8 I’ll start by thanking my God through Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) 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 you Romaios 10 in my prayers—asking that somehow God will favour me by allowing me to come and visit you, 11 because I’m longing to see you so that I can share a particular spiritual gift with you in order to strengthen you. 12 I want all of us to be encouraged together by each other’s faith—both me and you Romaios.

13 Brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to be unaware that I’d planned several times to come to you,[ref] 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 Hellains (Greeks) or other foreigners, wise people or foolish, I have an obligation, 15 and so I’m also eager to talk about the good message to all of you there in Romai.

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