The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 35

(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.

III.

WHAT then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circ.u.mcision? (2)Much every way; first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of G.o.d. (3)For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make void the faithfulness of G.o.d?

(4)Far be it! Yea, let G.o.d be true and every man a liar; as it is written:

That thou mayest be justified in thy words, And mayest overcome when thou art judged.

(5)But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of G.o.d, what shall we say? Is G.o.d unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.) (6)Far be it! For then how shall G.o.d judge the world? (7)For if the truth of G.o.d through my lie, abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? (8)And why not, as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say: Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose judgment is just.

(9)What then? Are we better? No, in no wise; for we before charged, that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. (10)As it is written: There is none righteous, no, no one; (11)there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after G.o.d. (12)They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, there is not so much as one. (13)Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; (14)whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. (15)Their feet are swift to shed blood. (16)Destruction and misery are in their ways; (17)and the way of peace they have not known. (18)There is no fear of G.o.d before their eyes.

(19)Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before G.o.d. (20)Because by works of law no flesh shall be justified in his sight; for by law is the knowledge of sin.

(21)But now, apart from law, a righteousness of G.o.d has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22)a righteousness of G.o.d through faith in Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all that believe; (for there is no difference; (23)for all sinned, and come short of the glory of G.o.d;) (24)being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; (25)whom G.o.d set forth as a propitiation through faith by his blood, for the exhibition of his righteousness, because of the pa.s.sing over of the sins before committed in the forbearance of G.o.d; (26)for the exhibition of his righteousness in this present time, that he may be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

(27)Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law?

Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. (28)Therefore we reckon that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Is he the G.o.d of Jews only? (29)Is he not also of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also; (30)seeing that G.o.d is one, who will justify the circ.u.mcision by faith, and the uncirc.u.mcision through the faith. (31)Do we then make void law through the faith? Far be it! Yea, we establish law.

IV.

WHAT then shall we say that Abraham our father found, as pertaining to the flesh? (2)For if Abraham was justified by works, he has ground of boasting; but not before G.o.d. (3)For what says the Scripture? And Abraham believed G.o.d, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.

(4)Now to him that works, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as a debt. (5)But to him that works not, but believes on him who justifies the unG.o.dly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. (6)As also David speaks of the happiness of the man, to whom G.o.d reckons righteousness, apart from works:

(7)Happy they, whose iniquities were forgiven, And whose sins were covered; (8)Happy the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin!

(9)Comes this happiness then on the circ.u.mcision, or also on he uncirc.u.mcision? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (10)How then was it reckoned? When he was in circ.u.mcision, or in uncirc.u.mcision? Not in circ.u.mcision, but in uncirc.u.mcision. (11)And he received the sign of circ.u.mcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while in uncirc.u.mcision; that he might be father of all that believe while in uncirc.u.mcision, that the righteousness might be reckoned to them also, (12)and father of circ.u.mcision to those who are not only of the circ.u.mcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had while in uncirc.u.mcision.

(13)For not through law was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. (14)For if they that are of law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. (15)For the law works wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there transgression. (16)For this cause it is of faith, that it may be by grace; in order that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (17)(as it is written: A father of many nations have I made thee,) before G.o.d whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls the things that are not as though they were; (18)who against hope believed in hope, that he should become father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: So shall thy seed be. (19)And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body already dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb.

(20)And in respect to the promise of G.o.d he wavered not through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to G.o.d, (21)and being fully persuaded, that what he has promised he is able also to perform.

(22)Wherefore also it was reckoned to him for righteousness.

(23)And it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned to him; (24)but for ours also, to whom it shall be reckoned, if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (25)who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised for our justification.

V.

BEING justified therefore by faith, we have peace with G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ; (2)through whom also we obtained the access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of G.o.d. (3)And not only so, but we rejoice in afflictions also; knowing that affliction works patience; (4)and patience approval; and approval hope; (5)and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of G.o.d has been poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit which was given to us.

(6)For when we were yet without strength, in due season Christ died for the unG.o.dly. (7)For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; though, for the good man, perhaps some one does even dare to die.

(8)But G.o.d commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9)Much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath through him.

(10)For if, being enemies, we were reconciled to G.o.d through the death of his son; much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; (11)and not only so, but also rejoicing in G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

(12)Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death pa.s.sed upon all men, for that all sinned; (13)(for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (14)But yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who sinned not after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a type of him who was to come.