This gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones,

but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person's praise is not from people but from God.

God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.

This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus' faithfulness.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter?

Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, "faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness."

For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants -- not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God's glory.

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him.

Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.

For this is what the promise declared: "About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son."

For the scripture says to Pharaoh: "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth."

But who indeed are you -- a mere human being -- to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, "Why have you made me like this?"

But about Israel he says, "All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people!"

as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day."

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins."

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God -- what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.

For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing.

For the commandments, "Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet," (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers.

For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.

and thus the Gentiles glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name."

And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person's foundation,

This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you.

For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.

Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you,

I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, greet you in the Lord.