I would that ye should know, brethren, how that I have oftentimes purposed to come unto you (but have been let hitherto) to have some fruit among you, as I have among other of the gentiles. For I am debtor both to the greeks, and to them which are no greeks, unto the learned and also unto the unlearned. Likewise, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospell to you of Rome also.
For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ, because it is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe, namely to the jewe, and also to the gentile. For by it the righteousness which cometh of God is opened, from faith to faith. As it is written: The just shall live by faith.
For the wrath of God of heaven appeareth against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness, seeing that that, which may be known of God, is manifest among them. For God did shew it unto them. For his invisible things (that is to say, his eternal power and godhead) are understood and seen, by the works from the creation of the world. So that they are without excuse, in as much as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations. And their foolish hearts were blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they became fools and turned the glory of the immortal God, unto the similitude of the image of mortal man, and of birds, and four footed beasts and serpents.
For this cause God gave them up unto their hearts' lusts, unto uncleanness to defile their own bodies between themselves: which turned his truth unto a lie, and worshipped and served the creatures more then the maker, which is blessed forever Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto shameful lusts. For even their women did change the natural use unto the unnatural. And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and brent in lust one on another among themselves. And man with man wrought filthiness, and received in themselves the reward of their error as it was according.
And as it seemed not good unto them to be aknown of God, even so God delivered them up unto a leawde mind, that they should do those things which were not comely, being full of all unrighteous doing, of fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, evil conditioned whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proude, boasters, bringers up of evil things, disobedient to fathers and mothers, without understanding, covenant breakers, unloving, stubborn and merciless. Which men, though they knew the righteousness of God, how that they which such things commit are worthy of death, yet not only do the same, but also had pleasure in them that did them.
The Second Chapter.
Therefore art thou inexcusable o man whosoever thou be that judgest. For in the same wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou that judgest doest even the same self things. But we are sure that the judgement of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things. Thinkest thou O thou man that judgest them which do such things and yet doest even the very same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God? Other despisest thou the riches of his goodness and patience, and long sufferance? and rememberest not how that the kindness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
But thou after thine hard heart that cannot repent, heapest thee together the treasure of wrath against the day of vengeance, when shall be opened the righteous judgement of God, which will reward every man according to his deeds, that is to say praise, honour, and immortality, to them which continue in good doing, and seek eternal life: But unto them that are rebellious, and disobey the truth, yet follow iniquity, shall come indignation, and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon the soul of every man that doth evil. Of the jewe first And also of the gentile. To every man that doth good shall come praise, honour and peace, to the jewe first, and also to the gentile. For there is no partiality with God: But whosoever hath sinned without law, shall perish without law. And as many as have sinned under the law, shall be judged by the law. For before God they are not righteous which hear the law: but they which do the law shall be justified. For if the gentiles which have no law, do of nature the things contained in the law: then they having no law, are a law unto themselves, which shew the deed of the law written in their hearts: While their conscience beareth witness unto them, and also their thoughts, accusing one another, or excusing at the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, by Iesus Christ according to my Gospell.
Behold, thou art called a Iewe, and trustest in the law and rejoicest in God, and knowest his will, and hast experience of good and bad, in that thou art informed by the law: And believest that thou thyself art a guide unto the blind, a light to them which are in darkness, an informer of them which lack discretion, a teacher of the unlearned, which hast the ensample of that which ought to be known, and of the truth in the law. Now teachest thou another: but teachest not thyself. Thou preachest, a man should not steal: and yet thou stealest. Thou sayest, a man should not commit advoutry and thou breakest wedlock. Thou abhorrest images, and robbest God of his honour. Thou rejoicest in the law, and thorow breaking the law dishonourest God. For the name of God is evil spoken of among the gentiles thorow you as it is written.
Circumcision verily availeth if thou keep the law: But if thou break the law thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the right things contained in the law: shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature (if it keep the law) judge thee, which being under the letter and circumcision, dost transgress the law? For he is not a Iewe, which is a Iewe outward. Neither is that thing circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Iewe which is hid within, and the circumcision of the heart is the true circumcision, which is in the spirit, and not in the letter: whose praise is not of men but of God.