Part 35 (1/2)

(17)And it came to pa.s.s, that after three days Paul called together those who were the chief men of the Jews; and when they were come together, he said to them: Men, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans; (18)who, when they had examined me, wished to release me, because there was no cause of death in me. (19)But as the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; not that I have anything to charge against my nation. (20)For this cause therefore I called for you, to see and to speak with you; for on account of the hope of Israel I am compa.s.sed with this chain.

(21)And they said to him: We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any one of the brethren that came, report or speak any evil concerning thee. (22)But we desire to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.

(23)And having appointed a day for him, they came to him in greater numbers to his lodging; to whom he expounded, testifying fully the kingdom of G.o.d, and persuading them of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening. (24)And some believed the things spoken, and some believed not. (25)And disagreeing among themselves, they departed, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, (26)saying:

Go to this people, and say; With the hearing ye will hear, and will not understand, And seeing ye will see, and will not perceive.

(27)For the heart of this people is become gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And turn, and I shall heal them.

(28)Be it known to you, therefore, that to the Gentiles the salvation of G.o.d was sent; they, moreover, will hear.[28:29]

(30)And Paul remained two whole years in his own hired house, and gladly received all that came in to him; (31)preaching the kingdom of G.o.d, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no one hindering him.

THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

I.

PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, set apart unto the gospel of G.o.d, (2)which he before announced through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, (3)concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4)who was declared to be the Son of G.o.d with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord; (5)through whom we received grace and apostles.h.i.+p, for obedience to the faith among all the nations, for his name's sake; (6)among whom are ye also, called of Jesus Christ; (7)to all the beloved of G.o.d that are in Rome, called to be saints: Grace to you, and peace, from G.o.d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(8)First, I thank my G.o.d through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of in all the world. (9)For G.o.d is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; (10)making request, if haply now at length I may be prospered by the will of G.o.d to come to you.

(11)For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; (12)that is, to be comforted together among you, by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

(13)Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that often-times I purposed to come to you (but was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit among you also, as among the rest of the Gentiles. (14)I am debtor both to Greeks and Barbarians; both to wise and unwise. (15)So, as far as lies in me, I am ready to preach the good news to you also who are at Rome. (16)For I am not ashamed of the gospel; for it is the power of G.o.d unto salvation to every one that believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17)For therein is revealed a righteousness of G.o.d, from faith to faith; as it is written: The just shall live by faith.

(18)For the wrath of G.o.d is revealed from heaven against all unG.o.dliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness[1:18]; (19)because that which may be known of G.o.d is manifest in them; for G.o.d manifested it to them. (20)For, from the creation of the world, his invisible things are clearly seen, being perceived by the things that are made, even his eternal power and G.o.dhead; so that they are[1:20] without excuse. (21)Because, knowing G.o.d, they glorified him not as G.o.d, nor gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened.

(22)Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools; (23)and changed the glory of the incorruptible G.o.d into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

(24)Wherefore G.o.d also gave them up in the l.u.s.ts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonor their bodies among themselves; (25)who changed the truth of G.o.d into a lie, and wors.h.i.+ped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

(26)For this cause G.o.d gave them up to vile pa.s.sions; for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature; (27)and in like manner the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their l.u.s.t one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was meet.

(28)And as they did not choose to retain G.o.d in their knowledge, G.o.d gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not becoming; (29)being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30)slanderers, haters of G.o.d, overbearing, proud, boasters, devisers of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31)without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; (32)who, knowing the judgment of G.o.d, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those who do them.

II.

WHEREFORE thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. (2)Now we know that the judgment of G.o.d is according to truth, upon those who commit such things. (3)And reckonest thou this, O man, that judgest those who do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of G.o.d? (4)Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of G.o.d is leading thee to repentance; (5)and after thy hardness and impenitent heart, art treasuring up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of G.o.d; (6)who will render to every man according to his deeds; (7)to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; (8)but to those who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9)tribulation and distress, upon every soul of man that works evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; (10)but glory, and honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

(11)For there is no respect of persons with G.o.d. (12)For as many as sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as sinned with law shall be judged by law; (13)(for not the hearers of law are just before G.o.d, but the doers of law shall be justified: (14)for when Gentiles, who have no law, do by nature the things required by law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves; (15)who show the work of law written in their hearts, their conscience witnessing therewith, and their thoughts alternately accusing, or also excusing[2:15];) (16)in the day when G.o.d will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

(17)But if thou art called a Jew, and restest upon law, and makest thy boast in G.o.d, (18)and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; (19)and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, (20)an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law; (21)thou then, that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself?

Thou that preachest, a man should not steal, dost thou steal? (22)Thou that sayest, a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege[2:22]?

(23)Thou that makest thy boast in law, through the transgression of the law dishonorest thou G.o.d? (24)For, the name of G.o.d is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written.

(25)For circ.u.mcision indeed profits, if thou keep the law; but if thou art a transgressor of law, thy circ.u.mcision has become uncirc.u.mcision.

(26)If then the uncirc.u.mcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncirc.u.mcision be counted for circ.u.mcision? (27)And shall not the uncirc.u.mcision that is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circ.u.mcision art a transgressor of law?

(28)For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; nor is that circ.u.mcision, which is outward in the flesh. (29)But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circ.u.mcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of G.o.d.