ROM 1:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to all the ones believing, both to the Jew first and to the Greek.

UST I would gladly do this because I am deeply honored to proclaim the good news because it is the powerful way that God uses to save anyone who believes it. This is true for both the Jews who first heard the good news and then everyone else.

BSB I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is [the] power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to [the] Jew, then to [the] Greek.

BLB For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone believing--both to Jewish first, and to Greek.

AICNT For I am not ashamed of the gospel [[of Christ]],[fn] for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew [first][fn] and also to the Greek.

1:16, of Christ: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

1:16, first: Absent from some manuscripts. B(03)

OEB For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is the power of God which brings salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek.

WEBBE For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.

WMBB For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Messiah, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.

NET For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

LSV for I am not ashamed of the good news of the Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who is believing, both to Jew first, and to Greek.

FBV I'm certainly not ashamed about the good news, for it's God's power to save everyone who trusts in him—to the Jewish people first, and then to everyone else as well.

TCNT For I am not ashamed of the gospel [fn]of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, both to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1:16 of Christ ¦ — CT

T4T That leads me to say that I very confidently proclaim [LIT] the good message about what Christ has done, because this good message is the powerful means that God uses to save from the guilt of their sins all people who trust in what Christ has done for them. Specifically, God first has saved the Jews who believe the good message, and then he has saved non-Jews.

LEB ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

BBE For I have no feeling of shame about the good news, because it is the power of God giving salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first, and then to the Greek.

Moff For I am proud of the gospel; it is God's saving power for everyone who has faith, for the Jew first and for the Greek as well.

Wymth For I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is God's power which is at work for the salvation of every one who believes—the Jew first, and then the Gentile.

ASV For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

DRA For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and to the Greek.

YLT for I am not ashamed of the good news of the Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to every one who is believing, both to Jew first, and to Greek.

Drby For I am not ashamed of the glad tidings; for it is [fn]God's power to salvation, to every one that believes, both to Jew first and to Greek:

1.16 Elohim

RV For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
(For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth/believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. )

SLT For I am not ashamed of the good news of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to all believing; both to the Jew first, and the Greek.

Wbstr For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

KJB-1769 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
(For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth/believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. )

KJB-1611 For I am not ashamed of the Gopel of Christ: for it is the power of God vnto saluation, to euery one that beleeueth, to the Iew first, and also to the Greeke.
(For I am not ashamed of the Gopel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth/believes, to the Yew first, and also to the Greek.)

Bshps For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ, because it is the power of God vnto saluation to all that beleue, to the Iewe first, and also to the Greke.
(For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe, to the Yewe first, and also to the Greek.)

Gnva For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth, to the Iewe first, and also to the Grecian.
(For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth/believes, to the Yewe first, and also to the Grecian. )

Cvdl For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ: for it is the power of God, which saueth all that beleue theron, the Iewe first & also the Greke:
(For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God, which saveth/saves all that believe thereon, the Yewe first and also the Greek:)

TNT For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ because it is the power of God vnto salvacion to all that beleve namely to the Iewe and also to the getyle.
(For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God unto salvacion to all that believe namely to the Yewe and also to the getyle. )

Wycl For Y schame not the gospel, for it is the vertu of God in to heelthe to ech man that bileueth, to the Jew first, and to the Greke.
(For I shame not the gospel, for it is the virtue of God in to health to each man that believeth/believes, to the Yew first, and to the Greek.)

Luth Denn ich schäme mich des Evangeliums von Christo nicht; denn es ist eine Kraft Gottes, die da selig machet alle, die daran glauben, die Juden vornehmlich und auch die Griechen,
(Because I shame me the gospel from Christo not; because/than it is a/one strength/power God’s, the there blessed makes all, the to_it believe, the Yews in_fronthmlich and also the Griechen,)

ClVg Non enim erubesco Evangelium. Virtus enim Dei est in salutem omni credenti, Judæo primum, et Græco.[fn]
(Not/No because erubesco the_Gospel. Virtue because of_God it_is in/into/on health all to_the_believer, Yudaho first, and Græco. )

1.16 Virtus enim Dei, etc. Quia signis firmatur incredibilis prædicatio: quod non est in falsis præconibus.

1.16 Virtue because of_God, etc. Because signs firmatur incredibilis preaching: that not/no it_is in/into/on false I_begnibus.

UGNT οὐ γὰρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, δύναμις γὰρ Θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι.
(ou gar epaisⱪunomai to euangelion, dunamis gar Theou estin eis sōtaʸrian panti tōi pisteuonti, Youdaiōi te prōton kai Hellaʸni.)

SBL-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ ⸀εὐαγγέλιον, δύναμις γὰρ θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι·
(Ou gar epaisⱪunomai to ⸀euangelion, dunamis gar theou estin eis sōtaʸrian panti tōi pisteuonti, Youdaiōi te prōton kai Hellaʸni;)

RP-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ χριστοῦ· δύναμις γὰρ θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι.
(Ou gar epaisⱪunomai to euangelion tou ⱪristou; dunamis gar theou estin eis sōtaʸrian panti tōi pisteuonti, Youdaiōi te prōton kai Hellaʸni.)

TC-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον [fn]τοῦ Χριστοῦ· δύναμις γὰρ Θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι.
(Ou gar epaisⱪunomai to euangelion tou Ⱪristou; dunamis gar Theou estin eis sōtaʸrian panti tōi pisteuonti, Youdaiōi te prōton kai Hellaʸni. )

1:16 του χριστου ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:8–17: Paul wanted to visit the believers at/in Rome

In this section, Paul thanked God that, in many places, people had heard about the faith of the believers in Rome. He also told them that he was asking God to make a way for him to go and visit them. He expected that he and they together would strengthen each other in their faith in Jesus Christ. He told them that he had been wanting to visit them for a long time and was eager to preach the gospel to the people there.

Then Paul wrote down the main things he wanted to talk about in the rest of the letter. He spoke of the gospel and who it is for.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Paul wanted to visit Rome

Paul hoped to visit them

1:16a

I am not ashamed of the gospel,

¶ For I am not ashamed of the good news,
¶ For I am not ashamed of the good message of/about Jesus Christ.

In the Greek, 1:16a begins with a word that is often translated as “for.” This word introduces an explanation for why Paul said he was so eager to preach the gospel in Rome (1:15). In some languages, it may be more natural to omit this word and leave the connection with 1:15 implicit, as the BSB does.

I am not ashamed of the gospel: There is a textual issue in 1:16a: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word gospel (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NABRE, GW, CEV, NET, REB, ESV, NCV). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have the words gospel of Christ (KJV, NLT). It is recommended that you follow option (1). The NLT probably adds “about Christ” to make it clear who the gospel is about, as it normally does not follow the Byzantine text like the KJV does. The people who added “of Christ” long ago probably did it to make it clear who the gospel was about. The gospel is about a poor Jewish itinerant preacher who was crucified on a Roman cross. Some Romans would be ashamed to follow such a leader. But Paul was not ashamed of him or the message he preached, the gospel.Some scholars and English versions see “not ashamed” as a figure of speech (litotes) meaning “proud.” But Cranfield (page 86) and Jewett (page 137) say it is not litotes here. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I do not have shame about the gospel

I am not ashamed of the good news of/about Jesus

1:16b

because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,

because it is God’s power to save all people who believe in him/Jesus.
For the/that good message has God’s power so that he rescues everyone who believes it from the penalty of sin/wrongdoing.

because: Here this word introduces the reason for Paul saying that he was not ashamed of the gospel. Some languages have the word “therefore” and not the word because. If that is true in your language, reorder 1:16b–c and 1:16a. For example:

For ^16bthe gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, ^16cto the Jew first and also to the Greek, and therefore ^16aI am not ashamed of it.

it is the power of God for salvation: Here the word it refers to the gospel. This clause indicates that the gospel is the power that God uses to save people. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it is the power of God that brings salvation (NIV11)

it is God’s power to save (GNT)

salvation: This word refers to being rescued from something harmful or dangerous. In Scripture it generally refers to rescue from God’s anger at the final judgment. Here are other ways to translate this word:

to save (GNT)

their lives will be savedOtomi Back Translation on TW.

In some languages it is necessary to say what people are saved from. If that is true in your language, refer to destruction or punishment. For example:

to save/rescue people from destruction

to save/rescue people from the final judgment

which frees them from the great punishment of God

to everyone who believes: One day God will judge everyone in a final judgment. He will save all people who believe the gospel about Jesus.

believes: To “believe” in someone means to agree to what someone stands for, to trust him, to rely on him, to be committed to him. See how your translated the word “faith” in 1:5.

In some languages it is necessary to say what these people believe in. If that is true in your language, refer to Jesus or his gospel. For example:

believes it (JBP)

believes in Jesus

1:16c

first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

This Good News went first for the Jew, then for the Greek.
We Jews were the first to hear that message, and now you non-Jews also hear that message.

first to the Jew, then to the Greek: The word first indicates that God gave his message of salvation to the Jews first, then he gave it to the Greeks. It may also indicate that the Jews had higher status in God’s sight because he chose them to be his people. Here are other ways to translate these words:

first to the Jew, then to the Greek

Jews first, but Greeks as well (NJB)

It was made known first to the Jews, after that to the Gentiles.Kankanaey Back Translation on TW. Some languages can imply both first in time and first in status, as the Greek word does. But many languages must choose one meaning or the other. If that is true in your language, translate it as first in time.

the Jew…the Greek: The words Jew and Greek are singular, but they refer generally to any Jew or Greek. In some languages it is more natural to use plurals, as the NJB does above.

the Greek: The word Greek refers to all non-Jews here. Non-Jews generally did not like the term “Gentile,” because it implied that the Jews thought that they were better than the Gentiles. So Paul probably used the word Greek here to avoid bad feelings on the part of the non-Jews.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to people from the country of Greece. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
Here the word “Greek” refers to all non-Jews. It is a more polite word than “Gentiles.”
Use the word you normally use for “Gentile” here. You may then want to explain the situation in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
Literally “Greek.” At that time, the word “Greek” was more polite than “Gentile” when speaking to non-Jews.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τό εὐαγγέλιον δύναμις γάρ Θεοῦ ἐστίν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντί τῷ πιστεύοντι Ἰουδαίῳ τέ πρῶτον καί Ἕλληνι)

For indicates the reason why Paul is eager to proclaim the gospel in Rome. Use a natural way in your language for indicating a reason. Alternate translation: [I am eager to do this because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐ & ἐπαισχύνομαι

Here Paul uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning positively. Alternate translation: [I am proud]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

οὐ & ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον

Here, gospel refers specifically to the preaching of the gospel that was mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I am not ashamed to preach the gospel]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

δύναμις γὰρ Θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν

˓the˒_power (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τό εὐαγγέλιον δύναμις γάρ Θεοῦ ἐστίν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντί τῷ πιστεύοντι Ἰουδαίῳ τέ πρῶτον καί Ἕλληνι)

Paul is using the possessive form to describe the gospel as the powerful way that God saves people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression Alternate translation: [for it is the powerful way that God saves]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰς σωτηρίαν

to salvation

Here, for indicates that salvation is the result of the gospel. Use a natural way in your language to indicate result. Alternate translation: [that results in the salvation]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ

to salvation (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τό εὐαγγέλιον δύναμις γάρ Θεοῦ ἐστίν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντί τῷ πιστεύοντι Ἰουδαίῳ τέ πρῶτον καί Ἕλληνι)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of salvation, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [for saving everyone]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι

Paul is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [to everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι

˱to˲_Jew (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τό εὐαγγέλιον δύναμις γάρ Θεοῦ ἐστίν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντί τῷ πιστεύοντι Ἰουδαίῳ τέ πρῶτον καί Ἕλληνι)

Paul is speaking of Jewish people and Greek people in general, not of one particular Jew or Greek. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural phrase. Alternate translation: [both to the Jewish people first and to the Greek people]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον

The phrase the Jew first means that the Jewish people were the first people to hear the gospel. Paul does not mean that the Jew is better or has a high status than the Greek. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [both to the Jews, who first heard the gospel,]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Ἕλληνι

˱to˲_Greek

Here, the Greek refers to non-Jewish people in general. It does not refer only to people from the country of Greece. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [to the non-Jew]

Parallel ROM 1:16

Section 1:8–17: Paul wanted to visit the believers at/in Rome

1:16a

1:16b

1:16c