8 I’ll start by thanking my God through Yeshua Messiah for all of you, because the story about your faith has been told in many countries. 9 Yes, the God that I serve in my spirit in the good message about his son, is my witness about how I never stop mentioning all of you 10 in my prayers—asking that somehow God will favour me by allowing me to come to visit you 11 because I’m longing to see you all so that I can share a particular spiritual gift with you so that you’ll all be strengthened. 12 I want us to all be encouraged together by each other’s faith—both me and all of you.

13 [ref]Brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to be unaware that I had planned several times to come to you but I was vetoed until recently so that I’d also have a harvest among you similar to those among the other non-Jews. 14 Whether it’s Greeks or other foreigners, wise people or foolish, I have an obligation 15 and so I’m eager to also preach the good message to all of you there in Rome.

16 [ref]I’m not ashamed to preach the good message because it conveys God’s power to save everyone who believes it—to Jews first and then non-Jews. 17 [ref]It explains how God makes us guiltless—by faith leading to more faith—as it’s been written: Godly people will live by faith.

18 God’s severe anger is being revealed from heaven on the ungodliness and disobedience of people who limit the truth by their disobedience 19 because the fact that there is a God has been shown to them because God himself has revealed it. 20 Ever since the creation of the world, the invisible attributes of God have been clearly seen through his workmanship—both his eternal power and his divinity—so people have no excuse. 21 [ref]Even though they know about God, they didn’t honour or thank him, but their theories made them incompetent and their minds turned from perception towards darkness. 22 They claimed to be scientific but instead they believed foolishness 23 [ref]and so they changed the greatness of the eternal God into the likeness of an image of a mortal human, or birds or animals or reptiles.

24 Therefore God reluctantly let their lusts lead to impurity and the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves 25 as they exchanged God’s truth for a lie and now worshipped and served the creation, instead of the creator who should be praised throughout the ages. May it be so.

26 Because of that, God reluctantly let them exercise their dishonourable passions and their women exchanged natural acts for those against nature, 27 and similarly their men deserted the natural acts towards women and stoked their lusts towards each other—man with man and the shame that it produces, and then received back in themselves the payment which is appropriate for such deception.

28 They didn’t want to know about God and so he reluctantly let their depraved minds be filled with unhelpful thoughts 29 and so they were filled with disobedience, wickedness, greediness, and malice, and full of envy, murder, strife, and deceit, becoming malicious, gossips, 30 slanderers, god-haters, abusers, proud, braggers, inventors of evil, unable to be persuaded by their parents, 31 unintelligent, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. 32 They know that God must exercise justice towards those doing such things, yet they not only practice those things which will lead to a death sentence, but they also approve when others do them.

2 [ref]So there’s no excuse for anyone who judges others because you’re condemning yourselves if you’re doing those same things that you’re judging other for 2 because we know that God’s judgement is based on the factual accounts of what each person is doing. 3 But maybe you’re thinking that you can judge others doing these things and yet somehow escape God’s judgement when you do them yourself? 4 Or maybe you’re taking advantage of God’s kindness and patience without realising that his kindness was meant to lead you towards repentance? 5 But it’s your hardness and failure to repent that causing severe anger to be stored up for the day of God’s judgement when all will be revealed including his severe anger 6 [ref]as each person will be judged by their actions. 7 Those who’ve endured to do good expecting praise and honour and to escape destruction, will be given eternal life, 8 but those who’ve lived out their selfish ambition and refused to believe the truth but let themselves get persuaded by disobedience, will meet with severe anger and rage. 9 For every person doing evil, there will be tribulation and distress—to Jews first and then to non-Jews, 10 but to those who do good, there’ll be praise and honour and peace—to Jews first and then to non-Jews 11 [ref]because God doesn’t indulge in favouritism.

12 Those not under the Jewish laws and yet sinned, they’ll be judged without the law, and those who knew the laws and sinned, will be judged by the law, 13 because listening to the law doesn’t make people right with God, but rather it’s those who obey the law who will be declared guiltless. 14 Whenever other nations don’t have Jewish law but naturally obey what’s in the laws, then even those that don’t have our laws have their own law. 15 They demonstrate that they effectively have God’s law written in their minds and which matches their consciences, and between the two they’ll be either accused or defended 16 on the day when God through Messiah Yeshua, judges people’s private lives as I’ve shared as part of the good message.

17 But if you’re a Jew and trusting in the law and boasting about being chosen by God 18 and knowing his will and knowing what’s important because of familiarity with the law, 19 and if you’ve persuaded yourself that you’re a guide for the blind and a light to those who’re in darkness, 20 and that you’re an instructor to foolish people and a teacher of children, and that you appear to be knowledgeable about the truth of the law, 21 then why do you teach others when you haven’t even taught yourself? You announce that stealing is wrong, but you’re a thief. 22 You teach about not messing with other people’s spouses, yet you do it yourself. You detest idols, but you sneak money out of the temple. 23 You boast about being a student of the law, but you dishonour God by breaking the laws. 24 [ref]Yes, it’s been written: ‘God’s name is slandered among the nations because of you all.’

25 Circumcision is of value if you’re keeping the law, but if you’re breaking the laws, then your circumcision is just the same as if you’re uncircumcised, 26 so if uncircumcised peoples act justly according to the law, even though they’re not physically circumcised, God will consider them as his people. 27 Yes, those peoples who’re not circumcised but keep the law, will be judging you who were given the law in writing and are circumcised, yet break those laws. 28 A true Jew is not just a Jew on the outside, and circumcision isn’t just on the outside of the body, 29 [ref]but is a Jew even in their private life and through circumcision of their heart—by the spirit and not by the letter of the law—earning praise not from people, but from God.

3 So what advantage is it in being a Jew and what’s the benefit of circumcision? 2 A lot in every way. Firstly, Jews were entrusted with the writing down of God’s messages. 3 But what if some didn’t believe? Wouldn’t the unbelief of Jews make faith that comes from God worthless? 4 [ref]Absolutely not. Even if every person was a liar, God is true just like it’s been written about him:

‘You will be proved right about what you say,

and you’ll prevail when you’re judged in court.’

5 But if our sinfulness highlights God’s sinlessness, what can we say about that? So isn’t God, the one inflicting the severe anger, wrong to punish us. (Of course this is reasoning from a human perspective.) 6 Of course not, otherwise how could God be able to judge the world?

7 But if my lie exposes God’s truth and so brings him honour, why would he still judge me as a sinner? 8 Some people falsely accuse us of saying, ‘Let’s do evil things so that good might follow.’ Those who say that deserve their punishment.

9 What then? Do Jews have any advantage? Definitely not, because we showed earlier that both Jews and other nationalities are all under sin’s shadow 10 [ref]just like it was written long ago:

‘No one is guiltless,

not even one person.

11 No one understands,

there’s not even one person trying to find God.

12 Everyone has turned away,

it was a waste of time.

No one is being kind,

Not even one person.’

13 [ref]‘Their words lead to death,

their tongues are deceptive.’

‘Their lips spray out poison.’

14 [ref]‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’

15 [ref]‘They rush off to go and shed blood.

16 They leave trails of destruction and misery—

17 they don’t know the path that leads to peace.’

18 [ref]Revering God isn’t at the front of their minds.

19 We know that whatever the law says, it’s for everyone that the law applies to, so that no one can speak against it, and the whole world will be bound by God’s judgement. 20 [ref]No human will be declared guiltless in front of God by their keeping the law, because it’s the law that teaches what sin is.

21 But now God has revealed a way to remove guilt that’s not by rules—a way that Moses and the prophets wrote about. 22 [ref]We can be made right with God through faith in Yeshua Messiah. This is for everyone who believes because there’s no distinction between Jews and others 23 because everyone has sinned and is unable to be honoured by God. 24 But even without deserving it, we can be declared guiltless by God’s grace by being bought out of slavery to sin by Messiah Yeshua 25 who God placed on the altar as a sacrifice for sin. This happens through faith in his blood which was a sign of his sinlessness.

(God hasn’t yet judged those who sinned in the past 26 because of his patience, waiting for the present time to show his righteousness and to be fair, and to remove the guilt of those with faith in Yeshua.)

27 So where does that leave boasting? It’s not in the picture. How come? Through obeying the Moses’ laws? No, through a law about faith. 28 So now we should expect that a person will be made guiltless by faith—not by obeying Moses’ laws. 29 Or is God only god of the Jews? Isn’t he also the god of others? Yes, he is the God of others. 30 [ref]Indeed, there’s only one God and he declares people guiltless by faith whether they’re circumcised Jews, or non-Jews. 31 So does this ‘faith’ cancel the law? Not on your life. In fact, it upholds the law.

4 So what did our physical ancestor, Abraham discover about all this? 2 Because if Abraham was declared guiltless because of his actions, maybe he could boast? But not towards God 3 [ref]because the scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed in God so he was considered guiltless.’ 4 Now for someone who’s working, their wages are considered ‘owed’, not a gift. 5 However someone who’s not working but having faith that God will declare disobedient people as guiltless, then that person’s faith is considered to make them guiltless. 6 It’s just like what David said about blessing a person who God declares as guiltless despite their actions:

7 [ref]‘Those who’ve been forgiven for their lawlessness will be happy,

and whose sins have been covered over.

8 Anyone who the master declares to have no sin will be happy.’

9 Is this favour shown to circumcised Jews or is it also for non-Jews? Because we were saying that Abraham was considered guiltless because of his faith. 10 So how did that happen? Because he was circumcised or when he was still uncircumcised? No, it was before he was circumcised. 11 [ref]He received circumcision as a sign—proof of the righteousness that he gained from his faith while he was still uncircumcised—becoming the father of everyone who’s uncircumcised but believes so that they’ll be declared guiltless. 12 So our ancestor Abraham is the ancestor of us as a circumcised people, not just because we’re circumcised, but also as we follow his steps of faith while uncircumcised.

13 [ref]It wasn’t because of his obeying the law that it was promised that Abraham or his descendants would inherit the world, but because of his righteousness that came from his faith, 14 [ref]because if the ones obeying the law can become heirs, then faith would be declared as useless and the promise would be invalidated, 15 because the law produces severe anger, and where there’s no law, then there’s nothing to break.

16 [ref]Because of this, the promise to the descendants is by faith—given not only to the ‘descendants of the law’ but also to the ‘descendants of Abraham’s faith’. This promise is given by grace and has been confirmed, 17 [ref]as it’s been written, ‘I’ve appointed you as a father of many nations.’ He was appointed in front of the God he believed in—the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates by speaking things into being that didn’t previously exist. 18 [ref]Without any other evidence, he believed in hope itself and thus he became the father of many nations according to what he had been told: ‘Your descendants will be like the sand and the stars.’ 19 [ref]He didn’t falter in his faith, seeing that his body was already infertile being about a hundred years old and with Sarah being past menopause, 20 but he didn’t show unbelief and doubt God’s promise when it was given, but rather he was strengthened in his faith and praised God, 21 being quite certain that what God promises, he’s also able to do. 22 Therefore his faith was credited to him and he was declared guiltless. 23 However that statement wasn’t written about Abraham only, 24 but for us also who are also going to receive the same credit because of our faith in the God who brought our master Yeshua back to life from the dead 25 [ref]after he was handed over to the executioners because of our sins, and he was brought back to life to make us guiltless.

5 So now because we’ve been declared guiltless by our faith, we can have peace with God through our master Yeshua Messiah. 2 Through him we also have access by faith into this grace that we depend on and we are boasting in hope of God’s glory. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? 3 Not only that, but we are also boasting even though we’re still being persecuted, because we know that difficulties produce endurance 4 and endurance shows who we really are, and knowing that produces hope, 5 and we’re not disgraced by that hope because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the holy spirit who has been given to us.

6 While we were still weak and at the right time for ungodly people, the messiah died for us. 7 Now it’s rare for someone to offer to die to save a guiltless person, although perhaps someone might offer for the greater good, 8 but God demonstrated his love towards us in that the messiah died for us while we were still sinners!

9 So now that we’ve been declared guiltless because of his blood, we’ll certainly be spared from his severe anger, 10 because if we were reconciled to God through the death of his son while we were still enemies, now that we’ve been reconciled how much more certain that we’ll be saved by Yeshua’s life! 11 And not only that, because of what our master Yeshua Messiah has done so that we might receive that reconciliation, we can now boast in God about it.

12 [ref]Sin came into the world through one man, and death came as a result of sin, so death spread to everyone because everyone has disobeyed God. 13 Sin was in the world before Moses’ law, but it wasn’t being charged against them, because the law had not yet been given. 14 But death reigned from the time of Adam until the time of Moses, even over those who didn’t sin in the way that Adam did—Adam[fn] who was a pattern of the messiah who would eventually come.

15 But the gift is not like the disobedience, because if the disobedience of one man introduced death for many, God’s grace and the gift that comes from that grace is much more. That gift is the one man Yeshua Messiah who has been given to very many people. 16 It only took one man who disobeyed to lead to condemnation, and one act of disobedience to lead to judgement, but the gift is to bring guiltlessness despite many acts of disobedience. 17 Because if the disobedience of one man led to death reigning over us through that one man, how much more will the ones receiving an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness be reigning in life through the one man Yeshua Messiah.

18 So just as one act of disobedience led all people to condemnation, so also one action brought all people to guiltlessness and hence to life. 19 The disobedience of one man caused many people to be made sinners, so also the obedience of one man caused many people to be made guiltless.

20 The law was inserted so that acts of disobedience would be plentiful, but where sin has been plentiful, grace has overflowed 21 so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace now reigns through righteousness, leading to eternal life through our master Yeshua Messiah.

6 So should we continuing disobeying so that more of God’s grace will be displayed? 2 Not on your life! We who died to sin, how could we go back to living in it? 3 Or didn’t you all realise that when we were immersed into Messiah Yeshua, we were immersed into his death? 4 [ref]Therefore we were buried with him through the immersion into death, so that just as Messiah was brought back to life by the father’s power, so too we can walk in newness of life. 5 If we have joined together in the likeness of his death, then we will also be joined in the resurrection, 6 knowing that the old personality was executed with him so that sin would have no more power over our bodies and hence we no longer need to serve it 7 because the personality that’s died has been declared free from sin. 8 So if we died with Messiah, we also believe that we will live with him, 9 knowing that now that Messiah has come back to life from the dead, he won’t die again—death has no more power over him. 10 When he died, he died to sin once and for all, but now that he lives, he lives to please God. 11 So too, you should be considering yourselves dead to sin, and at the same time, alive to God in Messiah Yeshua.

12 So therefore don’t let sin be reigning in your mortal bodies in such a way that you’re submitting to its lusts. 13 Don’t be using any parts of your bodies to sin as if they’re weapons of disobedience, but instead present yourselves to God as if you came back to life from the dead, and use all your body parts for God as if they’re weapons of righteousness 14 so that sin won’t be taking control of you—because you’re not under law but under grace.

15 What could that mean? That we can sin freely because we’re not under law but under grace? Not on your life! 16 Don’t you know who you are presenting yourselves to as obedient slaves? Yes, whoever you all submit to, you are their slave—either a slave of sin that leads to death, or a slave of obedience that leads to righteousness. 17 But be thankful to God that although you were all slaves to sin, your hearts submitted to what was taught, 18 and so having been freed from sin, you all were enslaved to righteousness. 19 I’m speaking from a human perspective because of your human weakness. Just as you all previously used parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to down to further lawlessness, so now present all your body parts as slaves to righteousness leading up to holiness.

20 When you were all slaves of sin, you were immune to righteousness 21 and so what was the fruit you had back then which you are now ashamed of? The end result of that lifestyle is death. 22 But now that you’re all free from the bondage of sin and enslaved to God instead, you bear the fruit of holiness and the end result of that is living forever, 23 because the wages of sin is death, but God gives eternal life as a gift through our master Yeshua Messiah.

7 Brothers and sisters, you know the Law well that I’m talking about, so surely you realise that the law acts as a person’s master for as long as they live? 2 For example, a woman who is married to her husband is bound by the law, but if her husband dies then she’s released from the law concerning her husband. 3 So while her husband was still living, he’d call her an adulteress if she slept with another man, but after her husband is deceased, she’s free from the law and doesn’t become an adulteress if she marries another man. 4 So my brothers and sisters, you also were made dead to the law through the body of the messiah so that you could join to another—to the one who came back to life from the dead—so that we may bear fruit for God. 5 When we were still focused on the physical, the passions aroused by sinning against the law were working in our body parts so that the fruit would be death, 6 but now that we’re released from the law which held us—released by dying to it—we can serve in new ways guided by the spirit instead of by the letter of the law.

7 [ref]So what will we say then? Say that the law is sin? Not on your life! I wouldn’t have known what sin was if it wasn’t for the Law. For example, I wouldn’t have known what coveting was if the Law hadn’t told me not to covet. 8 But sin took the opportunity from that commandment to produce covetousness in me, because sin would be dead apart from the Law. 9 For a time I was living without the Law, but once the commandment came then sin revived 10 and I died, and I discovered that the commandment which should lead to life, led to death. 11 [ref]Sin deceived me when the commandment gave it an opportunity, and in doing so, it killed me.

12 Now the Law is indeed holy and the commandment is holy and righteous and good, 13 so did what is good turn into death? Not on your life! Rather it was the good Law that allowed me to see sin as sin and a producer of death

14 We know that God’s law is spiritual, but I am physical, having been born[fn] into sin. 15 [ref]I don’t know what’s going on because I do what I don’t want to do and I end up doing what I hate. 16 So if I do something that I didn’t want to do, then I’m agreeing with the Law that it’s good, 17 and it’s no longer me that’s doing it, but the sin that’s in me. 18 I’m aware that good isn’t in my physical body because I want to do good but I can’t. 19 I don’t do the good that I want to do, but rather I do the evil that I don’t want to do, 20 so if I’m doing what I don’t want to do, then it’s not me doing it, but it’s the sin in me that does it.

21 As a result, I’ve discovered the principle that when I want to do good, actually there’s evil in me, 22 because I’m happily accepting God’s Law on the inside, 23 but I’m observing another law inside my body parts, fighting against my mind and keeping me imprisoned in the law of sin which is in my body parts. 24 I’m a miserable person. Who will rescue me from this body that’s full of death? 25 Thankfully it’s God through our master Yeshua Messiah. So I end up with my mind wanting to serve God’s Law, but on the other hand, my body wants to serve the law of sin.

8 So now those who are in Messiah Yeshua cannot be condemned 2 because the law of the spirit of life in him freed you from the law of sin and death. 3 The law was powerless in that it was faltering through our bodies. God sent his son in a body just like our sinful bodies, and concerning sin, he condemned sin itself in the flesh 4 so that for those of us who were no longer living according to the flesh but according to the spirit, then the just act of the law would be fulfilled in us. 5 People who live according to their physical desires, think about physical things, but those who live according to the spirit, think about spiritual things. 6 The worldly mindset leads to death, but the spiritual mindset leads to life and peace. 7 The worldly mindset is making God your enemy because it’s not being subjected to God’s law, in fact it’s not even able to, 8 and those who are worldly aren’t able to bring pleasure to God.

9 And all of you aren’t worldly, but in the spirit, if indeed God’s spirit is living in you, but anyone who doesn’t have the spirit of Messiah, doesn’t belong to him. 10 But if Messiah is in you, while your body is dead because of sin, your spirit has life because it’s been declared guiltless. 11 [ref]Yes, if the spirit of the one who brought Yeshua back to life is living in you, then the one who brought Messiah Yeshua back to life will also give life to your mortal bodies by means of his spirit living inside you all.

12 So then brothers and sisters, we don’t owe anything to our sinful natures, nor do we need worldly living. 13 If you all live according to the sinful nature, you’ll die, but if you put bodily practices to death with the help of the spirit, you’ll live, 14 because all those who’re led by God’s spirit become God’s children. 15 [ref]You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to fear again, but rather it was the spirit of adoption as children that you all received, and with his help we call out, ‘Father, father.’ 16 God’s spirit himself agrees together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if we’re his children, then we’re also heirs so we’ll receive an inheritance from God. That makes us fellow-heirs along with Messiah—if we’re suffering with him then we’ll also be honoured along with him.

18 I’m sure that any sufferings we experience in the present age are nothing in comparison with the coming splendour that’s going to be revealed to us 19 because all of creation is eagerly expecting and waiting for God’s children to be revealed. 20 [ref]Yes, all of creation has been subjected to lack of purpose, not willingly but because it was decided by the one who subjected it, but it remains with the hope 21 that it too will be freed from the slavery of corruption and then released into the freedom of the splendour of God’s children, 22 because we’re aware that all of creation is groaning and suffering[fn] along with us right through to the present time. 23 [ref]And not only that, but we ourselves who have the initial tastes of the spirit life, we also are groaning and like children waiting for our bodies to be set free from slavery 24 because we were saved having hope, but if you can see it then it’s not hope, because you don’t need to hope for something that you can already see. 25 So we hope for what we can’t yet see and so we have to patiently keep waiting.

26 Similarly the spirit also helps us with our weaknesses, because we don’t even know what to pray for, but the spirit intercedes with groanings that we can’t put into words. 27 The one who searches our hearts knows the mindset of the spirit because the spirit intercedes for the believers as God desires.

28 We know that God makes all things work together for good for those who love him—those who are being called according to his purpose. 29 Because those he foreknew, he also predetermined to be similar to his son’s image, so that his son would become the eldest of many siblings. 30 The ones he’d predetermined he also called, and the ones he’d called, he also declared guiltless, and the ones declared guiltless, he also honoured in heaven.

31 So then, what can we say about all this? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 If he didn’t spare his own son but gave him to be executed for us, won’t the two of them also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring charges against those chosen by God? God is the one declaring us guiltless. 34 So who’s the one condemning us? Messiah Yeshua (the one who died but came back to life and who’s now sitting beside God) is also pleading for us. 35 Who will separate us from Messiah’s love? Tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or poverty or danger or execution? 36 [ref]As it’s been written:

‘We are being put to death all day

on your account.

We were counted like sheep ready to be slaughtered.’

37 But in all that, we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us. 38 Yes, I’ve been persuaded that neither death or life, angels or rulers, present or future events, powers, 39 height or depth, or anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from God’s love that’s revealed in our master Messiah Yeshua.

9 I’m not lying—I’m speaking truthfully in Messiah, and both my conscience and the holy spirit agree 2 that my sorrow is extensive and the sorrow in my heart just won’t stop 3 because I myself was hoping to be a sacrifice from the messiah for my brothers and sisters, my fellow-citizens in this world. 4 [ref]They’re the descendants of Israel who’ve been adopted as God’s children and God revealed his power and the agreements and the Law and the temple worship and the promises. 5 The patriarchs are Jewish and the messiah who is over everything came from them in a body. May God be blessed throughout the ages. May it be so.

6 But it’s not that God’s message has fallen. Not all of Israel’s descendants are pro-Israel, 7 [ref]nor are all of Abraham’s descendants his children, but, ‘It’s through Isaak that your descendants will be counted.’ 8 That isn’t talking about worldly children—these are God’s children, but the children of the promise are being counted as descendants. 9 [ref]Because this is the message of the promise: ‘I will be coming and Sarah will have a son.’

10 And not only that, but also Rebekah from one pregnancy delivered twins, one being our ancestor Isaac. 11 [ref]Before they were born, and so before they could do anything good or bad, in order that God’s choice purpose would stand 12 (not by actions but by God’s calling), she was told, ‘The older child will serve the younger one.’ 13 [ref]As it was written: ‘I loved Yacob but I hated Esau.’

14 So what should we say then? Is God not an impartial judge, i.e., unfair? May it never be, 15 [ref]because he said to Moses: ‘I will be merciful to whoever I want, and I will have pity on anyone I want.’ 16 In other words, it doesn’t depend on the willingness or activities of the person, but on God’s mercy. 17 [ref]Because in the scriptures, God says to the king of Egypt: ‘I chose you as king so that I can demonstrate my power through you, and so that my name will be talked about all over the world.’ 18 In other words, God will be merciful to whoever he wants, but he hardens whoever he wants.

19 So now you’ll ask me: Then how can God blame us, because how could anyone resist whatever he wants to do? 20 [ref]Oh human, it is you who’s talking back to God? Can the creature that was made talk back to the maker and ask: ‘Why did you make me like this?’ 21 Doesn’t the potter have the right to split the lump of clay and make a beautiful bowl out of half and a chamber pot out of the other half?

22 What if God wanted to display his severe anger and to demonstrate his power, but then showed great patience to the objects of his severe anger that he’d prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did that in order to make the riches of his greatness known to the objects of his mercy that he’d prepared for honour? 24 Yes, he even called us, not only from among the Jews but also from non-Jews. 25 The prophet Hosea even wrote:[ref]

“I’ll be calling those ‘my people’

who’re not my people,

and I’ll be calling as ‘my love’

the woman who was never loved.

26 [ref]In the place where they said,

‘You’re not my people’

that’s where they’ll be called ‘children of the living God’.”

27 [ref]The prophet Isayah called out about Israel: ‘Even though the Israeli’s are as numerous as grains of sand, only the minority of them will be saved 28 because the master will be abbreviating and terminating his message on the earth.’ 29 [ref]As Isayah had previously written: ‘If the master of armies hadn’t left us some descendants, we would have become like the peoples of Sodom and Gomorrah.’

30 So then, what should we say? That non-Jews who weren’t godly, reached out by faith to achieve righteousness, 31 but Jews who chased after righteousness by obeying The Law, didn’t achieve it? 32 How come? Because they tried to reach it by works and not by faith. They tripped over the stumbling stone, 33 [ref]as it’s written:

‘Look, I’m laying down a stumbling stone in Zion,

a rock that causes offence.

Anyone who believes in him,

won’t be disgraced.’

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart would be very pleased indeed if Israelis would get saved, and that’s what I request from God. 2 I keep telling them that they’re very zealous for God, yet they lack know-how. 3 Because they don’t know what God’s righteousness is and they try to establish their own system, they weren’t covered by his righteousness. 4 The fulfilment of The Law is Messiah, leading to righteousness for everyone who believes.

5 [ref]Moses wrote this about the righteousness of The Law: ‘The person who practices it, will live by it.’ 6 [ref]But the righteousness based on faith says: ‘Don’t speculate in your mind about who will go up to heaven in order to bring Messiah down, 7 and don’t ask about who will be going down to the pit in order to bring Messiah up.’ 8 So what does the righteousness based on faith say? It says: ‘The message is close to you—it’s in your mouth and heart.’ That’s the message of faith that we’ve been preaching: 9 That if you speak out and confess that Yeshua is master and you believe in your heart that God brought him back to life from the dead, you will be saved, 10 because it’s the belief in your mind that leads to righteousness and it’s the confession from your mouth that leads to salvation. 11 [ref]As the scriptures say: ‘Anyone who believes in him won’t end up disgraced.’ 12 There’s no distinction between Jew and non-Jew, because we all have the same master who gives generously to everyone who makes an appeal to him, 13 [ref]because everyone who wishfully appeals to the authority of the master will be saved.

14 How, then, could they appeal to a God that they don’t even believe in? And how could they believe if they haven’t even heard about him? Then how would they hear if no one was preaching to them? 15 [ref]And who would be there preaching if no one was sent out just like it’s been written: ‘It’s so wonderful that these people came and preached the good message.’? 16 But not everyone accepted the good message, because just like the prophet Isayah wrote:[ref] ‘Master, who believed our report?’ 17 And so faith comes by hearing—hearing Messiah’s message.

18 But then I’d ask: Maybe they haven’t heard it? Indeed they have. It’s written:[ref]

‘Their voice went out into all the earth,

and their messages went across all the world.’

19 But again I’d ask: Didn’t the Israeli’s know? Well, firstly Moses wrote:[ref]

‘I’ll be making you all jealous

using people who’re not even a nation.

Then using a foolish nation,

I’ll be making you all angry.’

20 And Isayah dared to write:[ref]

‘The ones who weren’t looking for me found me.

I showed myself to the ones not asking about me.’

21 But to Israel he wrote:[ref] ‘All day I stretched out my hands to a people who won’t believe and who speak against me.’

11 Therefore I’m asking: Did God push his chosen people away? May it never be, because I also am an Israeli, a descendant of Abraham in the tribe of Benyamin.[ref] 2 No, God didn’t push away his people that he knew before he chose them. Or don’t you know what Eliyah wrote when he pleaded with God to deal with Israel:[ref] 3 ‘Master, they killed your prophets and tore down your altars, and I was left alone and now they want to kill me!’ 4 But what was the revelation that was given to him:[ref] ‘I’ve kept aside seven thousand others who haven’t worshipped Baal.’ 5 So too also at the present time, there’s a small proportion who’ve been chosen by God’s grace. 6 So if it’s by grace, then it’s no longer by their actions, otherwise the grace wouldn’t be grace at all.

7 What’s the conclusion then? The Israelis didn’t find what they were looking for. Only the chosen ones reaching it and the rest were hardened 8 just like is was written:[ref]

‘God gave them a lethargic spirit:

Eyes which can’t see and ears which can’t hear,

even to this very day.’

9 And as David wrote:[ref]

‘Let their table become a trap for them—

a temptation that will pay them back.

10 Let their eyes be darkened so they can’t see,

and their backs be bent through all time.’

11 So now I ask: didn’t they stumble so that they would fall? May it never be. But because of their disobedience, salvation came to non-Jews in order to make Jews envious. 12 But if their disobedience led to gain for the rest of the world and if their loss led to gain for the non-Jews, how much more their fullness?

13 But now I am speaking to you all non-Jews. Since I am indeed a missionary to the non-Jews, I take pride in my ministry, 14 hoping that somehow I might make my fellow Jews envious and might save some of them. 15 Because if their rejection of the messiah meant that the rest of the world would be reconciled, what else could their acceptance bring other than coming back to life from the dead.

16 If the first portion of dough is holy, so is the lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you non-Jews who are like a wild, olive tree were grafted into them and so you too were able to share in the growth of the olive tree that was sourced in the root, 18 then don’t brag that you’re better than the branches. If you must boast, remember that you’re not supporting the root, but the root is supporting you.

19 Ah, but then you’ll say, ‘Branches were broken off so that we could be grafted in.’ 20 Well you’re right. They were broken off because of their unbelief, and it’s true that you’re there because of your faith. But don’t get a big head—maintain your reverence for God, 21 because if he didn’t spare the natural branches when they showed unbelief, then he won’t spare you either. 22 So you can both God’s kindness and his severity: those who disobeyed experienced his severity but you experienced his kindness. Otherwise you also will be pruned off, 23 and also if they turn from their unbelief, they’ll be grafted back in, because God has the power to do that. 24 If were cut off an olive tree that’s wild by nature, and contrary to normal practice were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more would those who naturally belong be grafted into their own olive tree!

25 Brothers and sisters, I don’t want you all be to ignorant of this mystery so that you won’t end up becoming proud: There’s a partial hardening coming to the Jews until the fullness of the non-Jews comes to pass 26 and then all the Jews will be saved as it’s been written:[ref]

‘The rescuer will be coming out of Zion.

He will drive ungodliness away from Yacob.

27 And this is my agreement with them,[ref]

whenever I might take away their sins.’

28 Concerning the good message, the Jews are enemies for your sake, but concerning being chosen, they are loved because of their ancestors, 29 because God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 You non-Jews didn’t originally believe in God, but now you’ve all been shown mercy because of the disbelief of these Jews. 31 Those Jews disbelieved so that as you receive mercy, they may also now be shown mercy, 32 because God imprisoned them all in disbelief so that he might show mercy to everyone.

33 [ref]Yes, The God’s wisdom and knowledge are both so richly deep. His judgements can’t be understood and his paths can’t be tracked, 34 because:[ref]

‘Who can know the master’s mind

or become his counsellor?’

35 [ref]‘Who has been able to give him something,

so that God now needs to repay them?’

36 [ref]Yes, because everything comes from God, and everything comes through him and to him. May he be honoured throughout the ages. May it be so.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, with compassion from God I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—your logical and sacred service. 2 Don’t conform to the norms of this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, then you’ll all be able to accept and approve God’s will that’s good, pleasing, and perfect.

3 Because of the grace which has been given to me, I am saying that every one of you should not think of yourself to be more esteemed than what’s appropriate, but rather to be sensible about what you think of yourselves according to how much faith God has allotted to each of you. 4 [ref]Just like one body has many components and each individual component works differently, 5 so too all of us are part of one body in Messiah and we’re all parts of each other. 6 [ref]We have gifts according to the special grace that was given to us: maybe prophecy then do it according to the proportion of your faith, 7 or service then serve, or teaching then teach, 8 or encouraging then encourage, or sharing then be generous, or leading then do it earnestly, or showing mercy then do it cheerfully.

9 Let your love be without hypocrisy, deploring evil but being united in doing good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, preferring to honour one another above yourselves. 11 Be diligent rather than reluctant with a spirit that’s zealous to serve the master. 12 Be cheerful about your hope, enduring persecution and consistently praying. 13 Contribute to the needs of the believers and practice hospitality.

14 [ref]Bless anyone who persecutes you—be a blesser and not a curser. 15 Be cheerful along with others who’re happy, but weep along with those who’re weeping. 16 [ref]Treat others all the same—not treating some as higher and being condescending to those who’re poorer. Don’t act shrewdly.

17 Don’t return evil to anyone, but do good to everyone. 18 If it’s possible for you all, be at peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, don’t take revenge on others, but leave it to God’s severe anger, because it’s written:[ref] ‘The master says, Vengeance belongs to me—I’ll be the one to repay.’ 20 [ref]But if your enemies are hungry, then feed them, and if they’re thirsty, then give them a drink, because you’ll be leaving them to their own shame and judgement. 21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with goodness.

13 Everyone should be subject to the authorities who’re over them because there’s no authority except through God and they’re appointed by God. 2 So anyone opposing authority has rebelled against what God has instituted, and everyone who rebels is bringing judgement on themselves 3 because rulers don’t evoke fear in those doing good, just those doing evil. Oh, so you don’t want to be afraid of the authorities, then do good and you’ll receive praise from them instead 4 because they’re God’s servants for your good. But if you’re doing evil, then you should rightly be afraid because the authorities aren’t armed without reason—they’re God’s servants to dispense severe anger to those doing evil. 5 Hence it’s necessary to be subject to them, not only for fear of their severe anger, but also because of your consciences.

6 [ref]That’s also why you all should pay the taxes that you owe, because the authorities are God’s servants and work hard to do that. 7 So fulfill all of your obligations: if it’s tax then pay it, or revenue then give it, or if it’s respect then show it, or giving honour then do it.

8 Don’t be in debt to anyone other than the debt of love to each other, because those who love one another have fulfilled God’s law 9 which is:[ref] Don’t commit adultery. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t covet what others have. All of those plus any other commandments can be summarised as: Love your neighbour like you love yourself. 10 If you love those near to you, you won’t do evil to them, thus love fulfills God’s law.

11 And since you all understand the times, it’s now time to get up from your sleep because the time of our salvation is nearer now than it was when we first believed. 12 The night has progressed and the day is getting closer, so turn away from the actions done in the darkness and dress in the weapons of the light. 13 In the daytime we have to walk decently—not carousing on the street and being drunk, and not having sex and acting lustfully, not causing strife and acting jealously. 14 Instead, cover yourselves with the master Yeshua Messiah, and don’t be giving in to physical lusts and desires.

14 [ref]Accept others who are faltering in their faith without highlighting their wrong ideas. 2 Some people think it’s ok to eat anything, while others who’re faltering will only eat vegetables. 3 The one who eats anything shouldn’t despise the other, and the one who doesn’t eat meat shouldn’t condemn the other, because both are accepted by God. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s house servants? Their own master will judge if they stand or fall, and they’ll stand because the master is able to help them.

5 Similarly, some people consider one day to be more important than some other day, yet others consider all the days to be alike. Each one of them should be fully convinced in their own minds. 6 Anyone who considers a certain day to be special is thinking about the master. Likewise, anyone who’s eating meat is eating to serve the master and gives thanks to God. The person who doesn’t eat meat is declining to serve the master and gives thanks to God. 7 Yes, we don’t live for ourselves and we don’t die for ourselves. 8 If we keep living then we’re living for the master, and if we die, then we’re dying for the master, so whether we live or die we belong to the master 9 because Messiah died and came back to life in order to be master of both the dead and the living. 10 [ref]So why are you judging fellow believers and why are you also scorning them, because all of us will end up standing in God’s court of judgement. 11 As it’s been written:[ref]

“The master is telling me, ‘I am alive

and every person will bow to me,

and each one will confess to God.’ ”

12 So consequently, each of us will need to give an account of ourselves to God.

13 So we shouldn’t be judging each other, but rather be judging ourselves that we’re not causing another believer to stumble or fall into temptation. 14 I know (and I’m totally persuaded) that in master Yeshua there’s no object that’s ‘immoral’[fn] in itself, but it only becomes ‘immoral’ to the person who evaluates it as such. 15 If a fellow believer is upset because of the food you eat, then you’re no longer acting in love. Don’t destroy the faith of someone that Messiah died for, just for the sake of food. 16 Don’t let anyone slander the good that you do. 17 God’s kingdom doesn’t consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and happiness in the holy spirit. 18 so anyone serving the messiah in those ways pleases God and is approved by the people.

19 So then, we should be pursuing actions that lead to peace and things that build each other up—20 don’t be tearing down God’s work just on account of food. Indeed, all foods are ‘clean’[fn] but it’s wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It’s good to avoid eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything else that might cause your fellow believer to stumble or be offended or fall. 22 That way you keep the faith that you have privately before God. God will bless anyone who doesn’t bring guilt on themselves by doing something that they’ve determined to be right. 23 But anyone who doubts that it’s ok, if they eat it then they’ve condemned themselves because they’re not acting in faith, and everything that’s not done in faith is sin.

15 We who are powerful should be bearing the weaknesses of the powerless rather than just seeking to bring pleasure to ourselves. 2 Each one of us should be bringing pleasure to those near us—displaying goodness and building them up, 3 [ref]because even the messiah didn’t bring pleasure to himself, but, as it was written: ‘Those who were insulting you, their insults landed on me.’ 4 Because everything that was written in the past, was written for teaching us so that through endurance and through the encouragement from the scriptures, we would have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement help you all to think likewise, just like Yeshua Messiah did, 6 so that you’ll all be united in your purpose and your teaching, thus honouring the God and father of our master, Yeshua Messiah.

7 So then be accepting each other just as the messiah accepted all of you so that God will be honoured. 8 I can tell you that Messiah became a servant of the circumcised Jews so that God’s truth will be seen by its confirming of the promises that were made to our ancestors, 9 [ref]and also a servant for the non-Jews so that they’ll honour God for his mercy, as it was written:

‘Because of this I’ll be telling the pagans about you,

and I’ll be singing praises to your name.’

10 [ref]In a different place it’s written:

‘You non-Jews, be happy along with his people.’

11 [ref]And again:

‘Praise the master you non-Jews,

and let all the peoples of the world praise him.’

12 Also Isayah wrote:[ref]

‘There will be a descendant of Jesse,

and the one coming to rule over non-Jews—

the non-Jews will put their hope in him.’

13 May the God of hope that you believe in fill you all with happiness and peace so that your hope in the power of the holy spirit will be grow to be plentiful.

14 My brothers and sisters, I’ve also been persuaded about you myself, that having been filled with knowledge, you’re also full of goodness and able to rebuke each other. 15 But I wrote to you more boldly, partly to remind you all because of the grace given to me by God 16 so that I’d be a minister to the non-Jews for Messiah Yeshua, sharing God’s good message so that the offering of the non-Jews would be acceptable to him, having been purified by the holy spirit. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? 17 Therefore I’m boasting in Messiah Yeshua about things to do with God. 18 I wouldn’t dare to speak about anything that wasn’t done through me by Messiah, that led to the obedience of non-Jews by my message and by my working 19 powerful miracles and amazing things in the power of God’s spirit, so that from Yerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I’ve obeyed the Messiah’s good message. 20 I was enthusiastic to be preaching the good message wherever Messiah wasn’t known about so that I wouldn’t be building on other’s foundations, 21 [ref]but as it has been written:

‘Anyone who hasn’t been told about him,

they will be seeing,

and anyone who hasn’t heard about him,

they will be understanding.’

22 [ref]That’s also why I wasn’t able to come to see you all, 23 but now I no longer have a role in those regions. I’ve been wanting to come there for many years now—24 whenever I’m able to go to Spain next I’m hoping to see you on my way, and then after spending time with you all, you’ll be able to send me on to my destination. 25 [ref]But for now, I’m going to Yerusalem to serve the believers there. 26 The believers in Macedonia and Achaia took pleasure in making a contribution for the poor people among the believers there in Yerusalem. 27 [ref]They took pleasure but they’re also in debt to them, because if the non-Jews have shared in Jewish spiritual things, then they should also minister to them with material things. 28 So then, having done that and having guaranteed heavenly rewards for them, I will go to Spain by way of your place, 29 and I know that when I come, I’ll come bearing Messiah’s full blessing.

30 So brothers and sisters, I’m urging you by our master Yeshua Messiah and by the love of the spirit, to contend along with me in praying to God for me 31 that I will escape from the schemes of those in Yudea who refuse to believe. Also pray that my ministry in Yerusalem would be acceptable to the believers there 32 so that by God’s will, I can happily come to your place and be refreshed there with you all. 33 May the God of peace be with all of you. May it be so.

16 I’m commending our sister Phoebe to you all—she’s a servant in the assembly at Cenchreae. 2 You can accept her in the master as worthy among godly people, and help her with anything she needs because she’s been a supporter of many of us, including myself.

3 [ref]Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my workmates in Messiah Yeshua 4 who risked their lives to save mine. It’s not just me who’s thankful for them, but also all the assemblies of the non-Jews 5 and the assembly that meets in their house.

Greet my dear friend Epenetus who was one of the first in the province of Asia Minor to follow Messiah. 6 Greet Maria who worked hard for you all. 7 Greet Andronicus and sister Junia, my fellow citizens and fellow prisoners with me, and who are notable among the ambassadors in Messiah who started before me.

8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the master. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow-worker in Messiah, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles who’s a proven follower of Messiah. Greet those from Aristobulus’ household. 11 Greet Herodion, my fellow citizen. Greet those in Narcissus’ household who are in the master.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who’re working for the master. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked for the master a lot. 13 [ref]Greet Rufus who’s chosen by the master and his mother who also mothered me. 14 Greet Asugkritos, Flegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the other brothers and sisters with them. 15 Greet Filologos, Yulia, Nereus and his sister, and Olumpas and all the godly people there with them.

16 Greet each other with a traditional kiss. All the assemblies of the messiah here send their greetings to all of you.

17 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to beware of those who’re always talking about faults and tempting you all with things that are against what you’ve been taught. Turn away from them 18 because such people are not serving our master Messiah but rather, their own bellies, and they are deceiving innocent people with their smooth speech and ‘blessings’. 19 I’m excited because the story of your obedience has travelled far, but I’m wanting you all to remain wise about what’s good and innocent about evil, 20 then the God of peace will be quickly crushing Satan under your feet.

May the grace from our master Yeshua be with all of you.

21 [ref]My co-worker Timothy sends his greetings as do my fellow-citizens Luke, Jason, and Sosipater.

22 I, Tertios, the one writing down this letter, greet you all in the master.

23 [ref]Gaios who hosts me and all of the assembly here, greets you all.

24 ◘ 25 There’s one who, according to my preaching of the good message and the proclamation of Yeshua Messiah, is able to strengthen you all according to the revelation of the mystery that had been keep silent through the ages. 26 But he’s been there in the prophetic scriptures, and now he’s been revealed according to the command of the eternal God and been made known to all the nations for obedience of faith. 27 Now may the only wise God be honoured through Yeshua Messiah throughout the remaining ages. May it be so.