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.