Paul, bondman of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to God's glad tidings,

concerning his Son (come of David's seed according to flesh,

proved to be God's Son in power by the resurrection from the dead -- I mean, Jesus Christ, our Lord,

through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake;

among whom are ye also called to be Jesus Christ's:

[I am writing] to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called to be saints (God’s people) and set apart for a sanctified life, [that is, set apart for God and His purpose]: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

For my witness is God, whom I serve in my spirit in the good news of his Son, so that continually I make mention of you, always supplicating in my prayers;

in my prayers; always pleading that somehow, by God’s will, I may now at last come to you.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.

Now 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.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the glad tidings; for it is God's power to salvation, to every one that believes, both to Jew first and to Greek:

For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth,

This is so, because what can be known about God is plain to them; for God himself has made it plain.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

because, although they once knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give Him thanks, but became silly in their senseless speculations, and so their insensible hearts have been shrouded in darkness.

Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.

because [by choice] they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

That, I say, is why God abandoned them to degrading passions. Even the women among them perverted the natural use of their bodies to the unnatural;

And men did the same thing, leaving the natural function [i.e., of sex] with women, and burning in their desire for each other. Men committed indecent [sexual] acts with other men [i.e., homosexuality], and [so] brought on themselves the penalty they deserved for this perversion.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or consider Him worth knowing [as their Creator], God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do things which are improper and repulsive,

Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them.

So you have no reason, whoever you are, for judging: for in judging another you are judging yourself, for you do the same things.

We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth.

But do you think this, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things, and yet do the same yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment and elude His verdict?

Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?

But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

He will repay every person for what he has done. [See Psa. 62:12].

that is to say: praise, honour, and immortality, to them which continue in good doing, and seek eternal life.

For God pays no attention to this world's distinctions.

For so many as sinned without law will also perish without law; and so many as sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;

For it is not merely those who hear the Law who are righteous in God's sight. No, it is those who follow the Law, who will be justified.

So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.

on the day when God will judge the secrets of men's lives by Jesus Christ, as declared in the Good News as I have taught it.

You who give teaching to others, do you give it to yourself? you who say that a man may not take what is not his, do you take what is not yours?

You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob [pagan] temples [of valuable idols and offerings]?

You who make your boast in the Law, do you offend against its commands and so dishonour God?

As it is written, "God's name is being blasphemed among the gentiles because of you."

So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded [by God] as circumcision?

So, will not those physically uncircumcised people [i.e., the Gentiles], who obey the law, condemn you [Jews] for breaking the law, even though you have the written code and [practice] circumcision?

For he is not a Jew who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in flesh;

but he is a Jew who is so inwardly; and circumcision, of the heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

The privilege is great from every point of view. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God's truth.

What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness?

Far be the thought: but let God be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment.

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

In no way: because if it is so, how is God able to be the judge of all the world?

But [as you might say] if through my lie God’s truth was magnified and abounded to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?

And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

What say we then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise. For we have already proved how that both Jews and gentiles are all under sin,

as it is written [Psa. 14:1ff; 53:1ff], "No one [always] does what is right; not even one person.

They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one:

[Psa. 5:9 says], "Their throats are like open graves [i.e., they are foul-mouthed]. They have spoken deceitfully." [Psa. 90:3 says], "There is snake venom under their lips [i.e., their words are deadly]."

[Psa. 10:7 says], "Their speech is full of cursing and bitterness."

[Psa. 36:1 says], "They do not view God with reverence."

Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment].

This is because no human being can be considered right with God by [obeying] the requirements of a law. [Note: It is difficult to determine the exact sense in which "law" is used in these verses. It may be law generally, or the law of Moses specifically. See Bruce, pages 52-58]. For the knowledge of what sin is comes from the law of Moses.

But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets

—that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.

since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God's glory.

whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion].

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

So where has human boasting gone? It was completely shut out. On what principle? On that of doing something? No, but on the principle of faith.

For we conclude that a person is made right with God by faith [in Christ], apart from [obedience to] the requirements of a law [or, the law of Moses, See verse 20].

if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.

Then do we make void the law through faith? It could not be so: but we establish the law.

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

For if Abraham had been made right with God by doing good deeds he would have had something to boast about, but not in God's presence.

for what does the scripture say? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

But to the person who believes in God, who makes ungodly people right with Himself apart from doing good deeds, that person's faith is considered by God [as the basis] for being righteous.

So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

He said [Psa. 32:1ff], "Those people whose ungodly deeds are forgiven [by God] and whose sins are covered over, are [truly] blessed.

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

How then was it so accounted? After his circumcision, or while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised.

He received the sign of circumcision, a seal or confirmation of the righteousness which he had by faith while [he was still] uncircumcised—this was so that he would be the [spiritual] father of all who believe without being circumcised—so that righteousness would be credited to them,

and the forefather of those circumcised persons who not only share his circumcision but follow our forefather Abraham's example in the faith he had before he was circumcised.

For God's word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

For if [only] those who are obedient to the law deserve an inheritance, [then their] faith [in God] is for nothing, and God's promise is nullified.

For the law brings [God's] wrath [i.e., because of man's failure to obey it perfectly], but where there is no law, there is no [responsibility for] sin.

Therefore it is on the principle of faith, that it might be according to grace, in order to the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of Abraham's faith, who is father of us all,

in God’s sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham's sake,

but also for us, to whom it shall be counted for righteousness so we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from death.

Who was put to death for our evil-doing, and came to life again so that we might have righteousness.

So, since we are made right with God by [our] faith, we have peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

and endurance [produces God's] approval; and [His] approval [produces] hope.

Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Seeing that, while we were still powerless, Christ, in God's good time, died on behalf of the godless.

But God gives proof of His love to us in Christ's dying for us while we were still sinners.

Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].