Romans 1 (BHT-ATN)

“To: All You Believers in Rome”

1 From: Paul, a slave of Messiah Jesus, summoned and commissioned as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised ahead of time through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 concerning his Son, who sprang from the seed of David according to his human descent,+ 4 who was appointed “Son of God”+ in power,+ according to the Spirit of holiness,+ at his resurrection from the dead+—Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, 5 through whom we have received the gift of apostleship+ to bring about the obedience of faith for the honor of+ his name, 6 among whom ᵖyou,+ too, have been summoned+ by+ Jesus the Messiah.

7 To: All you believers+ in Rome, loved by God, summoned to belong specially and exclusively to him as holy.+

To all of ᵖyou grace, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah.

“I’m Not Ashamed of the Gospel”

8 Let me begin+ by giving thanks to my God through Jesus the Messiah for all of you, because your faith is being talked about all over the world. 9 Indeed, God is my witness—the God to whom I render priestly service+ in my spirit with regard to the gospel about his Son—that I bring you before him continually, 10 on every occasion in my prayers asking him to please make a way, if it is his will, for me to finally come and visit you.+ 11 Yes, I’m very eager to meet you in person,+ so that I may impart to you, for your strengthening, some gift of the Spirit;+ 12 or, to put it more accurately, so that we may be mutually strengthened and encouraged by one another’s faith, both yours and mine.+

13 Now I want to make sure you know, brothers and sisters, that I’ve had it in my mind many times to visit you (but have been prevented from doing so up to the present time), in the hope that I will see among you, too, just as I have seen among Gentiles in other parts of the world,+ fruitful results.+ 14 It is to both the cultured and the unrefined, to both the wise and the unsophisticated alike,+ that I am bound by duty.+ 15 That is why I am so eager to proclaim the gospel, too, to you who live in Rome. 16 I’m not ashamed of the gospel, you see, because it is the very power of God, saving all who place their faith in him—Jews first, and also Gentiles.+ 17 Indeed, revealed in the gospel+ is the very righteousness of God,+ by faith for faith. Just as it is written: “As for the righteous one, it is by faith that he will have life.”+

“The Wrath of God Is Revealed”

18 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, you see, against every kind of godlessness and wickedness perpetrated by the human race,+ which takes the truth and, in its wickedness, suppresses it. 19 What else are we to conclude, given that knowledge about God is displayed before people’s eyes+ so very clearly and openly? Given the fact that it was God himself who put this knowledge on open display for them?+ 20 God’s+ invisible attributes, you see, being pondered through his works+ since the very creation of the world,+ are readily perceived—both his eternal power and his divine nature—so that people are without excuse. 21 What else are we to conclude, given how, despite people’s+ knowledge about God, they refused to give him the honor and thanks due him as God?+ Instead, they were yielded over to the enslaving and tyrannical+ power of worthless and deluded thoughts,++ and their hearts and minds,+ so stubborn and unable to discern right from wrong,+ were plunged into darkness.++ 22 Making themselves out to be “wise,” they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of God immortal for idols made to look like mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.+ 24 That is why God chose to surrender them over to the enslaving and tyrannical power+ of the filthy and immoral things their hearts yearned to do,+ shameful things+ with each other’s bodies.+ 25 They+ exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever into the ages. Amen.

26 That is the reason why God chose to surrender them over to the enslaving and tyrannical+ power+ of shameful passions. Indeed, the women+ exchanged normal sexual relations for those contrary to the created order,+ 27 and the men, likewise, having forsaken sexual relations with women,+ burned with lust+ for one another, men doing disgraceful things with other men and as a result receiving in their own persons+ the punishment they deserved for their perversion.+ 28 And since they deemed it worthless to recognize God as what he truly is,+ God chose to surrender them over to the enslaving and tyrannical power+ of a mind deemed by him as worthless and corrupt, to do things that should never be done. 29 To this day they are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, always coming up with new ways to do what is evil, disobedient to parents. 31 They can’t discern right from wrong,+ they don’t keep their promises, they have no regard for others, they are devoid of mercy. 32 Although they have accurate knowledge of God’s righteous decree, namely, that those who live their lives in this way deserve death, they not only continue to do such things, but also applaud others who do the same.

+1:3Lit according to the flesh. ME (see BDAG, 915, sv σάρξ 4). Cf 2 Sa 7; 1 Ch 17; Ps 2, 89, 132.+1:4This is a Messianic title, rooted in the Davidic Covenant (cf, eg, 2 Sa 7; 1 Ch 17; Ps 2, 89, 132).+1:4Cf ISV, NET. Cf also Mt 28:18-20. Note the important relationship between Messianic authority and the Spirit in Is 11, given to the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Is 11:1). Cf also Heb 1; Re 3:1, 5:6.+1:4Cf Is 11:1-5, 42:1, 59:21, 61:1; Re 1:4, 3:1, and 5:6.+1:4Cf Ps 16; Ac 13:32-35. Following Cranfield here. See C. E. B. Cranfield, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, International Critical Commentary (London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004), 61–62.+1:5Lit grace and apostleship. ME. Cf NABRE. Cf also Ga 1:1. “Grace and apostleship” is most likely a hendiadys (a unified concept expressed through two coordinated words [ie, they are joined with “and”]; cf ESS [Rm], 23). Cf, eg, 1 Co 1:1; 2 Co 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Ti 1:1; 2 Ti 1:1.+1:5Or for the sake of. ὑπὲρ ( huper) here is a marker of benefaction. Cf. NLT.+1:6Unless otherwise marked (through superscript—ˢyou), all second person pronouns are in the second person plural.+1:6Or called.+1:6Or to belong to. Cf BDAG, 549, sv κλητός; CEV, CJB.+1:7IT. Here, Paul is obviously writing to believers, not to the entire city of Rome (lit all those being in Rome).+1:7Lit summoned to be holy, or called/summoned to be saints. ME/IT (see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” [PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024]). Cf 1 Th 4:7, 5:23; 2 Th 2:13.+1:8Lit first. Cf REB.+1:9The verb used in this verse (λατρεύω [ latreuō]) denotes the performance of priestly duties and sacral rights (see, eg, BDAG, 586, sv). Cf Rm 15:14.+1:10Lit always/on every occasion in my prayers petitioning if somehow already sometime I will be prospered in/by the will of God to come to you. ME (see L-N, 67.40; UBSHS [Rm], 16). Cf NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV. The gap between languages here is obvious.+1:11Lit to see you. ME. In this context, ἰδεῖν ( idein) means to “come or learn to know someone” (see BDAG, 280, sv εἶδον 5), or “to meet socially, conceived of as perceiving them by sight (in one’s presence)” ( BSL, Rm 1:11).+1:11Cf Rm 15:29.+1:12Cf, eg, 2 Co 1:3-11; 1 Th 3:1-10.+1:13Lit among the remaining/other Gentiles. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 17). Cf NEB.+1:13Lit have some fruit among you. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 17). Cf NLT.+1:14Lit both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ME(H) (see UBSHS [Rm], 18). Cf CJB, NLT, TEV.+1:14Lit that I am a debtor. ME. Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:16Lit Greeks. When contrasted with Jews, “Greeks” means Gentiles (see L-N, 11.40). Cf CJB, NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:17Lit in it. The antecedent has been restated in the translation for clarity. Cf NCV, NET, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:17The “righteousness of God” refers to God’s saving or punitive acts and to the personal and covenantal integrity on the basis of which such acts are performed. It has both positive and negative connotations: the salvation and raising up of one in victory means the humbling and punishing of another in defeat (cf., e.g., Judges 2-3). In some contexts, it can refer to a result of such activity, such as in the receipt of a new legal status (e.g., Phil 3:9) graciously granted by God in accordance with his revealed nature (Exod 34). For further discussion, see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” (PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024).+1:17Hab 2:4. Cf NLT, REB.+1:18Lit men. ME (see L-N, 9.1). Cf 2 Pt 3; Jud 14-15.Cf 2 Pt 3; Jud 14-15.+1:19Lit among them. ME (see translation and notes at Jn 12:37, 15:24). Cf REB in ESS (Rm), 71.+1:19Cf Gn 1:14-18; Ps 8,19; Rm 10:18.+1:20Lit his.+1:20Cf Ps 19:1-6, 28:5, 33:5, 46:8, 77:12, 86:5, 92:4, 103:22, 104:24, 104:31, 111:2, 143:5.+1:20Cf Gn 1:14-18; Ps 8:3-4, 19:1-6, 28:5, 46:8, 77:12, 86:5, 92:4, 103:22, 104:24, 104:31, 111:2, 143:5; Rm 10:18; Re 12:1-4.+1:21Lit their.+1:21Cf Ge 11.+1:21IT. The enslaving and oppressive nature of the power is assumed here; cf. Judges 2-3. This and other such statements in this chapter are setting the stage for Paul’s later statements in Romans about freedom from slavery to sin. For further discussion, see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” (PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024).+1:21Lit they were made futile in their thoughts. Translating ματαιόω ( mataioō) here in the same way as I’ve translated its cognate (μάταιος [ mataios]) at 1 Co 3:20; cf also the translation at 1 Co 15:17. “Worthless” is included here to preserve the link in thought with v 28.+1:21Cf Ps 93:11 in the LXX (94:11 in MT); 1 Co 3:20; Eph 4:17.+1:21Lit their hearts. ME(H) (see BDAG, 146, sv ἀσύνετος b.; L-N, 26.3; UBSHS [Rm], 24; notes at Mk 3:5). Cf NCV, NLT, TEV. Cf also TEV at Rm 1:31.+1:21ἀσύνετος ( asunetos) here “does not primarily denote lack of brains but moral obliquity” ( M-M, 87, sv). Cf ANLEX, 79, sv; BDAG, 146, sv; TEV at Rm 1:31; CJB.+1:21Cf REB.+1:21Cf Ps 94:11 (93:11 LXX); Rm 12:2; 1 Co 3:20; Eph 4:17.+1:23Cf Ps 106:20; Jr 2:11-12.+1:24IT. See note at Rom 1:21.+1:24Cf Ac 14:16-17; Rm 11:32; 2 Co 5:10; Ga 3:22.+1:24Or and as a result they did shameful things; or, so that they may do shameful things.+1:24Lit gave them over them in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, the to be shaming/dishonoring their bodies among themselves. ME (see BDAG, 34, sv ἀκαθαρσία 2; Ibid, 915, sv σάρξ 2.c.α.; ESS [Rm], 90; UBSHS [2 Co], 26; translation and notes at Ga 3:22). The mismatch in languages here is obvious. A noun cognate of the infinitive is used in v 26 (“passions of dishonor/shame,” ie, “shameful passions”), and thus “shameful” was used in translation here as well in order to maintain some measure of consistency and flow of thought. However, “shaming the body” sounds awkward in English. Hence the translation here. Cf CJB, NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:25Lit who.+1:26IT. See note at Rom 1:21.+1:26IT. Authority/domination/control/power is activated here by παραδίδωμι [ paradidōmi] (see BSL, Rm 1:24, sv παραδίδωμι; cf BDAG, sv σάρξ 2.c.α.; translation and notes at Ga 3:22). Cf GW in ESS [Rm], 89; OT usages (eg, Jg 2:14, 3:28). I’ve made this explicit in translation, since Paul is setting the stage here for many of the statements he will make later in Romans (see, eg, Rm 6:15-22, 11:32).+1:26Lit their females. Cf NLT, TEV.+1:26Lit exchanged the natural use/function for the use contrary to nature. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 27; translation and notes at 1 Co 11:14).+1:27Lit having left/forsaken the natural use/function of the female. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 27; translation and notes at 1 Co 11:14).+1:27Lit burned with craving/longing. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 25.16). Cf ISV.+1:27Cf. CSB, NASB.+1:27Cf Gn 18-19; 2 Pt 2-3; Jud 7.+1:28Lit did not approve to have God in recognition. ME (see BDAG, 369, sv ἐπίγνωσις; Ibid, 422, sv ἔχω 9.a.; L-N, 31.28).+1:28IT. See notes at Rom 1:21, 26.+1:31See note at 1:21 above. The same adjective is used here. Cf TEV.