Romans:1

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Paul , a servant of Christ Jesus , a called apostle , set apart to preach the gospel of God , * which he had promised before by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures , * the gospel concerning his Son , who was born of the seed of David as to the flesh , * and shown with power to be the Son of God as to his spirit of holiness , by the resurrection of the dead , Jesus Christ our Lord ; * through whom we received grace and the office of an apostle in behalf of his name , in order to produce obedience to the faith among all nations ; * among whom are ye also , the called of Jesus Christ ; * to all the beloved of God at Rome , called , holy : Grace be to you , and peace , from God our Father , and the Lord Jesus Christ . * In the first place , I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you , that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world . * For God is my witness , whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son , how constantly I make mention of you , always in my prayers * supplicating that , if it be possible , I may at last through the will of God be favored with an opportunity of coming to you . * For I long to see you , that I may impart to you some spiritual gift , which may be for your confirmation ; * that is , that I may be edified among you , and you also , through each other ’s faith , both yours and mine . * But I would not have you ignorant , brethren , that I often purposed to come to you , though I have been hindered hitherto , that I might have some fruit of my labors among you also , as among the other gentiles . * I am debtor both to Greeks and barbarians , both to the wise and the unwise . * So , according to my ability , I am ready to preach the gospel to you also in Rome . * For I am not ashamed of the gospel ; for to every believer , to the Jew first and also to the Greek , it is the power of God unto salvation . * For therein is revealed the righteousness which is of God from faith to faith ; as it is written , "But the righteous shall live by faith ." * For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and unrighteousness of men , who keep down the truth in unrighteousness . * Because that which may be known of God is manifest within them ; for God made it manifest to them . * For , ever since the creation of the world , his invisible attributes , even his eternal power and divinity , being perceived from his works , are clearly seen , so that they might be without excuse . * Because though they knew God , they did not glorify him as God , nor were they thankful to him ; but became perverse in their reasonings , and their senseless minds were darkened ; * professing to be wise , they became fools , * and for the glory of the incorruptible God they substituted images of corruptible man , and of birds and four –footed beasts and creeping things . * Wherefore God also gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity , to debase their bodies with one another ; * because they changed the true God for false gods , and adored and worshipped created things rather than the Creator , who is blessed for ever . Amen . * For this cause God gave them up to vile passions . For even their women indulged in unnatural lust , * and in like manner the men also , neglecting the natural use of the female , burned with lust for one another , men with men practising that which is shameful , and receiving in themselves the due recompense of their error . * And as they did not choose to retain God in their knowledge , God gave them up to a reprobate mind , to do things which are shameful ; * being filled with all unrighteousness , malice , covetousness , wickedness ; full of envy , murder , strife , deceit , malignity ; backbiters , * slanderers , hated of God , insolent , proud , boasters , inventors of mischief , disobedient to parents , * senseless , faithless , without natural affection , without pity ; * who , although knowing the ordinance of God , that they who practise such things deserve death , not only do them themselves , but approve of those who do them .

---