For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Instead, their thoughts turned to worthless things, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

Though claiming to be wise, they became fools

For this reason, God delivered them to sexual impurity as they followed the lusts of their hearts and dishonored their bodies with one another.

They exchanged God's truth for a lie and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Furthermore, because they did not think it worthwhile to keep knowing God fully, God delivered them to degraded minds to perform acts that should not be done.

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips,

Although they know God's just requirement that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do these things but even applaud others who practice them.

For whenever gentiles, who do not possess the Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law.

They show that what the Law requires is written in their hearts, a fact to which their own consciences testify, and their thoughts will either accuse or excuse them

Or can we say as some people slander us by claiming that we say "Let's do evil that good may result"? They deserve to be condemned!

All have turned away. They have become completely worthless. No one shows kindness, not even one person!

Their throats are open graves. With their tongues they deceive. The venom of poisonous snakes is under their lips.

They run swiftly to shed blood.

They have not learned the path to peace.

They don't fear God.

By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus,

In the very place where it was told them, "You are not my people,' they will be called children of the living God."

Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on achievements. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble.

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God about the Jews is that they would be saved.

For I can testify on their behalf that they have a zeal for God, but it is not in keeping with full knowledge.

For they are ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God while they try to establish their own, and they have not submitted to God's means to attain righteousness.

There is no difference between Jew and Greek, because they all have the same Lord, who gives richly to all who call on him.

How, then, can people call on someone they have not believed? And how can they believe in someone they have not heard about? And how can they hear without someone preaching?

And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are those who bring the good news!"

But I ask, "Didn't they hear?" Certainly they did! In fact, "Their voice has gone out into the whole world, and their words to the ends of the earth."

"Lord, they have killed your prophets and demolished your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life."

Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs forever bent."

And so I ask, "They have not stumbled so as to fall, have they?" Of course not! On the contrary, because of their stumbling, salvation has come to the gentiles to make the Jews jealous.

That's right! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you remain only because of faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid!

If the Jews do not persist in their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in.

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake, but as far as election is concerned, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors.

so they, too, have now disobeyed. As a result, they may receive mercy because of the mercy shown to you.

For they are God's servants, working for your good.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God's servants to administer punishment to anyone who does wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities, not only for the sake of God's punishment, but also for the sake of your own conscience.

Yes, they were eager to do this, and in fact they are obligated to help them, for if the gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to be of service to them in material things.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who are in prison with me and are prominent among the apostles. They belonged to the Messiah before I did.

because such people are not serving the Messiah our Lord, but their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.