Romans 1

King James Version

Full text for Romans Chapter 1

1¶ Paul, 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.

8¶ First, 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.

16¶ 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.

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;

19¶ Because 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul introduces himself as an apostle called to preach the gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He expresses his desire to visit Rome to impart a spiritual gift and declares he is not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. The chapter then reveals God's wrath against humanity's ungodliness, as they suppress the truth, exchanging the Creator's glory for idols and descending into moral corruption. This leads God to give them over to various forms of depravity and a reprobate mind.

Medium Summary

Paul, a servant and called apostle, introduces his letter to the Roman believers, emphasizing his divine commission to spread the gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ, declared Son of God by resurrection. He expresses his fervent prayers for them and his long-held desire to visit Rome, not only to impart spiritual gifts but also to be mutually comforted by their shared faith. Paul boldly proclaims his readiness to preach the gospel, stating it is the power of God unto salvation for both Jew and Gentile, revealing God's righteousness by faith. However, he immediately reveals God's wrath against all ungodliness, explaining that humanity is without excuse, having clearly perceived God's eternal power through creation. Despite this knowledge, they chose to worship created things over the Creator, leading God to give them over to various forms of moral depravity and a reprobate mind, filled with unrighteousness and knowing divine judgment.

Long Summary

Paul begins his epistle by identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, an apostle divinely called and set apart for the gospel of God, which was promised by the prophets and concerns His Son, Jesus Christ, who was both of David's lineage and powerfully declared the Son of God by His resurrection. Through Christ, Paul received grace and apostleship to bring about obedience to the faith among all nations, including the beloved saints in Rome, to whom he extends grace and peace. He thanks God for their renowned faith and assures them of his ceaseless prayers, expressing his earnest desire to visit them, if God wills, to impart a spiritual gift for their establishment and to share mutual comfort in faith. Despite previous hindrances, Paul declares his readiness to preach the gospel in Rome, for he is unashamed of it, recognizing it as the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, first the Jew and then the Greek, because in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as Scripture states, "The just shall live by faith." Conversely, Paul reveals that God's wrath is also manifest from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth. He explains that humanity is inexcusable because God's invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly understood through the created world since the beginning. Yet, knowing God, they failed to glorify or thank Him, becoming futile in their thoughts and darkening their hearts, professing wisdom but becoming fools. They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for images of corruptible man, birds, beasts, and creeping things. Consequently, God gave them up to uncleanness through their own lusts, to dishonor their bodies, having exchanged God's truth for a lie and worshipping the creature rather than the Creator. This descent continued as God gave them over to vile affections, leading to unnatural sexual relations among both women and men. Furthermore, because they refused to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, resulting in a comprehensive list of unrighteous behaviors, including fornication, wickedness, covetousness, envy, murder, deceit, and being disobedient to parents, without understanding, and unmerciful. Ultimately, these individuals, knowing God's judgment that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only practice them but also approve of others who do.

Core Concepts

  • Paul's ApostleshipPaul introduces himself as a divinely called apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, emphasizing his authority and mission to preach to all nations for obedience to the faith.
  • The Gospel of ChristThe gospel is presented as concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was of David's lineage and powerfully declared divine by His resurrection from the dead.
  • Power of the GospelPaul declares the gospel to be the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, revealing God's righteousness from faith to faith, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
  • General RevelationGod's invisible attributes, eternal power, and Godhead are clearly seen and understood through the creation of the world, leaving humanity without excuse for their ungodliness.
  • Human Depravity and IdolatryHumanity, despite knowing God, failed to glorify Him, instead exchanging His glory for idols and worshipping the creature rather than the Creator, leading to darkened hearts and vain imaginations.
  • God's Wrath and JudgmentGod's wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, as He "gave up" those who rejected Him to uncleanness, vile affections, and a reprobate mind, resulting in widespread moral corruption.
  • Righteousness by FaithThe chapter introduces the central theme that the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, establishing that "the just shall live by faith." This concept underscores the means by which salvation is attained.