I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have some harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

For since the creation of the world his invisible nature, even his eternal power and deity, has been clearly seen, being understood by the things that have been made. So they are without excuse;

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

and it was to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be reckoned to them.

(as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls things that do not exist as though they did.

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Law came in, that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But it was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, so that through the commandment sin might become sinful beyond measure.

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

though the twins were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that God's purpose of election might stand, not because of works but because of his call,

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"

And as Isaiah said: "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us children, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah."

You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."

"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will be made to stand, for the Master is able to make him stand.

For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

It is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised to show God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name";

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

And so I have made it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation,

but is now revealed and made known to all nations through the prophetic writings, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith