Notes on the Epistle of Paul, the Apostle, to the Romans

By William Kelly

A NEW TRANSLATION OF THE TEXT ACCORDING TO ANCIENT AUTHORITY.

Chapter 1

Romans 1.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, set apart unto God's gospel, 2 which he had before promised through his prophets in holy scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, that was born of David's seed according to flesh, 4 that was marked out Son of God in power according to [the] Spirit of holiness by resurrection of [the] dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we received grace and apostleship unto obedience of faith among all the Gentiles1 in behalf of his name; 6 among whom are ye also, called of Jesus Christ, 7 to all that are in Rome beloved of God, called saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed in the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always at my prayers 10 beseeching, if by any means now at least I shall be prospered by the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift in order to your being established; 12 that is, to be comforted together among you through the faith which is in one another, both yours and mine.

13 But I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, that I often proposed to come to you and was hindered until the present, that I might have some fruit among you too, even as also among the other Gentiles. 14 Both to Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and unintelligent, I am debtor; 15 so on my part there is readiness to preach the gospel to you also that [are] in Rome; 16 for I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is God's power unto salvation to every one that believeth, both to Jew first and to Greek. 17 For God's righteousness in it is revealed by faith unto faith, even as it is written, 'But the righteous shall live by faith.'

18 For there is revealed God's wrath from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men that hold the truth in unrighteousness. 19 Because what maybe known of God is manifest among them, for God made [it] manifest to them. 20 For the invisible things of him from [the] world's creation are perceived, being understood by the works, both his eternal power and Godhead, that they might be inexcusable. 21 Because, having known God, they glorified him not as God nor were thankful, but became vain in their thoughts, and their heart void of understanding was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for a likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of winged and four-footed and creeping [creatures]. 24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness so that their bodies were dishonoured among them; 25 which exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and served and reverenced the creature rather than2 the Creator who is blessed for ever,2 Amen. 26 On this account God gave them up to vile passions; for both their females exchanged the natural use into the unnatural, 27 and likewise the males also, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males working out unseemliness, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they disapproved to have God in acknowledgment,3 God gave them up unto a reprobate mind to do improper things; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, ill-will; whisperers, 30 slanderers, God-hated, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 void of understanding, faithless, without natural affection, pitiless; 32 which, knowing right well the righteous award of God that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practise them but also have a fellow-pleasure in those that do [them]. 

1) Or, nations.

2) Literally "beyond," and "unto the ages."

3) Or, 'in [their] knowledge.'