{{ Introduction to Romans 58 AD

            The Romans had their problems with Jewish Christian false teachers also. But Paul first addressed homosexuality, which was a common practice in Rome at the time. Emperor Nero was a classic example. Paul puts it in blunt terms in 1 Cor. 6:9: ‘they will not inherit the kingdom of God.’ In the next few chapters, Paul deals with: various quotes of the O.T., why the Jews of his day are not heirs of the faith of Abraham, and that Christ was the fulfilment of that promise to Abraham, long before the Mosaic Law was given. In chapter 6, Paul gives us one more aspect about immersion, the death, burial, and resurrection, same as our Lord. Chapter 7 shows the contrast of a married couple and remarriage, but the whole point is that you cannot keep the Old Covenant of God and also be married to the New Covenant of Jesus, for otherwise God would call you an adulteress. Paul speaks of his (and our) war between what we want to do vs. what we are to do in Christ and how nothing can ever keep us from the love of God. Chapter 9 goes back to the argument against the Jewish false teachers. In Chapter 10, Paul addresses the same problem with the Israel of then and many false religious groups of today,‘they have a zeal of God, but not according-to full knowledge.’ Then Paul speaks of the reports from the apostles that brought them to Christ. In Chapter 11, Paul speaks that it was always God’s plan to have the Gentiles and Jews under one covenant. In Chapters 12-14, instructions on how to live as a Christian, and governments in Chapter 13. In Chapter15, Paul returns to more about the Law of Moses vs. the Law of Christ. Ending with Paul’s typical farewells.}}

             {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.