The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, chapter 1.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto
the gospel of God, which he had promised to for by his prophets in the holy
scriptures, concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of
the seed of 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
dead, by whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith
among all nations for his name, among whom are ye also 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.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of
throughout 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 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.
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end
ye may be established, that is, that I may be comforted together with you
by the mutual faith both of you and me.
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 Gentiles.
I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the
unwise.
So as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome
also.
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 the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is
written, The just shall live by faith.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may
be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath showed it unto them.
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 excuse, because 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.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of
the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and
four-footed beasts and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their
own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, who changed the truth
of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator,
who is blessed forever.
Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections, for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature.
And 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 recompense of their error which was meat.
And 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, being filled
with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness,
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters,
haters of God, despiteful, proud boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural
affection, unkind, implacable, unmerciful, who 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.