1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle^(A) and set apart^(B) for the gospel of God^(C)— ² the gospel he promised beforehand^(D) through his prophets^(E) in the Holy Scriptures^{(F) 3} regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[a](G) was a descendant of David,^{(H) 4} and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power^[b](I) by his resurrection from the dead:^(J) Jesus Christ our Lord.^{(K) 5} Through him we received grace^(L) and apostleship to call all the Gentiles^(M) to the obedience that comes from^[c] faith^(N) for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.^(O)

⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God^(P) and called to be his holy people:^(Q)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.^(R)

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,^(S) because your faith is being reported all over the world.^{(T) 9} God, whom I serve^(U) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness^(V) how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times;^(W) and I pray that now at last by God’s will^(X) the way may be opened for me to come to you.^(Y)

¹¹ I long to see you^(Z) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift^(AA) to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware,^(AB) brothers and sisters,^[d](AC) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)^(AD) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am obligated^(AE) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.^(AF)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(AG) because it is the power of God^(AH) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(AI) first to the Jew,^(AJ) then to the Gentile.^{(AK) 17} For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed^(AL)—a righteousness that is by faith^(AM) from first to last,^[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”^[f](AN)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

¹⁸ The wrath of God^(AO) is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.^{(AP) 20} For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,^(AQ) so that people are without excuse.^(AR)

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^{(AS) 22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^{(AT) 23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images^(AU) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over^(AV) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.^{(AW) 25} They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,^(AX) and worshiped and served created things^(AY) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.^(AZ) Amen.^(BA)

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over^(BB) to shameful lusts.^(BC) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.^{(BD) 27} In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.^(BE)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(BF) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,^{(BG) 30} slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;^{(BH) 31} they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,^(BI) no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,^(BJ) they not only continue to do these very things but also approve^(BK) of those who practice them.

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified^(A) through faith,^(B) we^[a] have peace^(C) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(D) 2} through whom we have gained access^(E) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.^(F) And we^[b] boast in the hope^(G) of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings,^(H) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;^{(I) 4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope^(J) does not put us to shame, because God’s love^(K) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,^(L) who has been given to us.

⁶ You see, at just the right time,^(M) when we were still powerless,^(N) Christ died for the ungodly.^{(O) 7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.^(P)

⁹ Since we have now been justified^(Q) by his blood,^(R) how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath^(S) through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies,^(T) we were reconciled^(U) to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!^{(V) 11} Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.^(W)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,^(X) and death through sin,^(Y) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned^(Z)—

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.^{(AA) 14} Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam,^(AB) who is a pattern of the one to come.^(AC)

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,^(AD) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,^(AE) overflow to the many! ¹⁶ Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death^(AF) reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life^(AG) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,^(AH) so also one righteous act resulted in justification^(AI) and life^(AJ) for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man^(AK) the many were made sinners,^(AL) so also through the obedience^(AM) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.^(AN) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,^{(AO) 21} so that, just as sin reigned in death,^(AP) so also grace^(AQ) might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life^(AR) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?^(AS) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?^{(AT) 2} By no means! We are those who have died to sin;^(AU) how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized^(AV) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death^(AW) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(AX) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.^(AY)

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.^{(AZ) 6} For we know that our old self^(BA) was crucified with him^(BB) so that the body ruled by sin^(BC) might be done away with,^[d] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(BD)— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(BE)

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.^{(BF) 9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,^(BG) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.^{(BH) 10} The death he died, he died to sin^(BI) once for all;^(BJ) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin^(BK) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(BL) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,^(BM) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.^{(BN) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(BO) because you are not under the law,^(BP) but under grace.^(BQ)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(BR) By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey^(BS)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(BT) which leads to death,^(BU) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(BV) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(BW) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(BX) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(BY) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(BZ)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(CA) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness^(CB) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(CC) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(CD) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(CE) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(CF) and have become slaves of God,^(CG) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(CH) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(CI) but the gift of God is eternal life^(CJ) in^[e] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,^(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.^(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,^(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.^{(D) 4} For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.^{(E) 5} Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.^(F)

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes,^(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;^(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.^{(I) 9} The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^[a](J) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up^(K) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b](L) 10} Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.^(M)

The Day Is Near

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come^(N) for you to wake up from your slumber,^(O) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.^(P) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness^(Q) and put on the armor^(R) of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,^(S) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.^{(T) 14} Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,^(U) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.^[c](V)

The Weak and the Strong

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak,^(W) without quarreling over disputable matters. ² One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.^{(X) 3} The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt^(Y) the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge^(Z) the one who does, for God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?^(AA) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

⁵ One person considers one day more sacred than another;^(AB) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. ⁶ Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God;^(AC) and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷ For none of us lives for ourselves alone,^(AD) and none of us dies for ourselves alone. ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.^{(AE) 9} For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life^(AF) so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.^(AG)

¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister^[d]? Or why do you treat them with contempt?^(AH) For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.^{(AI) 11} It is written:

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.^(AL)

¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment^(AM) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.^{(AN) 14} I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.^(AO) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.^{(AP) 15} If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.^(AQ) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.^{(AR) 16} Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.^{(AS) 17} For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,^(AT) but of righteousness, peace^(AU) and joy in the Holy Spirit,^{(AV) 18} because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.^(AW)

¹⁹ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace^(AX) and to mutual edification.^{(AY) 20} Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.^(AZ) All food is clean,^(BA) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.^{(BB) 21} It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.^(BC)

²² So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn^(BD) himself by what he approves. ²³ But whoever has doubts^(BE) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.^[f]