Lord, they have killed your
prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they
seek my life." 11:4But how does God answer him?
"I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed
the knee to Baal." 11:5Even so then at this present time
also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 11:6And if by grace, then it is no
longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of
works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
11:7What then? That which Israel
seeks for, that he didn't obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the
rest were hardened. 11:8According as it is written,
"God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and
ears that they should not hear, to this very day." 11:9David says,
"Let their table be made a snare, and a trap,
A stumbling block, and a retribution
to them.
11:10Let their eyes be darkened, that
they may not see.
Bow down their back always."
11:11I ask then, did they stumble
that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has
come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. 11:12Now if
their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the
Gentiles; how much more their fullness? 11:13For I
speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles,
I glorify my ministry; 11:14if by any means I may provoke to
jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them. 11:15For if the rejection of them is
the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life
from the dead? 11:16If the first fruit is holy, so
is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches. 11:17But if some of the branches were
broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and
became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive
tree; 11:18don't boast over the branches.
But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root
supports you. 11:19You will say then,
"Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in." 11:20True; by their unbelief they
were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don't be conceited, but
fear; 11:21for if God didn't spare the
natural branches, neither will he spare you. 11:22See then
the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but
toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also
will be cut off. 11:23They also, if they don't
continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft
them in again. 11:24For if you were cut out of that
which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature
into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural
branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 11:25For I
don't desire, brothers, to have you ignorant of this
mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial
hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has
come in, 11:26and so all Israel will be saved.
Even as it is written,
"There will come out of Zion the Deliverer,
And he will turn away ungodliness
from Jacob.
11:27This is my covenant to them,
When I will take away their
sins."
11:28Concerning the Gospel, they are
enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for
the fathers' sake. 11:29For the gifts and the calling of
God are irrevocable. 11:30For as you in time past were
disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, 11:31even so these also have now been
disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy. 11:32For God has shut up all to
disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.
11:33Oh the
depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
11:34"For who has known the mind
of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
11:35"Or who has first given to
him,
And it will be repaid to him
again?"
11:36For of him, and through him, and
to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
12:1Therefore I urge you, brothers,
by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 12:2Don't be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of
God. 12:3For I say, through the grace that
was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has
apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 12:4For even as
we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same
function, 12:5so we, who are many, are one body
in Christ, and individually members one of another. 12:6Having
gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy,
let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 12:7or service, let us give ourselves
to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 12:8or he who
exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he
who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 12:10In love of the brothers be
tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another; 12:11not lagging in diligence;
fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12:12rejoicing
in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 12:13contributing to the needs of the
saints; given to hospitality. 12:14Bless those who persecute you;
bless, and don't curse. 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Weep with those who weep. 12:16Be of the same mind one toward
another. Don't set your mind on high things, but associate with the
humble. Don't be wise in your own conceits. 12:17Repay no
one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 12:18If it is possible, as much as it
is up to you, be at peace with all men. 12:19Don't seek
revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is
written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."
12:20Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him a drink.
For in doing so, you will heap coals
of fire on his head."
12:21Don't be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
13:1Let every soul be in subjection
to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and
those who exist are ordained by God. 13:2Therefore
he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those
who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 13:3For rulers
are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have
no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise
from the same, 13:4for he is a servant of God to you
for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear
the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to
him who does evil. 13:5Therefore you need to be in
subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
13:6For this reason you also pay
taxes, for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually on
this very thing. 13:7Give therefore to everyone what
you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to
whom respect; honor to whom honor. 13:8Owe no one
anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has
fulfilled the law.
13:9For the commandments, "You
shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder,"
"You shall not steal," "You shall not give false
testimony," "You shall not covet,"*
and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this
saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to me every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess to
God.'"
"They will see, to whom no news of him came.
They who haven't heard will
understand."
