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Romans New Living Translation (NLT)

Chapter 1

Greetings from Paul

1This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his

Good News. 2This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3It is

the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David's royal family line. 4And Jesus

Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of

the Holy Spirit. 5Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what

God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

6You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7dear friends in Rome. God loves you

dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people.

May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gods Good News

8Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God

through Jesus Christ for each one of you. 9God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and

your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by telling others the Good News about his Son.

10One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11For I long

to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12I'm eager

to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a

blessing to the other.

13I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented

until now. I want to work among you and see good results, just as I have done among other Gentiles. 14For I

have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture and to people in other cultures, to the educated and

uneducated alike. 15So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach God's Good News.

16For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who

believes--Jews first and also Gentiles. 17This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is

accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person

has life."

Gods Anger at Sin

18But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from

themselves. 19For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their

hearts. 20From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made.

They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse

whatsoever for not knowing God.

21Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to

think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.

22Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. 23And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living

God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.

24So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile

and degrading things with each other's bodies. 25Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about

God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator

himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.

26That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural

way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27And the men, instead of having normal sexual

relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a

result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.

28When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that

should never be done. 29Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder,

fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud,

and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. 31They

refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving. 32They are fully aware of God's

death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet,

they encourage others to do them, too.

Chapter 2

Gods Judgment of Sin

1You may be saying, "What terrible people you have been talking about!" But you are just as bad, and you

have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for

you do these very same things. 2And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such

things. 3Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do

them, too? 4Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you

see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?

5But no, you won't listen. So you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself because of your stubbornness

in refusing to turn from your sin. For there is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all

the world, 6will judge all people according to what they have done. 7He will give eternal life to those who

persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8But he will

pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and practice

evil deeds. 9There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning--for the Jew first and also

for the Gentile. 10But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good--for the Jew first

and also for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.

12God will punish the Gentiles when they sin, even though they never had God's written law. And he will

punish the Jews when they sin, for they do have the law. 13For it is not merely knowing the law that brings

God's approval. Those who obey the law will be declared right in God's sight. 14Even when Gentiles, who do

not have God's written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know

right from wrong. 15They demonstrate that God's law is written within them, for their own consciences either

accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right. 16The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ,

will judge everyone's secret life. This is my message.

The Jews and the Law

17If you are a Jew, you are relying on God's law for your special relationship with him. You boast that all is

well between yourself and God. 18Yes, you know what he wants; you know right from wrong because you

have been taught his law. 19You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a beacon light for

people who are lost in darkness without God. 20You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children

the ways of God. For you are certain that in God's law you have complete knowledge and truth.

21Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you

steal? 22You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you do it? You condemn idolatry, but do you steal

from pagan temples? 23You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24No

wonder the Scriptures say, "The world blasphemes the name of God because of you."

25The Jewish ceremony of circumcision is worth something only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey

God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26And if the Gentiles obey God's law, won't

God give them all the rights and honors of being his own people? 27In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep

God's law will be much better off than you Jews who are circumcised and know so much about God's law but

don't obey it.

28For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone

through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. 29No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true

circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. Whoever has that

kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people.

Chapter 3

God Remains Faithful

1Then what's the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the Jewish ceremony of circumcision?

2Yes, being a Jew has many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of

God.

3True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they broke their promises, does that mean God will

break his promises? 4Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures

say, "He will be proved right in what he says, and he will win his case in court."

5"But," some say, "our sins serve a good purpose, for people will see God's goodness when he declares us

sinners to be innocent. Isn't it unfair, then, for God to punish us?" (That is actually the way some people

talk.) 6Of course not! If God is not just, how is he qualified to judge the world? 7"But," some might still argue,

"how can God judge and condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him

more glory?" 8If you follow that kind of thinking, however, you might as well say that the more we sin the

better it is! Those who say such things deserve to be condemned, yet some slander me by saying this is what

I preach!

All People Are Sinners

9Well then, are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people,

whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10As the Scriptures say,

"No one is good--

not even one.

No one has real understanding;

no one is seeking God.

All have turned away from God;

all have gone wrong.

No one does good,

not even one."

"Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.

Their speech is filled with lies."

"The poison of a deadly snake drips from their lips."

"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

"They are quick to commit murder.

Wherever they go, destruction and misery follow them.

They do not know what true peace is."

"They have no fear of God to restrain them."

19Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having

excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God. 20For no one can ever be made right in God's

sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we

aren't obeying it.

Christ Took Our Punishment

21But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight--not by obeying the law but by the

way promised in the Scriptures long ago. 22We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to

take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

23For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares

us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25For God

sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with

God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just

when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. 26And he is entirely fair and just in this present

time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.

27Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not

based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. 28So we are made right with God through faith and not by

obeying the law.

29After all, God is not the God of the Jews only, is he? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is.

30There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with

himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean

that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Chapter 4

The Faith of Abraham

1Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning

this question of being saved by faith? 2Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he

would have had something to boast about. But from God's point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride.

3For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous."

4When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. 5But people are declared

righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.

6King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous:

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,

whose sins are put out of sight.

Yes, what joy for those

whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord."

9Now then, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it for Gentiles, too? Well, what about Abraham? We

have been saying he was declared righteous by God because of his faith. 10But how did his faith help him?

Was he declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? The

answer is that God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later!

11The circumcision ceremony was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted

him and declared him to be righteous--even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of

those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are made right with God by faith. 12And Abraham

is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith

Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13It is clear, then, that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not

based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith. 14So if you claim

that God's promise is for those who obey God's law and think they are "good enough" in God's sight, then you

are saying that faith is useless. And in that case, the promise is also meaningless. 15But the law brings

punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

16So that's why faith is the key! God's promise is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to receive it,

whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who

believe. 17That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many

nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who

brings into existence what didn't exist before.

18When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God

had also said, "Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars," even though such a promise seemed

utterly impossible! 19And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a

father at the age of one hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children.

20Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought

glory to God. 21He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. 22And because

of Abraham's faith, God declared him to be righteous.

23Now this wonderful truth--that God declared him to be righteous--wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. 24It

was for us, too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought

Jesus our Lord back from the dead. 25He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from

the dead to make us right with God.

Chapter 5

Faith Brings Joy

1Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what

Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest

privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

3We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help

us learn to endure. 4And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our

confident expectation of salvation. 5And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God

loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7Now, no one is

likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

8But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9And since

we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment.

10For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies,

we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. 11So now we can rejoice in our wonderful

new relationship with God--all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of

God.

Adam and Christ Contrasted

12When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to

everyone, for everyone sinned. 13Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. And though there was

no law to break, since it had not yet been given, 14they all died anyway--even though they did not disobey

an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. What a contrast between Adam and Christ, who was yet to

come! 15And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man,

Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many

through God's bountiful gift. 16And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that

one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even

though we are guilty of many sins. 17The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all

who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this

one man, Jesus Christ.

18Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all

people right in God's sight and gives them life. 19Because one person disobeyed God, many people became

sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight.

20God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more,

God's wonderful kindness became more abundant. 21So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to

death, now God's wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal

life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Chapter 6

Sins Power Is Broken

1Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? 2Of

course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3Or have you forgotten that when

we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4For we died

and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of

the Father, now we also may live new lives.

5Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6Our old sinful selves

were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7For

when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8And since we died with Christ, we know

we will also share his new life. 9We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die

again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory

of God. 11So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ

Jesus.

12Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. 13Do not let any part of your

body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since

you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.

14Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead,

you are free by God's grace.

Freedom to Obey God

15So since God's grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

16Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which

leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. 17Thank God! Once you were slaves

of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. 18Now you are free

from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.

19I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand. Before, you

let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so

that you will become holy.

20In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right. 21And what

was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in

eternal doom. 22But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do

those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift

of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Chapter 7

No Longer Bound to the Law

1Now, dear brothers and sisters--you who are familiar with the law--don't you know that the law applies only

to a person who is still living? 2Let me illustrate. When a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as

long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. 3So while her husband is alive,

she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that

law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.

4So this is the point: The law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died

with Christ on the cross. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result,

you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God. 5When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful

desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in

death. 6But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive

to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the

new way, by the Spirit.

Gods Law Reveals Our Sin

7Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil? Of course not! The law is not sinful, but it was the

law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "Do not

covet." 8But sin took advantage of this law and aroused all kinds of forbidden desires within me! If there were

no law, sin would not have that power.

9I felt fine when I did not understand what the law demanded. But when I learned the truth, I realized I had

broken the law and was a sinner, doomed to die. 10So the good law, which was supposed to show me the

way of life, instead gave me the death penalty. 11Sin took advantage of the law and fooled me; it took the

good law and used it to make me guilty of death. 12But still, the law itself is holy and right and good.

13But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my doom? Of course not! Sin used what was good

to bring about my condemnation. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commandment

for its own evil purposes.

Struggling with Sin

14The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin

as my master. 15I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it.

Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad

conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. 17But I can't help myself, because it is sin inside me that

makes me do these evil things.

18I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I

turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. 19When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try

not to do wrong, I do it anyway. 20But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it;

the sin within me is doing it.

21It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22I love

God's law with all my heart. 23But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This

law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24Oh, what a miserable person I am!

Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a

slave to sin.

Chapter 8

Life in the Spirit

1So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2For the power of the life-giving

Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. 3The law of Moses could

not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own

Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his

Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for

us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

5Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the

Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death.

But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. 7For the sinful nature is always hostile to

God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. 8That's why those who are still under the control of their

sinful nature can never please God.

9But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God

living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians

at all.) 10Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive

because you have been made right with God. 11The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in

you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living

within you.

12So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you

to do. 13For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn

from it and its evil deeds, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

15So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children,

adopted into his family--calling him "Father, dear Father." 16For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts

and tells us that we are God's children. 17And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for

everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his

suffering.

The Future Glory

18Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. 19For all creation is waiting

eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20Against its will, everything on

earth was subjected to God's curse. 21All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in

glorious freedom from death and decay. 22For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of

childbirth right up to the present time. 23And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us

as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for

that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

24Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you

don't need to hope for it. 25But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently

and confidently.

26And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we

should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27And the

Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony

with God's own will. 28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who

love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29For God knew his people in advance, and he

chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.

30And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and

he promised them his glory.

Nothing Can Separate Us from Gods Love

31What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

32Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also

give us everything else?

33Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right

standing with himself. 34Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us

and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.

35Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or

calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? 36(Even the

Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") 37No, despite

all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels

can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell

can't keep God's love away. 39Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all

creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Chapter 9

Gods Selection of Israel

1In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulness--I do not lie--and my conscience and the Holy

Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true. 2My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3for my

people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed--cut off from Christ!--if that

would save them. 4They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's special children. God revealed his glory

to them. He made covenants with them and gave his law to them. They have the privilege of worshiping him

and receiving his wonderful promises. 5Their ancestors were great people of God, and Christ himself was a

Jew as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, who rules over everything and is worthy of

eternal praise! Amen.

6Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to the Jews? No, for not everyone born into a Jewish family is

truly a Jew! 7Just the fact that they are descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's

children. For the Scriptures say, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted," though

Abraham had other children, too. 8This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily

children of God. It is the children of the promise who are considered to be Abraham's children. 9For God had

promised, "Next year I will return, and Sarah will have a son."

10This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he grew up, he married Rebekah, who gave birth to twins. 11But

before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This

message proves that God chooses according to his own plan, 12not according to our good or bad works.) She

was told, "The descendants of your older son will serve the descendants of your younger son." 13In the

words of the Scriptures, "I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau."

14What can we say? Was God being unfair? Of course not! 15For God said to Moses,

"I will show mercy to anyone I choose,

and I will show compassion to anyone I choose."

16So receiving God's promise is not up to us. We can't get it by choosing it or working hard for it. God will

show mercy to anyone he chooses.

17For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, "I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my

power in you, and so that my fame might spread throughout the earth." 18So you see, God shows mercy to

some just because he wants to, and he chooses to make some people refuse to listen.

19Well then, you might say, "Why does God blame people for not listening? Haven't they simply done what he

made them do?"

20No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to criticize God? Should the thing that was created

say to the one who made it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21When a potter makes jars out of clay,

doesn't he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw

garbage into? 22God has every right to exercise his judgment and his power, but he also has the right to be

very patient with those who are the objects of his judgment and are fit only for destruction. 23He also has

the right to pour out the riches of his glory upon those he prepared to be the objects of his mercy-- 24even

upon us, whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.

25Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,

"Those who were not my people,

I will now call my people.

And I will love those

whom I did not love before."

26And,

"Once they were told,

`You are not my people.'

But now he will say,

`You are children of the living God.' "

27Concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,

"Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand on the seashore,

only a small number will be saved.

For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth

quickly and with finality."

29And Isaiah said in another place,

"If the Lord Almighty

had not spared a few of us,

we would have been wiped out

as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah."

Israels Unbelief

30Well then, what shall we say about these things? Just this: The Gentiles have been made right with God by

faith, even though they were not seeking him. 31But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by

keeping the law, never succeeded. 32Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping

the law and being good instead of by depending on faith. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.

33God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,

"I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that causes people to stumble,

and a rock that makes them fall.

But anyone who believes in him

will not be disappointed."

Chapter 10

1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be

saved. 2I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3For they don't understand

God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right

with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way. 4For Christ has accomplished the

whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God.

Salvation Is for Everyone

5For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its

commands. 6But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to

find Christ and bring him down to help you). 7And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to

bring Christ back to life again). 8Salvation that comes from trusting Christ--which is the message we

preach--is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your

lips and in your heart."

9For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the

dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by

confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will

not be disappointed." 12Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They all have the same Lord, who

generously gives his riches to all who ask for them. 13For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be

saved."

14But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if

they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15And how

will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How

beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

16But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who has believed our

message?" 17Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news--the Good News about Christ.

18But what about the Jews? Have they actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

"The message of God's creation has gone out to everyone,

and its words to all the world."

19But did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God had said,

"I will rouse your jealousy by blessing other nations.

I will make you angry by blessing the foolish Gentiles."

20And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God:

"I was found by people

who were not looking for me.

I showed myself to those

who were not asking for me."

21But regarding Israel, God said,

"All day long I opened my arms to them,

but they kept disobeying me and arguing with me."

Chapter 11

Gods Mercy on Israel

1I ask, then, has God rejected his people, the Jews? Of course not! Remember that I myself am a Jew, a

descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

2No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you remember what

the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said,

3"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I alone am left, and now they are trying to

kill me, too."

4And do you remember God's reply? He said, "You are not the only one left. I have seven thousand others

who have never bowed down to Baal!"

5It is the same today, for not all the Jews have turned away from God. A few are being saved as a result of

God's kindness in choosing them. 6And if they are saved by God's kindness, then it is not by their good works.

For in that case, God's wonderful kindness would not be what it really is--free and undeserved.

7So this is the situation: Most of the Jews have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly.

A few have--the ones God has chosen--but the rest were made unresponsive. 8As the Scriptures say,

"God has put them into a deep sleep.

To this very day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,

and closed their ears so they do not hear."

9David spoke of this same thing when he said,

"Let their bountiful table become a snare,

a trap that makes them think all is well.

Let their blessings cause them to stumble.

Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,

and let their backs grow weaker and weaker."

11Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! His purpose was to make his salvation

available to the Gentiles, and then the Jews would be jealous and want it for themselves. 12Now if the

Gentiles were enriched because the Jews turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a

blessing the world will share when the Jews finally accept it.

13I am saying all of this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I lay

great stress on this, 14for I want to find a way to make the Jews want what you Gentiles have, and in that

way I might save some of them. 15For since the Jews' rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest

of the world, how much more wonderful their acceptance will be. It will be life for those who were dead!

16And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their children will also be holy. For if the roots of

the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

17But some of these branches from Abraham's tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you

Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God

has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God's rich nourishment of his special olive tree. 18But you

must be careful not to brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. Remember,

you are just a branch, not the root.

19"Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me." 20Yes, but remember--those

branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn't believe God, and you are there because you do

believe. Don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21For if God did not spare the branches he

put there in the first place, he won't spare you either.

22Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you

continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23And if the Jews turn from

their unbelief, God will graft them back into the tree again. He has the power to do it.

24For if God was willing to take you who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft you into

his own good tree--a very unusual thing to do--he will be far more eager to graft the Jews back into the tree

where they belong.

Gods Mercy Is for Everyone

25I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud and start

bragging. Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles

comes to Christ. 26And so all Israel will be saved. Do you remember what the prophets said about this?

"A Deliverer will come from Jerusalem,

and he will turn Israel from all ungodliness.

And then I will keep my covenant with them

and take away their sins."

28Many of the Jews are now enemies of the Good News. But this has been to your benefit, for God has

given his gifts to you Gentiles. Yet the Jews are still his chosen people because of his promises to Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob. 29For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. 30Once, you Gentiles were rebels

against God, but when the Jews refused his mercy, God was merciful to you instead. 31And now, in the same

way, the Jews are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you. But someday they, too, will share in God's

mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all people in their own disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

33Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it

is for us to understand his decisions and his methods! 34For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who

knows enough to be his counselor? 35And who could ever give him so much that he would have to pay it

back? 36For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him

be glory evermore. Amen.

Chapter 12

A Living Sacrifice to God

1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy

sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

2Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing

the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing

and perfect his will really is.

3As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring

your value by how much faith God has given you. 4Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a

special function, 5so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different

work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the

others.

6God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to

prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. 7If your gift is that of serving

others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. 8If your gift is to encourage others,

do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility

seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the

good. 10Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11Never be lazy in

your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

12Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. 13When God's children

are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they

need lodging, for the night.

14If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.

15When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. 16Live in harmony with

each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it

all!

17Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

18Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

19Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written,

"I will take vengeance;

I will repay those who deserve it,"

says the Lord.

20Instead, do what the Scriptures say:

"If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

If they are thirsty, give them something to drink,

and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."

21Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Chapter 13

Respect for Authority

1Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by

God. 2So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.

3For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do

what they say, and you will get along well. 4The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing

something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by

God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. 5So you must obey the government for two

reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience.

6Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on

doing the work God intended them to do. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import

duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.

Love Fulfills Gods Requirements

8Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your

neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. 9For the commandments against adultery and murder

and stealing and coveting--and any other commandment--are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love

your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements.

11Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming

of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is almost gone; the day of salvation

will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe

yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. 13We should be decent and true in

everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting

drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control

of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

Chapter 14

The Danger of Criticism

1Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

2For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believer who has a sensitive

conscience will eat only vegetables. 3Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on

those who won't. And those who won't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has

accepted them. 4Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell

them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should.

5In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike.

Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter. 6Those who have a special day for

worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him. Those who eat all kinds of food do so to honor the Lord, since

they give thanks to God before eating. And those who won't eat everything also want to please the Lord and

give thanks to God. 7For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. 8While we live, we live to

please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord.

9Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of

those who have died.

10So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each

of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. 11For the Scriptures say,

" `As surely as I live,' says the Lord,

`every knee will bow to me

and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.' "

12Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God. 13So don't condemn each other anymore.

Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path.

14I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to

eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15And if another Christian is

distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for

whom Christ died. 16Then you will not be condemned for doing something you know is all right.

17For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace

and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God. And other people will

approve of you, too. 19So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

20Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, there is nothing wrong with these things in

themselves. But it is wrong to eat anything if it makes another person stumble. 21Don't eat meat or drink

wine or do anything else if it might cause another Christian to stumble. 22You may have the faith to believe

that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those

who do not condemn themselves by doing something they know is all right. 23But if people have doubts about

whether they should eat something, they shouldn't eat it. They would be condemned for not acting in faith

before God. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Chapter 15

Living to Please Others

1We may know that these things make no difference, but we cannot just go ahead and do them to please

ourselves. We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong. 2We

should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. 3For even Christ didn't

please himself. As the Scriptures say, "Those who insult you are also insulting me." 4Such things were written

in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's

promises.

5May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each

other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. 6Then all of you can join together with one

voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified. 8Remember that Christ

came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9And he

came so the Gentiles might also give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant

when he wrote:

"I will praise you among the Gentiles;

I will sing praises to your name."

10And in another place it is written,

"Rejoice, O you Gentiles,

along with his people, the Jews."

11And yet again,

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;

praise him, all you people of the earth."

12And the prophet Isaiah said,

"The heir to David's throne will come,

and he will rule over the Gentiles.

They will place their hopes on him."

13So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him.

May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pauls Reason for Writing

14I am fully convinced, dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so

well that you are able to teach others all about them. 15Even so, I have been bold enough to emphasize

some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder from me. For I am, by God's grace, 16a

special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News and offer you up as a fragrant

sacrifice to God so that you might be pure and pleasing to him by the Holy Spirit. 17So it is right for me to be

enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. 18I dare not boast of anything

else. I have brought the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I lived before them. 19I have won

them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God--all by the power of God's Spirit. In this way, I

have fully presented the Good News of Christ all the way from Jerusalem clear over into Illyricum.

20My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard,

rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. 21I have been following the plan

spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,

"Those who have never been told about him will see,

and those who have never heard of him will understand."

22In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.

Pauls Travel Plans

23But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to

visit you. 24I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed

your fellowship for a little while, you can send me on my way again.

25But before I come, I must go down to Jerusalem to take a gift to the Christians there. 26For you see, the

believers in Greece have eagerly taken up an offering for the Christians in Jerusalem, who are going through

such hard times. 27They were very glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the

Gentiles received the wonderful spiritual blessings of the Good News from the Jewish Christians, they feel the

least they can do in return is help them financially. 28As soon as I have delivered this money and completed

this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. 29And I am sure that when I come,

Christ will give me a great blessing for you.

30Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join me in my struggle by

praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. 31Pray that I will

be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the Christians there will be willing to

accept the donation I am bringing them. 32Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a

happy heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.

33And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.

Chapter 16

Paul Greets His Friends

1Our sister Phoebe, a deacon in the church in Cenchrea, will be coming to see you soon. 2Receive her in the

Lord, as one who is worthy of high honor. Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their

needs, including me.

3Greet Priscilla and Aquila. They have been co-workers in my ministry for Christ Jesus. 4In fact, they risked

their lives for me. I am not the only one who is thankful to them; so are all the Gentile churches. 5Please give

my greetings to the church that meets in their home.

Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first person to become a Christian in the province of Asia.

6Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit. 7Then there are Andronicus and Junia,

my relatives, who were in prison with me. They are respected among the apostles and became Christians

before I did. Please give them my greetings. 8Say hello to Ampliatus, whom I love as one of the Lord's own

children, 9and Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and beloved Stachys.

10Give my greetings to Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my best regards to the members

of the household of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet the Christians in the household of

Narcissus. 12Say hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord's workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so

hard for the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother,

who has been a mother to me.

14And please give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and

sisters who are with them. 15Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and

all the other believers who are with them. 16Greet each other in Christian love. All the churches of Christ

send you their greetings.

Pauls Final Instructions

17And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions

and upset people's faith by teaching things that are contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from

them. 18Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth

talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. 19But everyone knows that you are obedient to the

Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to see clearly what is right and to stay innocent of any wrong.

20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with

you.

21Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives, send you their good wishes.

22I, Tertius, the one who is writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as a Christian brother.

23Gaius says hello to you. I am his guest, and the church meets here in his home. Erastus, the city treasurer,

sends you his greetings, and so does Quartus, a Christian brother.

25God is able to make you strong, just as the Good News says. It is the message about Jesus Christ and his

plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. 26But now as the prophets foretold and

as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they

might believe and obey Christ. 27To God, who alone is wise, be the glory forever through Jesus Christ. Amen