[Romans 1]

 

             {If you are reading the Letters written to Christians first, this is a better and more chronological order: James, 1&2 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1&2 Corinthians, then here in Romans, onward to Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Peter, Jude, Philemon, 1 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, 2 Timothy, 1-3 John, Revelation. See the Reading Chart about page 3. But even if you don’t follow this order always read Galatians before Romans. Then Romans is not so hard to understand.}

 

             ^1:1 {‘called’ is the same Greek word as ‘invited’ in all instances within the MLV.}

            Paul, bondservant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, who was separated^* to the good-news of God, ^1:2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, ^1:3 concerning his Son (who was born from the seed of David according-to the flesh, ^1:4 who was determined to be the Son of God in power, according-to the spirit of holiness, out-of the resurrection of the dead), Jesus Christ our Lord. ^1:5 Through whom, we received grace and apostleship, for^* the obedience of the faith in all the nations, on behalf of his name; ^1:6 among which nations you^° are also called of Jesus Christ. ^1:7 To all the ones who are in Rome, beloved of God, called holy-ones: grace to you^° and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

             ^1:8 First indeed, I am giving-thanks to my God through Jesus Christ on behalf of all of you^°, that your^° faith is proclaimed in the whole world. ^1:9 For^* God is my witness, to whom I am giving-divine-service in my spirit in the good-news of his Son, as I constantly make^* a remembrance of you^°. ^1:10 I am beseeching God always in my prayers, if somehow now I will be prospered in the will of God to come to you^° someday, ^1:11 for^* I am longing to see you^°, in-order-that I may give to you^° some spiritual gift^*, ^*that^* you^° may be established; ^1:12 and this is my prayer to be encouraged together among you^°, through the faith in one another, both yours^° and mine. ^1:13 Now brethren, I do not wish you^° to be ignorant that I often purposed to come to you^° (and I was prevented till presently), in-order-that I might also have some fruit among you^°, just-as among the rest of the Gentiles. ^1:14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ^1:15 So, as in me, I am eager to proclaim the good-news to you^° also who are in Rome.

 

^1:16 For^* I am not ashamed of the good-news of the Christ; for^* it is the power of God to everyone who believes toward salvation, both to the Jew first and to the Greek. ^1:17 For^* the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to {Or: into} faith; just-as it has been written, ‘But the righteous will be living from faith.’ {Hab. 2:4}

 

             ^1:18 For^* the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men and against the ones holding down the truth in unrighteousness, ^1:19 because what is known of God is apparent among them, for^* God manifested it to them. ^1:20 For^* the invisible things of him are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being perceived by the things-made, both his eternal power and divinity, ^*that^* they may be without defense, ^1:21 because they knew God yet did not glorify him as God, or gave-thanks to him, but became-futile in their reasonings and their heart was darkened without understanding. ^1:22 They were foolish, claiming to be wise, ^1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into a likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and of four-footed mammals and of reptiles.

 

             ^1:24 Hence also, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts into uncleanness, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. ^1:25 They exchanged the truth of God into the lie and worshiped and gave-divine-service to the created thing contrary to the one who created it, who is gracious^* forever. Amen.

 

             ^1:26 Because of this, God gave them up to passions of dishonor, for^* both their females exchanged the natural use into the thing which is contrary to nature; ^1:27 and the males also likewise left the natural use of the female and burned in their lust toward one another, males with^* males working out the indecency and receiving in themselves the recompense which was essential from their error.

             ^1:28 And just-as they did not approve to have God in their full knowledge, God gave them up to an unapproved mind, to do^* the things which are not proper. ^1:29 They have been filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, greed, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, treachery, maliciousness. They are malicious whisperers, ^1:30 slandering, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ^1:31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, cold-hearted, unappeasable and unmerciful. ^1:32 Who, after they fully knew the ordinance of God (that the ones practicing such things are worthy of death), are not only doing^* the same things, but also are consenting with the ones practicing the same things.