THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE

ROMANS.

1

PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God, 2 (which he had promised afore by his prophets in 3 the holy Scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus

Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of 4 David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the 5 dead: by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all 6 nations, for his name: among whom are ye also 7 the called of Jesus Christ: to all that be in

Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE LETTER OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE

CHRISTIANS AT ROME.

1

PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart to preach the Gospel of God, 2 (that Gospel which He had before promised by 3 his prophets in the holy Scriptures), concerning

his son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David as to the flesh, i.e., as to his 4 human nature; and mightily and convincingly declared to be the Son of God, as to the Spirit of holiness (that divine Spirit by whose operation He was conceived in the womb of the blessed Virgin, and who dwelt in Him without measure) 5 by the resurrection from the dead: * from whom I have received grace to be an apostle, for the making known of his name among the Gentiles everywhere, that I might bring them to believe in 6 Him and obey Him: among which Gentiles are 7 ye also, the called of Jesus Christ: to all in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints; grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The importance which the apostle attached to the twofold truth that Jesus Christ was of the seed of David and raised from the dead is also seen 2 Tim. ii. 8, "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my Gospel."

8

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout 9 the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you 10 always in my prayers; making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be 12 established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gen14 tiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the 15 unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to 17 the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

8 In the first place, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is noised 9 abroad through all the world (xvi. 19). For God is my witness, whom I sincerely and heartily serve in preaching the Gospel of his Son, how 10 unceasingly I make mention of you, making request always in my prayers, that now at length, if it be his will, I may be so happy as to be 11 allowed to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to 12 the end ye may be established; or let me rather say,* to the end that we may receive mutual comfort by my being among you from each other's faith.

13 And let me assure you, brethren, that although I have been hindered hitherto, I have often purposed to come unto you, in hopes of having some fruit among you also, even as I have among the 14 other Gentiles (xv. 22, 23). I owe a debt both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the learned and to the ignorant (Acts ix. 15; 1 Cor. 15 ix. 16). And accordingly, as far as in me lies, I am most ready to preach the Gospel to you also that are at Rome.

16

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, but glory in it; for it is the powerful means which God has appointed for the salvation of every one that believeth, of the Jew first, and no 17 less of the Greek or Gentile. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God which is by faith and given unto faith-that is, in the Gospel is set forth God's method of justifying sinners and counting them righteous which is by faith only

TOUTO dé éσT is sometimes equivalent to "or in other words," "or let me rather say." Here it is a correcting of himself, that he may use an expression which shall put more honour upon them."

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, 19 who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in [or, to] them: for God hath showed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without 21 excuse: because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations, and their 22 foolish heart was darkened. Professing them23 selves to be wise, they became fools, and changed

the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image