Romans1
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
3concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord,
5through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;
6among whom are ye also, called to be Jesus Christ’s:
7to all that are 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 proclaimed throughout the whole world.
9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers
10making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered 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 with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
13And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.
14I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome.
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel: 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 revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;
19because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them.
20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:
21because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:
25for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed 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 unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.
28And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:
32who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Romans 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle's commission. (1–7). Prays for the saints at Rome, and expresses his desire to see them. (8–15). The gospel way of justification by faith, for Jews and Gentiles. (16, 17). The sins of the Gentiles set forth. (18–32).
vv1-7
The doctrine of which the apostle Paul wrote, set forth the fulfilment of the promises by the prophets. It spoke of the Son of God, even Jesus the Saviour, the promised Messiah, who came from David as to his human nature, but was also declared to be the Son of God, by the Divine power which raised him from the dead. The Christian profession does not consist in a notional knowledge or a bare assent, much less in perverse disputings, but in obedience. And all those, and those only, are brought to obedience of the faith, who are effectually called of Jesus Christ. Here is, 1. The privilege of Christians; they are beloved of God, and are members of that body which is beloved. 2. The duty of Christians; to be holy, hereunto are they called, called to be saints. These the apostle saluted, by wishing them grace to sanctify their souls, and peace to comfort their hearts, as springing from the free mercy of God, the reconciled Father of all believers, and coming to them through the Lord Jesus Christ.
vv8-15
We must show love for our friends, not only by praying for them, but by praising God for them. As in our purposes, so in our desires, we must remember to say, If the Lord will, Jas 4:15. Our journeys are made prosperous or otherwise, according to the will of God. We should readily impart to others what God has trusted to us, rejoicing to make others joyful, especially taking pleasure in communing with those who believe the same things with us. If redeemed by the blood, and converted by the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are altogether his; and for his sake we are debtors to all men, to do all the good we can. Such services are our duty.
vv16-17
In these verses the apostle opens the design of the whole epistle, in which he brings forward a charge of sinfulness against all flesh; declares the only method of deliverance from condemnation, by faith in the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ; and then builds upon it purity of heart, grateful obedience, and earnest desires to improve in all those Christian graces and tempers, which nothing but a lively faith in Christ can bring forth. God is a just and holy God, and we are guilty sinners. It is necessary that we have a righteousness to appear in before him: there is such a righteousness brought in by the Messiah, and made known in the gospel; a gracious method of acceptance, notwithstanding the guilt of our sins. It is the righteousness of Christ, who is God, coming from a satisfaction of infinite value. Faith is all in all, both in the beginning and progress of Christian life. It is not from faith to works, as if faith put us into a justified state, and then works kept us in it; but it is all along from faith to faith; it is faith pressing forward, and gaining the victory over unbelief.
Key Words
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
δοῦλος (doûlos): a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
κλητός (klētós): invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint
ἀπόστολος (apóstolos): a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion): a good message, i.e. the gospel
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
ὅς (hós): the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
προεπαγγέλλομαι (proepangéllomai): to promise of old
Cross References
Romans 1Directly quoted by Paul: 'The just shall live by faith' is the gospel's foundation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct verbal echo of changing the glory of God into the likeness of beasts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Creation declaring God's glory parallel to His invisible attributes being understood by things made.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels changing the glory of the true God for idols that do not profit.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Contrasts the uncorruptible Godhead with humanly fashioned gold, silver, or stone images.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Classic Old Testament pattern of God giving people up to their own hearts' lusts.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Levitical prohibition of same-sex acts, directly defining 'that which is against nature'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's description of being 'separated' from his mother's womb for his apostolic calling.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Holy Spirit's historical command to 'separate' Barnabas and Saul for the work.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Christ's dual nature: 'according to the flesh' physically, yet God over all.
Supported by JFB
Verbal echo of 'made' (became) flesh, contrasting with His eternal, uncreated divine nature.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul's Areopagus address regarding the general revelation of God and pagan accountability.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God did not leave Himself without witness, showing His goodness through nature.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels loving darkness rather than light because of evil deeds, darkening the heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
In the wisdom of God, the world by its own wisdom did not know God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Warning against making corruptible images resembling man, beasts, birds, or creeping things.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul’s Lystra sermon on God permitting nations to walk in their own ways.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God sends strong delusion/reprobate mind to those who refuse to love the truth.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul's initial miraculous call as a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name to Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Relates the Holy Spirit to the powerful manifestation of Christ's divine Sonship.
Supported by JFB
Paul's mission to bring the Gentiles to 'the obedience of faith' by word and deed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's specific prayer request to the Romans for a prosperous journey by God's will.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Elaborates on the 'righteousness of God' revealed apart from the law, witnessed by prophets.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Gentiles have their understanding darkened, alienated from God's life through ignorance.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Shows how fools hate knowledge and simple ones love simplicity, claiming wisdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Turning from idols (the lie) to serve the living and true God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The wicked explicitly command God to depart, refusing the knowledge of His ways.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Consenting to and taking pleasure in wickedness committed by others.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Peter affirms that 'all the prophets witness' to Christ, matching Romans 1:2.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Apostolic summary of the gospel: Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, raised from dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's division of humanity into Greek, Barbarian, wise, unwise, all needing Christ.
Supported by JFB
'Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone'—illustrates God giving them up.
Supported by Matthew Henry