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The Letters · New Testament

Romans 1

Romans 1: the gospel Paul is not ashamed of, and the wrath revealed against ungodliness

General context

Paul names himself first, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, "separated unto the gospel of God", and says that gospel was "promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures". It concerns God's Son, "made of the seed of David according to the flesh", declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. The letter is addressed "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints", with the greeting "Grace to you and peace from God our Father". Paul thanks God that "your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world", says he mentions them always in his prayers, and asks for a prosperous journey to reach them, so he may impart some spiritual gift and be comforted together with them by mutual faith. He purposed to come often but "was let hitherto". He calls himself "debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians", and says he is not ashamed of the gospel, "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek". In it God's righteousness is revealed "from faith to faith". From verse 18 the subject changes to "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven" against men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. They are "without excuse" because what may be known of God is manifest in them; knowing God, "they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful", and exchanged his glory for images. Three times God hands them over, and a list of wrongs closes the chapter.

Cited passages: Romans 1:1, Romans 1:2, Romans 1:3, Romans 1:4, Romans 1:7, Romans 1:8, Romans 1:9, Romans 1:10, Romans 1:11, Romans 1:12, Romans 1:13, Romans 1:14, Romans 1:16, Romans 1:17, Romans 1:18, Romans 1:19, Romans 1:20, Romans 1:21, Romans 1:23, Romans 1:24, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28, Romans 1:29, Romans 1:32

Romans 1 (KJV)

1Paul, 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 the holy scriptures,)

3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7To 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.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13Now 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 Gentiles.

14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16For 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 the Greek.

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20For 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 excuse:

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

The letter states its writer and its readers in its own words: Paul, and those "in Rome". It says he has not yet been there, that he purposed to come and "was let hitherto", and that he is "ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also". No founder of the Roman assembly is named here, and no names of Roman believers appear until chapter 16. One Old Testament sentence is quoted, introduced "as it is written, The just shall live by faith". Habakkuk 2:4 prints "but the just shall live by his faith", so the letter's form drops the possessive. The chapter gives no date, no ruler's name and no account of any event behind verses 18 to 32; it speaks of "men" in general and of what they knew and did, without naming a nation, a city or a time.

Cited passages: Romans 1:1, Romans 1:7, Romans 1:10, Romans 1:13, Romans 1:15, Romans 1:17, Romans 1:18, Romans 1:20, Romans 1:23, Romans 1:32, Habakkuk 2:4

Literary context

The greeting is delayed. One long sentence runs from "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ" through the description of the Son and the apostleship before it reaches the address and the words "Grace to you and peace". The thanksgiving that follows is personal and warm, and the turn at verse 18 is abrupt. The accusation is built by repetition: "God also gave them up to uncleanness", "God gave them up unto vile affections", "God gave them over to a reprobate mind", each following a stated exchange, of glory for images and of "the truth of God into a lie". Contrasts carry the argument: wise and fools, Creator and creature, natural and against nature. The chapter ends not with a verdict on individuals but with a list of more than twenty terms and a final charge about approving what others do. Romans 2:1 then turns the accusation on the reader who judges.

Cited passages: Romans 1:1, Romans 1:5, Romans 1:7, Romans 1:16, Romans 1:18, Romans 1:21, Romans 1:22, Romans 1:23, Romans 1:24, Romans 1:25, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:27, Romans 1:28, Romans 1:29, Romans 1:30, Romans 1:31, Romans 1:32, Romans 2:1

Key moments

  1. A gospel promised beforehand (Romans 1:2). Paul says the gospel was promised by God's prophets in the holy scriptures.
  2. Letter addressed to Rome (Romans 1:7). The address and greeting arrive after a long opening sentence.
  3. A journey often planned (Romans 1:13). Paul says he purposed to come many times and was hindered.
  4. Not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). Paul calls the gospel God's power to save everyone who believes.
  5. The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). A written sentence is quoted to support righteousness revealed from faith to faith.
  6. Wrath revealed from heaven (Romans 1:18). The subject turns to wrath against ungodliness and unrighteousness.
  7. Given up three times (Romans 1:24). The first of three statements that God gave them up to what they wanted.

For reflection

Paul says he is a debtor to Greeks and Barbarians, wise and unwise, before he has met the readers at all. What does owing something to people you have never met look like in practice?

People in this chapter

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