He commends the faith of the Romans, whom he longs to see. The
philosophy of the heathens, being void of faith and humility, betrayed
them into shameful sins.
1:1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God.
1:2. Which he had promised before, by his prophets, in the holy
scriptures,
1:3. Concerning his Son, who was made to him of the seed of David,
according to the flesh,
1:4. Who was predestinated the Son of God in power, according to the
spirit of sanctification, by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
from the dead:
Predestinated, etc. . .Christ as man, was predestinated to be the Son of
God: and declared to be so (as the apostle here signifies) first, by
power, that is, by his working stupendous miracles; secondly, by the
spirit of sanctification, that is, by his infinite sanctity; thirdly,
by his ressurection, or raising himself from the dead.
1:5. By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to
the faith, in all nations, for his name:
1:6. Among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ:
1:7. To all that are at Rome, the beloved of God, called to be saints.
Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus
Christ.
1:8. First, I give thanks to my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all:
because your faith is spoken of in the whole world.
1:9. For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of
his Son, that without ceasing I make a commemoration of you:
1:10. Always in my prayers making request, if by any means now at
length I may have a prosperous journey, by the will of God, to come
unto you.
1:11. For I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual
grace, to strengthen you:
1:12. That is to say, that I may be comforted together in you by that
which is common to us both, your faith and mine.
1:13. And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that I have often
purposed to come unto you (and have been hindered hitherto) that I
might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
1:14. To the Greeks and to the barbarians, to the wise and to the
unwise, I am a debtor.
1:15. So (as much as is in me) I am ready to preach the gospel to you
also that are at Rome.
1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first and to the
Greek.
1:17. For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto
faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith.
1:18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and injustice of those men that detain the truth of God in
injustice:
1:19. Because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For God
hath manifested it unto them.
1:20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. His
eternal power also and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.
1:21. Because that, when they knew God, they have not glorified him as
God or given thanks: but became vain in their thoughts. And their
foolish heart was darkened.
1:22. For, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
1:23. And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the
likeness of the image of a corruptible man and of birds, and of
fourfooted beasts and of creeping things.
1:24. Wherefore, God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto
uncleanness: to dishonour their own bodies among themselves.
1:25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served
the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
1:26. For this cause, God delivered them up to shameful affections. For
their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against
nature.
God delivered them up. . .Not by being author of their sins, but by
withdrawing his grace, and so permitting them, in punishment of their
pride, to fall into those shameful sins.
1:27. And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the
women, have burned in their lusts, one towards another: men with men,
working that which is filthy and receiving in themselves the recompense
which was due to their error.
1:28. And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God
delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are
not convenient.
1:29. Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice,
wickedness: full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity:
whisperers,
1:30. Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
1:31. Foolish, dissolute: without affection, without fidelity, without
mercy.
1:32. Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that
they who do such things, are worthy of death: and not only they that do
them, but they also that consent to them that do them.