Bible in 90 Days

¹⁷ And it came about after three days that Paul called the chief Jews together. And when they were assembled, he said to them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people or laws of our fathers, yet I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, ¹⁸ who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because they found no cause of death in me. ¹⁹ But when the Jews cried out against this, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar – not because I had anything to accuse my people of. ²⁰ So I have called for you in order to see you and to speak with you, because it is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.

²¹ And they said to him, We have not received any letters out of Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brethren who came here report or speak any ill of you. ²² But we will hear from you what you think. For we have heard of this sect, that everywhere it is spoken against.

²³ And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging. To them he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, and preached to them of Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and also out of the prophets, even from morning to night.

²⁴ And some believed the things that were spoken, and some did not believe. ²⁵ So in disagreement among themselves they departed, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ²⁶ Go to this people and say, With your ears you will hear and will not understand, and with your eyes you will see and not perceive. ²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing. And their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should be converted; and I would heal them. ²⁸ Let it be known to you, therefore, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.

²⁹ And when he had said that, the Jews departed, and had great disputations among themselves.

³⁰ And Paul dwelt two full years in his lodging, and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹ preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things that concerned the Lord Jesus with all confidence, unforbidden.

Here ends the Acts
of the apostles.

Paul declares his love for the Romans, shows what the gospel is with the fruit of it, and reproves the base nature of the flesh.

1 Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle, put apart to preach the gospel of God – ² the gospel that he promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures ³ that speak of his Son, who was begotten of the seed of David as to the flesh, ⁴ and was with power identified as the Son of God by the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies since the time that Jesus Christ our Lord rose up from death. ⁵ By him we have received grace and apostleship to bring all manner of heathen peoples to the obedience of faith, which is in his name. ⁶ Of such peoples you are a part also, who are Jesus Christ’s by calling.

⁷ To all you of Rome, beloved of God and saints by calling. Grace be with you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ First, truly I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is spoken of throughout all the world. ⁹ 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, ¹⁰ asking that at one time or another a successful journey (by the will of God) might enable me to go to you. ¹¹ For I long to see you, so that I may bestow among you some spiritual gift to strengthen you with; ¹² that is, so I may have consolation together with you through the common faith, which both you and I have.

¹³ I want you to know, brethren, that I have often hoped to go to you (but have been prevented so far) to have some fruit among you, as I have among other of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ For I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to those who are not Greek, to the learned and also to the unlearned. ¹⁵ So then, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you of Rome also. ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, namely to the Jew and also to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For by it the righteousness which comes from God is unveiled, from faith to faith. As it is written: The just shall live by faith.

¹⁸ For the wrath of God appears from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ seeing that what may be known of God is manifest among them. For God did show it unto them. ²⁰ For his invisible things – that is to say, his eternal power and Godhead – are understood and seen from the works of the creation of the world. So they are without excuse, ²¹ inasmuch as when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful, but increased full of vain imaginations, and their foolish hearts were blinded. ²² When they counted themselves wise, they became fools, ²³ and turned the glory of the immortal God into the similitude of the image of mortal man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and serpents.

²⁴ For this God likewise gave them up to their heart’s lusts, unto uncleanness, to defile their own bodies between themselves – ²⁵ those who turned his truth to a lie, and venerated and served created things more than the Maker, who is blessed forever. Amen. ²⁶ For this cause God gave them up to shameful lusts. For even their women turned from the natural way to the unnatural. ²⁷ And likewise also the men left the natural way with a woman, and burned in their lusts for one another. And man with man wrought uncleanness, and received in themselves the reward of their error accordingly.

²⁸ And as it did not seem good to them to acknowledge God, so God delivered them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which were not right, ²⁹ being full of all unrighteous doing: of fornication, wickedness, covetousness, vice; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit; evil-natured, whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to father and mother, ³¹ without understanding, covenant breakers, unloving, truce breakers, and merciless. ³² Which people, though they knew the righteousness of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, yet not only do the same, but also have pleasure in those who do them.

Paul rebukes the Jews, who as concerning sin are like the heathen; yea, worse than they.

2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in the same thing that you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge do even the same things. ² But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who commit such things.

³ Do you think, O man, you who judge others who do such things, and yet do even the very same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you think nothing of the riches of his goodness, patience, and longsuffering? And remember not how it is that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

⁵ But you, after your hard heart that cannot repent, heap together against yourself the treasure of wrath for the day of vengeance, when the righteous judgment of God will be revealed. ⁶ He will reward every person according to his deeds; ⁷ that is to say, praise, honour, and immortality to those who continue in doing good and seek eternal life; ⁸ but to those who are rebellious, and reject the truth, and follow iniquity, will come indignation and wrath – ⁹ tribulation and anguish upon the soul of every person who does evil: of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. ¹⁰ To everyone who does good will come praise, honour, and peace: to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God. ¹² But whoever has sinned without law will perish without law, and as many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

¹³ For before God they are not righteous who hear the law, but the doers of the law will be justified. ¹⁴ For if the Gentiles who have no law do by nature the things contained in the law, then they, having no law, are a law unto themselves. ¹⁵ They show the deeds of the law written in their hearts, while their conscience bears witness to them, and also their thoughts, accusing one another or defending, ¹⁶ on the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

¹⁷ Behold, you are called a Jew, and trust in the law, and put confidence in God, ¹⁸ and know his will, and have confirmation of good and bad in that you are instructed by the law. ¹⁹ And you believe that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness – ²⁰ an instructor of those who lack wisdom and a teacher of the unlearned, who has the example of that which ought to be known, and of the truth, in the law. ²¹ But you who teach another, do not teach yourself. You preach that a person should not steal, and yet you steal. ²² You say a person should not commit adultery, and you break wedlock. You abhor images, and rob God of his honour. ²³ You boast in the law, and through breaking the law dishonour God. ²⁴ For the name of God is ill spoken of among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written.

²⁵ Circumcision indeed avails, if you keep the law. But if you break the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore if the uncircumcised man keeps the righteous things contained in the law, shall his uncircumcision not be counted for circumcision? ²⁷ And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it keeps the law, condemn you who, being under the letter and circumcision, do transgress the law? ²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is a Jew outwardly. Neither is that thing circumcision which is outward in the flesh. ²⁹ But he is a Jew who is hid within, and the circumcision of the heart is the true circumcision, which is in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Paul shows what preferment the Jews have, and that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin, and are justified only by the grace of God in Christ.

3 What preferment, then, has the Jew? Or what advantage from circumcision? ² Surely very much. The word of God was committed first to them. ³ What, then, if some of them did not believe? Does their unbelief make the promise of God without effect? ⁴ God forbid. Let God be true and all men liars, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words, and should overcome when you are judged.

⁵ If our unrighteousness makes the righteousness of God more excellent, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who takes vengeance? I speak after the manner of men. ⁶ God forbid, for how then will God judge the world? ⁷ If the truth of God appears more excellent through my lie, to his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? ⁸ And why not say rather (as some ill report of us, and as some allege we say), let us do evil, so that good may come of it? Their condemnation is just.

⁹ What are we saying then? Are we better than they? No, not in any way. For we have already established that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, ¹⁰ as it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. ¹¹ There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. ¹² They are all gone out of the way. They are all unprofitable. There is no one who does good: no, not one. ¹³ Their throat is an open sepulchre. With their tongues they have deceived. The poison of asps is under their lips. ¹⁴ Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. ¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood. ¹⁶ Destruction and wretchedness are in their ways, ¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known. ¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.

¹⁹ Yea and we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that all mouths may be stopped, and all the world be subdued to God, ²⁰ because no flesh can be justified in the sight of God by the deeds of the law. For by the law comes the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now is declared the righteousness that comes of God without the fulfilling of the law, yet having the witness of the law and of the prophets. ²² Without doubt, the righteousness which is good before God comes by the faith of Jesus Christ, to all and upon all who believe.

There is no difference. ²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ but are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ Him God has made a seat of mercy, through faith in his blood, to show the righteousness that is of value before him, in that he forgives the sins that are past. ²⁶ These God suffered in order to show at this time the righteousness that is granted by him, so that he may be counted just, and a justifier of the person who believes on Jesus.

²⁷ Where then is self-righteousness? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

²⁸ Therefore we hold that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. ²⁹ Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, even of the Gentiles also. ³⁰ For there is one God, who justifies circumcision which is of faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

³¹ Do we then destroy the law through faith? God forbid. But we rather maintain the law.

Paul shows by the example of Abraham that faith justifies, and not the law or the works of the law.

4 What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as to the flesh, did find? ² If Abraham were justified by deeds, then he has wherein to glory, but not with God. ³ For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. ⁴ To him who works, the reward is not reckoned from favour, but as his due. ⁵ To him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ⁶ It is just as David describes the blessedfulness of the person to whom God ascribes righteousness apart from deeds: ⁷ Blessed are those whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; ⁸ blessed is that man to whom the Lord does not impute sin.

⁹ Did this blessedness come then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it reckoned? In the time of circumcision, or in the time before he was circumcised? Not in the time of circumcision, but when he was yet uncircumcised.

¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that is by faith. This faith he had when still uncircumcised, to the intent that he should be the father of all who believe, though they are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be ascribed to them also; ¹² and to the intent that he should be the father of the circumcised, not only because they are circumcised, but because they walk also in the steps of that faith that was in our father Abraham before the time of circumcision.

¹³ For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not given to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴ For if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith is but vain, and the promise of no effect. ¹⁵ Because the law causes wrath.

But where no law is, there is no transgression. ¹⁶ Therefore it is by faith that the inheritance is given, so that it may come by favour, and so the promise may be sure to all the seed – not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: I have made you a father to many nations, even before God whom you have believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which are not, as though they were.

¹⁸ This Abraham, contrary to hope, believed in hope that he would be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: Thus shall your seed be. ¹⁹ And he fainted not in the faith, nor yet considered his own body (which was now dead inasmuch as he was almost a hundred years old), nor yet that Sarah was past childbearing. ²⁰ He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was made strong in the faith and gave honour to God, ²¹ fully persuaded that what he had promised, that he was able to make good. ²² And therefore it was reckoned to him for righteousness.

²³ It is not written for him only that faith was reckoned to him for righteousness, ²⁴ but also for us, to whom it will be credited as righteousness if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from death, ²⁵ who was delivered for our sins, and rose up again to justify us.

The power of faith, hope, and love. How death reigned from Adam to Christ, by whom only we have forgiveness of sins.

5 Because therefore we are justified by faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² by whom we have a way in through faith, to this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory to come, which shall be given by God. ³ Not only that, but we also rejoice in tribulation. For we know that trouble brings patience, ⁴ patience brings experience, and experience brings hope. ⁵ And our hope makes not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to us.

⁶ For when we were yet weak, according to the time, Christ died for us who were ungodly. ⁷ Yet scarcely will anyone die for a righteous person; perhaps for a good person a man might dare to die. ⁸ But God sets out the love that he has for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then now, seeing we are justified in his blood, will we be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, seeing we are reconciled, will we be preserved by his life. ¹¹ Not only this, but we also joy in God by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received reconciliation.

¹² And so it is just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death by means of sin; and in this way death went over all people, inasmuch as all people sinned. ¹³ For even to the time of the law, sin was in the world. But where no law is, there sin is not regarded. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those also who did not sin with such transgression as did Adam, who is the similitude of him who is to come.

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the sin. For if through the sin of one, many are dead, much more lavish upon many was the grace of God and gift by grace, which grace was given by one man: Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ And the gift is not over only one sin, as death came through one sin of one man who sinned. For the sentence of condemnation came from one sin. But the gift came to justify from many sins. ¹⁷ For if by the sin of one, death reigned by the means of one, much more will those who receive of abundant grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life by the means of one; that is to say, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ Likewise then, just as by the sin of one, condemnation came on all men, so also by the justifying of one comes the righteousness that brings life upon all men. ¹⁹ For just as by one man’s disobedience many became sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

²⁰ But the law in the meantime entered in, that sin should increase. Nevertheless, where there was much sin, there was more abundance of grace, ²¹ so that as sin had reigned unto death, so also grace could reign through righteousness unto eternal life by the help of Jesus Christ.

Since we have been delivered from sin through Christ, we must fashion ourselves to live as the servants of God, not following our own desires. The different rewards of righteousness and sin.

6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, so that there may be an abundance of grace? ² God forbid. How can we, who are dead as regards sin, live any longer in it? ³ Do you not remember that all we who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, are baptized to die with him? ⁴ We are buried with him by baptism in order to die, so that in the same way as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the Father, we also may walk in a new life. ⁵ For if we are grafted in death like him, so also must we be in the resurrection. ⁶ We must remember that our old man is crucified with him also, so that the body of sin may utterly be destroyed, to the intent that henceforth we will not be servants of sin. ⁷ For he who is dead, is justified from sin.

⁸ And so if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we are to live with him – ⁹ remembering that Christ, once raised from death, dies no more. Death no longer has power over him. ¹⁰ For concerning that he died, he died as to sin once. And concerning that he lives, he lives unto God. ¹¹ Think of yourselves also in the same way: that you are dead concerning sin, but are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ¹² Therefore let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, so that you bow to it in its affections and lusts. ¹³ Neither give your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. But give yourselves unto God as people who are alive from death, and give your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ¹⁴ Let not sin have power over you. For you are not under the law, but under grace.

  ¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. ¹⁶ Do you not consider that whomever you commit yourselves to, as servants to obey, his servants you are? – whomever you bow to, whether it be through sin to death, or through obedience to righteousness. ¹⁷ But God be thanked that, though you were once the servants of sin, you have conformed with heart to the model of instruction unto which you were delivered. ¹⁸ You are then made free from sin, and have become the servants of righteousness.

  ¹⁹ I will speak plainly, because of the infirmity of your flesh. Just as you once gave your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, from iniquity to iniquity, so now give your members as servants to righteousness so that you may be sanctified. ²⁰ For when you were the servants of sin, you were not under righteousness. ²¹ What fruit had you then, in those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. ²² But now you are delivered from sin, and made the servants of God, and have as your fruit to be sanctified, and the end everlasting life. ²³ For the reward of sin is death, but eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ has delivered us from the law and death. Paul shows what the flesh and natural man is, and calls it the law of the members.

7 Do you not consider, brethren (I speak to people who know the law), that the law has dominion over a person as long as it endures? ² For the woman who is under a husband is bound by the law to the man as long as he lives. But if the husband is dead, she is released from the law of the husband. ³ So then, if while the husband is alive she couples herself with another man, she will be counted a wedlock breaker. But if the husband is dead, she is free from the law, so that she is no wedlock breaker if she couples herself with another man.

⁴ In a similar way, my brethren, you are dead concerning the law by the body of Christ, in order to be coupled to another (I mean, to him who is risen again from death), so that we will bring forth fruit unto God. ⁵ For when we were in the flesh, the lusts of sin, which were stirred up by the law, reigned in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. ⁶ But now we are delivered from the law, and dead to that to which we were in bondage, in order to serve in a new life of the Spirit, and not in the old life of the letter.

⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. But I would not have known what sin meant, if not by the law. For I would not have known what coveting meant unless the law had said, You shall not covet. ⁸ But sin took occasion by the means of the commandment, and wrought in me all manner of inordinate desire. For without the law, sin was dead. ⁹ I once lived without law. But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I was dead. ¹⁰ And the very same commandment that was ordained for life, was found to be to me an occasion of death. ¹¹ For sin took occasion by the means of the commandment, and thus deceived me, and by the same commandment slew me. ¹² Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.

¹³ Was then that which is good, made death to me? God forbid. No, sin was death to me, so that it could appear how sin, by the means of that which is good, had wrought death in me; so that sin which is under the commandment might be out of measure sinful. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual. But I am carnal, sold under sin, ¹⁵ inasmuch as I know not what I do. For what I would, I do not, but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶ If I would rather not do that which I do, I grant to the law that it is good. ¹⁷ So then now it is not I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is to say, in my flesh) dwells no good thing. To will is present with me, but I find no means to perform that which is good. ¹⁹ For I do not that good thing which I would, but I do the evil that I would not. ²⁰ Finally, if I do what I do not want, then it is not I who do it, but sin that dwells in me does it.

²¹ I find then by the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. ²² I delight in the law of God as far as the inner man is concerned, ²³ but I see another law in my members, rebelling against the law of my mind, and subduing me to the law of sin that is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I myself in my mind serve the law of God, and in my flesh the law of sin.

The law of the Spirit gives life. The Spirit of God makes us God’s children and heirs with Christ. We cannot be separated from the abundant love of God.

8 There is then no damnation to those who are in Christ Jesus – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit that brings life through Jesus Christ has delivered me from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do, inasmuch as it was weak because of the flesh, God has performed. He sent his Son in the similitude of sinful flesh, and by a sin offering punished sin in the flesh, ⁴ so that the righteousness required by the law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. ⁵ For those who are fleshly are fleshly minded, but those who are spiritual are spiritually minded. ⁶ To be fleshly minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ For the fleshly mind is enmity against God, because it is not obedient to the law of God, neither can be. ⁸ So then, those who are given to the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But you are not given to the flesh, but to the Spirit, if it so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. If there is any person who does not have the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. ¹⁰ If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life for righteousness’ sake. ¹¹ And so if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from death dwells in you, he who raised up Christ from death will give life to your mortal bodies, because his Spirit dwells in you.

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are now debtors – not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if you live after the flesh, you must die. But if you put to death the deeds of the body by the help of the Spirit, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ¹⁵ For you have not received the spirit of servanthood to fear again, but you have been given the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father! ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. ¹⁷ If we are children, we are also heirs – the heirs, I mean, of God; and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer together so that we may be glorified together. ¹⁸ For I suppose that the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that will be shown upon us.

¹⁹ Also, the fervent desire of the creatures endures, looking for when the sons of God will appear, ²⁰ because the creatures are subdued to vanity against their will, but for the will of him who subjects them in hope. ²¹ For the very creatures will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that every creature groans with us also, and travails in pain, even to this time.

²³ Not only they, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit mourn in ourselves, and await the adoption, and look for the deliverance of our bodies. ²⁴ For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is no hope. For how can a person hope for that which he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for that which we do not see, then with patience we await it.

²⁶ Furthermore, the Spirit also relieves our infirmities. For we know not what to pray as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercession mightily for us, with groanings which cannot be expressed by tongue. ²⁷ And he who searches the hearts knows what is the intent of the Spirit, for he makes intercession for the saints according to the pleasure of God. ²⁸ For we know that all things work for the best for those who love God, who also are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he knew before, he also ordained before to be fashioned to the image of his Son, so that he may be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover, those whom he appointed before, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

  ³¹ What shall we say then to these things? If God is on our side, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him for us all, how would he not also give us all things with him? ³³ Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies; ³⁴ who then shall condemn? It is Christ who is dead – yea rather, risen again, who is also on the right hand of God, and makes intercession for us.

³⁵ Who can separate us from the love of God? Can tribulation? or anguish? or persecution? or hunger? or nakedness? or peril? or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: For your sake we are killed all day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain. ³⁷ Nevertheless, in all these things we overcome strongly through the help of him who loved us. ³⁸ Yea, and I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rule, nor power, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other thing in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God shown in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul complains upon the hard hearts of the Jews who would not receive Christ. How the heathen are chosen in their stead.

9 I speak the truth in Christ, and do not speak falsely, regarding that of which my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit. ² I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. ³ For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ for my brethren and my kinsmen according to the flesh, ⁴ who are the Israelites. To them pertain the adoption and the glory, and the covenants, and the law that was given, and the service of God, and the promises. ⁵ Theirs also are the fathers, and those from whom (as to the flesh) Christ came, who is God over all things blessed forever. Amen.

⁶ I do not say these things as though the words of God have taken no effect. For not all who come from Israel are Israelites. ⁷ Nor are they all children just because they are the seed of Abraham, but: In Isaac shall thy seed be called. ⁸ That is to say, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of promise are counted the seed. ⁹ For this is a word of promise: About this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son. ¹⁰ Neither was it so with her only, but also when Rebecca was pregnant with twins by one – I mean, by our father Isaac. ¹¹ Before the children were born, when they had done neither good nor bad, so that the purpose of God which is by election would stand, it was said to her, not by reason of works, but by the grace of the caller: ¹² The elder shall serve the younger. ¹³ As it is written: Jacob he loved, but Esau he hated.

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there any unrighteousness with God? God forbid. ¹⁵ For he says to Moses: I will show mercy to whom I show mercy, and will have compassion on whom I have compassion. ¹⁶ So then, it lies not in a man’s will or running, but in the mercy of God. ¹⁷ For the scripture says to Pharaoh: For this very purpose I have stirred you up, to show my power on you, and so that my name may be declared throughout all the world. ¹⁸ Therefore he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he makes hardhearted.

¹⁹ You will say to me then, So why does he still blame us? For who can resist his will? ²⁰ But, O man, what are you to dispute with God? Shall the work say to the workman, Why have you made me this way? ²¹ Does the potter not have power over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? ²² Accordingly, God, intending to show his wrath and to make his power known, suffered with long patience the vessels of wrath fitted to damnation, ²³ in order to show the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared for glory – ²⁴ that is to say, us, whom he called not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles.

²⁵ As he says in Hosea: I will call them my people who were not my people, and her beloved who was not beloved. ²⁶ And: It will come to pass in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, that there the children of the living God shall be called. ²⁷ But Isaiah cries concerning Israel: Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet shall but a remnant be saved. ²⁸ He carries out the word to the end, and makes it short in righteousness. For a short word will God make on earth. ²⁹ And as Isaiah said before: If the Lord of Sabaoth had not left us a seed, we would have been made as Sodom, and would have been likened to Gomorrah.

³⁰ What shall we say then? We say that the Gentiles, who did not follow righteousness, have found righteousness; I mean, the righteousness which comes of faith. ³¹ But Israel, who followed the law of righteousness, could not attain to the law of righteousness. ³² And why not? Because they sought it not by faith, but as if it were by the works of the law. For they have stumbled at the stumbling stone. ³³ As it is written: Behold, I put in Zion a stumbling stone, and a rock that will make men fall. But none who believe on him will be ashamed.

The unfaithfulness of the Jews. Two kinds of righteousness.

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. ² For I can attest that they have a fervent heart for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they are ignorant of the righteousness that is admitted before God, and go about to establish their own righteousness, and therefore give no heed to the righteousness that is of value before God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law, to justify all who believe.

⁵ Moses describes the righteousness which comes of the law, how the person who does the things of the law will live therein. ⁶ But the righteousness that comes by faith speaks this way: Say not in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (which is nothing else than to fetch Christ down), ⁷ or, who shall descend into the deep? (which is nothing else than to fetch Christ up from death). ⁸ But what does the scripture say? The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart. This word is the word of faith that we preach. ⁹ For if you acknowledge with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe with your heart that God raised him up from death, you will be safe. ¹⁰ For the belief of the heart justifies, and to acknowledge with the mouth makes a man safe. ¹¹ For the scripture says: Whoever believes on him, will not be ashamed.

¹² There is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles. For there is one Lord over all, who richly blesses all who call on him. ¹³ For: Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴ But how can people call on him on whom they have not believed? How can they believe on him, if they have not heard of him? How can they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how can men preach, unless they be sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

¹⁶ But they have not all hearkened to the gospel. For Isaiah says: Lord, who believes our message? ¹⁷ So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the word of God. 18But, I ask, have they not heard?  No doubt: Their sound went out into all lands, and their words into the ends of the world.

¹⁹ But I demand whether Israel did know, or not? First Moses says: I will provoke you to envy by those who are not a people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. ²⁰ Isaiah after that is bold and says: I am found by those who were not seeking me, and have appeared to those who were not asking for me. ²¹ And against Israel he says: All day long I have stretched out my hands to a people that does not believe, but speaks against me.

All the Jews are not cast away. Therefore Paul warns the Gentiles who are called not to be high-minded or despise the Jews. For the judgments of God are deep and secret.

11 I say then, has God cast away his people? God forbid. For even I, of course, am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham and of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the scripture says by the mouth of Elijah, how he makes intercession to God against Israel, saying, ³ Lord, they have killed your prophets and dug down your altars, and only I am left, and they seek my life? ⁴ But what is the answer of God to him in response? – I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. ⁵ Likewise also, there is at this time a remnant left through the election of grace. ⁶ If it is by grace, then it is not by works, for then grace would not be grace any more. And if it is by works, then it is not grace any more, for then deserving would no longer be deserving.  

⁷ What then? Israel has not obtained what it sought. No, but yet the chosen ones have obtained it. The rest are blinded, ⁸ as it is written: God has given them the spirit of unquietness: eyes so that they cannot see, and ears so that they cannot hear, until this day. ⁹ And David says, Let their table be made a snare to take them with, and an occasion to fall, and a reward to them. ¹⁰ Let their eyes be blinded so that they do not see, and ever bow down their backs.

¹¹ I say then, have they therefore stumbled, only but to fall? God forbid. But through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to rally them at the same time. ¹² And so if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminishment the riches of the Gentiles, how much greater the riches if they all believed? ¹³ I preach to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles. I will magnify my office, ¹⁴ so that I might rally those who are my flesh, and might save some of them. ¹⁵ For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what is the receiving of them but life again from death? ¹⁶ For if one piece is holy, the whole lump is holy. And if the root is holy, the branches are holy also.

¹⁷ Though some of the branches are broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, are grafted in among them and made partaker of the root and sap of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast against the branches. For if you boast, remember that you do not bear the root, but the root bears you. ¹⁹ You will say then that the branches are broken off so that you may be grafted in. ²⁰ Well said: because of unbelief they are broken off, and you stand steadfast in faith. Be not high-minded, but fear, ²¹ seeing that God spared not the natural branches, lest perhaps he also not spare you.

²² Behold the kindness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity, but towards you, kindness – if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you will be hewn off. ²³ And they, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in again. For God is of power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut out of a natural, wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a true olive tree, how much more may the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree again?

²⁵ I would not that this mystery be hid from you my brethren (lest you be wise in your own estimations), that with respect to a part, blindness is upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; ²⁶ and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: There will come out of Zion he who does deliver, and who will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. ²⁷ And: This is my covenant to them, when I take away their sins. ²⁸ Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as for the chosen ones, these are loved for the fathers’ sakes. ²⁹ For indeed, the gifts and calling of God are such that he cannot change his mind about them.

³⁰ For look, just as you in time past did not believe God, and yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, ³¹ in the same way now they have not believed the mercy that has come to you so that they also may obtain mercy. ³² God has wrapped all nations in unbelief in order that he may have mercy on all.

³³ O the deepness of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out. ³⁴ For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor? ³⁵ Or who has given to him first, that he should be recompensed? ³⁶ For from him, and through him, and for him, are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

The sweet living, love, and works of the people who believe in Christ.

12 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercifulness of God, to make your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable serving of God. ² Do not fashion yourselves to this world, but be changed in your nature by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is that good, that favourable, and perfect will of God.

³ For I say by the grace that is given to me, to everyone among you, that no one should think of himself more than it behoves him to think, but should soberly judge of himself, as God has given to each the measure of faith. ⁴ Just as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same service, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone among us one another’s members. ⁶ Seeing that we have different gifts, according to the grace that is given to us, if one has the gift of prophecy, let him have it agreeing to the faith. ⁷ Let him who has an office attend to his duty. Let him who teaches take heed to his doctrine. ⁸ Let him who exhorts give heed to his exhortation. If anyone gives, let him do it with sincerity. Let him who governs do it with diligence. If anyone shows mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.

⁹ Let love be without dissembling. Hate that which is evil, and cleave unto that which is good. ¹⁰ Be kind to one another, with brotherly love. Honour others before yourselves. ¹¹ Let not the work that you have in hand be tedious to you. Be fervent in the Spirit. Apply yourselves to the time. ¹² Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Continue in prayer. ¹³ Give to meet the needs of the saints, and be ready to take people in.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless, but curse not. ¹⁵ Be merry with those who are merry. Weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of equal affection  one towards another. Be not high-minded, but make yourselves equal to the lowly. Do not be wise in your own opinions. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Provide beforehand for things that are honourable in the sight of all people. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as for your part, have peace with all people.

¹⁹ Dearly beloveds, do not avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written: Vengeance is mine, and I will reward, says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore: If your enemy hungers, feed him, and if he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with goodness.

The obedience of people to governing powers. Love fulfils the law. It is now no time to follow the works of darkness.

13 Let every soul submit himself to the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power except from God. The powers that be are ordained by God. ² Therefore whoever resists authority, resists the ordinance of God. And those who resist will bring retribution on themselves, ³ for rulers and authorities are not to be feared for good works, but for bad. Would you be without fear of the authority? Do well then, and you will be commended by the same. ⁴ For he is the minister of God for your welfare. But if you do wrong, then fear. For he does not bear a sword for nothing, but is the minister of God to take vengeance on those who do evil. ⁵ Therefore you must obey – not for fear of vengeance only, but also because of conscience. ⁶ And also for this reason, pay tribute. For the Roman authorities are God’s ministers, serving for the same purpose.

⁷ Give to all persons therefore that which is due to them: tribute to whom tribute belongs, custom to whom custom is due, fear to whom fear belongs, honour to whom honour pertains. ⁸ Owe nothing to anyone, but to love one another. For he who loves another, fulfils the law. ⁹ For these commandments – you shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet, and so forth (if there be any other commandment) – are all comprehended in this saying: Love your neighbour as yourself. ¹⁰ Love does no harm to his neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

¹¹ This also we know – I mean the season, that it is time now to awake out of sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night has passed, and the day has come near. Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. ¹³ Let us walk honourably, as in the daylight: not in revelry and drunkenness, nor in sleeping around and wantonness, nor in strife and envying, ¹⁴ but put on the Lord Jesus Christ. And do not make provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.

The weak ought not to be held in disdain. No person should occasion harm to another’s conscience. Again, no one should condemn another for outward things.

14 Him who is weak in the faith, receive to yourselves – not in disputing and troubling his conscience. ² One believes that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, eats vegetables. ³ Let not him who eats look down on him who does not. And let not him who abstains judge one who eats, for God has received him. ⁴ Who are you, to judge another man’s servant? Whether he stands or falls pertains to his master; yea, he will stand, because God is able to make him stand.

⁵ This man distinguishes between day and day, another counts all days alike. See to it that no one wavers in his own purpose: ⁶ he who observes one day over another does it for the Lord’s pleasure, and he who does not observe one day over another does it also to please the Lord. He who eats does it to please the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat abstains to please the Lord at the same time, and gives God thanks. ⁷ For none of us lives as his own servant, and neither does any of us die his own servant. ⁸ If we live, we live to be at the Lord’s will, and if we die, we die at the Lord’s will. Therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹ It is for this that Christ died and rose up and recovered life: to be Lord of both the dead and the living.

¹⁰ But why do you then judge your brother? Or, why do you despise your brother? We shall all be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹ For it is written: As surely as I live, says the Lord, all knees will bow to me, and all tongues will acknowledge God. ¹² So then, every one of us will give an account of himself to God. ¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another any more, but determine rather that no one shall put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. ¹⁴ For I know and am fully assured in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing common of itself. But for him who judges it to be common, to him it is common. ¹⁵ If your brother is grieved by your food, now you are not walking charitably. Do not destroy by your food a person for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Give no reason for your treasure to be ill spoken of. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For whosoever serves Christ in these things, pleases God well, and is commended by men. ¹⁹ Let us follow those things that make for peace, and things whereby one may support another.

²⁰ Do not undo the work of God for the sake of a little food. All these things are pure, but it is wrong for that person who eats with harm to his conscience. ²¹ It is good not to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor do anything whereby your brother stumbles, or falls, or is made weak. ²² Do you have faith? Have it within yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself by what he allows. ²³ For he who makes conscience is guilty if he eats, because he does not do it of faith. For whatsoever is not of faith, that same is sin.