First of all, I want to thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being told about throughout the whole world.

For I want very much to see you, so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,

Now I want you to know, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as among the rest of the Gentiles.

And shall not he whose want of circumcision is owing to his birth, if he keeps the law, condemn you, who, by the literal circumcision, transgress the law?

For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?

He was not led by want of faith to doubt God's promise.

For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.

And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.

For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.

Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me.

So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me.

For those people who are [controlled] by the flesh think about [i.e., desire] what the flesh wants; but those who are [controlled] by the Holy Spirit [desire] what the Holy Spirit wants.

For He said to Moses [Ex. 33:19], "I will show pity to whomever I want, and I will show mercy to whomever I want."

So then, it does not depend on what a person wants or does, but on God, who shows pity [i.e., to whomever He wants].

So then, God has pity on whomever He wants to, and He makes stubborn whomever He wants.

But you [i.e., probably an objecting Jew] will say to me, "Why does God still find fault [with people]? For who can [successfully] resist what God wants to do?"

Or, does not the potter have the right to make what he wants to out of the clay? Can he not make both a beautiful vase and a common pot out of the same lump [of clay]?

Now if God wants to demonstrate his wrath and reveal his power, can't he be extremely patient with the objects of his wrath that are made for destruction?

I say then, did the Jews trip [over Jesus] just so they could fall [away from God]? Certainly not! [There was another reason]: Instead, it was by means of their sin that salvation was made available to the Gentiles, so that the Jews might become jealous of them [i.e., causing them to want what the Gentiles now had].

Well: by their want of faith, they have been broken out, - and, thou, by thy faith, dost stand! - Regard not lofty things, but be afraid;

Whereas, they also, unless they abide still in their want of faith, shall be grafted in, for God is, able, again to engraft them!

So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: A partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

communicating to the wants of the saints; prompt to hospitality.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

But now, having no further opportunities in these regions, I want to come to you, as I've desired to do for many years.

I want to introduce to you our sister Phoebe, who is a helper in the church at Cenchreae.

The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil.