Translation for Translators Romans 0

I, Paul, an apostle whom God appointed to proclaim the good message about Jesus Christ, am writing this letter to all you believers who are in Rome. I pray that God will continue to act kindly toward you and grant you peace.

IthankGodthatpeople everywhere are talking about how you believers inRomeare trusting JesusChrist. I pray thatGodwill permit meto visit yousoon. I want youto know thatIhave longed to visit you, butthingshavealways prevented mefrom doing that. Iam eager to proclaim the gospel toyouwhoare living atRomealso.

Ivery confidently proclaimthegood message aboutwhat Christ has done, bothto Jews and non-Jews, becausebythat message God reveals hiswayof declaring allpeople righteous.

Godis making it clear toall non-Jewish peoplewhoare godless and wicked thatheis angry withthem.

Everyone can clearly know whatGodis like; so no onehasabasisfor saying, “We never knew aboutGod.”

SoGod let the non-Jewish people feel compelled todo disgraceful things, which resulted intheir dishonoring their bodies sexually. He did thisbecausethey worshipped idols andthingsthatwere created instead of worshipping God. Asa result ofbothmenand women having unnatural sexual relations, theyhavebeen punished asthey deserve.

Theresultof God's letting people become obsessed bytheirown depraved thoughts wasthattheythemselves began todoallmannerof evil thingsthatGod says are improper. Theyeven approve ofothersdoingsuchthings.

Any one of you Jews who condemns non-Jews for doing evil will be condemned by God, because you also do the same evil things.

BecauseGodisnot influenced bya person's status, hewill pay back each person accordingtowhatthat person has done.

All non-Jews andall non-Jews willbe eternally separated fromGodfortheir sin, sinceitisonlythosewhohave continually obeyed his laws whomGodwill justify.

Itis disgusting thatanyoneofyouwhohasallthe advantages ofbeinga Jew would disobey God's lawand, by doing so, insult God.

Godwill consider non-Jews acceptable tohim if they obey his laws, and such non-Jews will declare Godis right in condemning thosewho disobey his laws, becauseitis only thosewhoare changed inwardlywhoare true Jews and acceptable toGod.

My reply to the objection that there is no advantage in being a Jew or being circumcised is that there is much advantage, especially since God entrusted his promises to us. My reply to the objection that God has not kept his promise is that he certainly has, for his promises are always true. My reply to the objection that it is not right for God to punish us Jews is that it certainly is right for him to punish us, because if God did not judge us Jews he could not judge anyone.

Myreplytoa query aboutwhetherGodwilltreat Jews more favorably than non-Jews isno, becausethe Scriptures make clear thatallpeoplearecondemnedbyGodfortheir sin.

In summary, nooneis able to object to God's condemnation; everyone hasbeen declared guilty byGod.

NowGod erases the record ofsinsofeveryone, Jew and non-Jew, who trusts inwhatJesusChristhasdoneforthem. God presented Christastheonewhowould atone forsinsby dying onthe cross.

Soweare prevented from boasting thatGod saves usbecauseofour obeying the Mosaic laws. AndGodwillalso accept non-Jews onthesamebasis. Andby agreeing thatpeopleare declared righteousbytheir trusting inChrist, weactually confirm, not nullify, the Mosaic laws.

We can draw conclusions from Abraham's life about how God erases the record of our sins. Abraham could not boast about his accomplishing that because the Scriptures record that it was because he believed what God promised that God erased the record of his sins. God's doing that was a gift, not a reward.

This happiness of knowing that God has erased the record ofoursinsis also forthe non-Jews. Remember thatitwas before Abraham was circumcised, whenhewas still in effect a non-Jew, that God did that. He later received circumcision simply asa sign of God having erased the record ofhissins because ofhisfaith. The result wasthathe became a spiritual father of all who believe in God ashe did, whether theyare circumcised ornot.

ItwasbecauseAbraham trusted inGodthatGod erased the record ofhis sins and promised him many blessings. SowhatGod promised is guaranteed toall, both Jews and non-Jews, who trust inGodasAbraham did.

ItwasbecauseAbraham confidently believed God's promise togivehimmany descendants, whentherewasno physical basis forhis hoping thatthiswouldhappen, thatGod erased the record ofhis sins.

ThewordsaboutGod erasing the record of Abraham's sins were written alsoto assure uswho believe inGod.

Because God has erased the record of our sins, we have peace with him, we experience his acting kindly toward us, we rejoice because we expect to receive God's glory, and we even rejoice in suffering because we know the results that it brings.

Because Christ died forus ungodly people, hewill certainly save usfrom God's eternal punishment, andsowe boast ofwhathehas done forus.

Althoughthe sin ofoneman, Adam, led toallpeople dying andGod declaring thatthey deserved tobe punished, Christ's righteous act of obedience whenhe died led to many people experiencing God's kindness and being declared righteous and living eternally, anditwillalso result intheir ruling withChrist.

If someone were to say that perhaps we should continue to sin in order that God may continue to act more kindly toward us, I would reply that we who ought to consider ourselves unresponsive to sinful desires should certainly not continue sinning. We must keep remembering that it is as though our former sinful nature has ceased to function, and it is as though we have become unresponsive to sinful desires, living in a new way. So do not let the desire to commit sin control you. Instead, present yourselves to God to do righteous things.

If someone should conclude thatpeople can sinnowbecausetheyarenot obligated to obey the Mosaic laws, Iwould say, “Certainlynot!” Instead, letyour minds compel your bodies to act righteously.

You know that after people die they are freed from being required to obey any law. Similarly, God has freed us from being required to obey all the Jewish rituals and laws.

My reply tothe objection thatthelawsof Moses are evil becausethey cause usto sin isthatthelawsare holy and good; whatthelawsdoare simply to reveal thatwhatweare doing is sinful.

My reply tothe objection that God's law, being good, causes peopleto become spiritually dead is no, itisour desire to commit sin that causes us to sin and become spiritually dead.

The laws camefrom God's Spirit, butyouandIare influenced byoursinful natures. We often donotdothethingsthatwe desire, andwedothethingsthatwe detest becauseofa desire tosinthat permeates us and prevents us fromdoinggood, unless Christ frees us frombeing controlled bythese desires.

God will not in any way condemn those who are united to Christ Jesus, because God's Spirit has freed us from the inevitability of sinning and from spiritual death.

Weare compelled toliveastheSpirit directs, notasour self-directed nature directs, becauseifwedothe latter wewillbe eternally separated fromGod, butifwe cease doing the latter wewilllive eternally.

Becausewewho allow theSpiritof God to guide us are God's children, wewillalso inherit eternal blessings from God.

Since everything thatGodhas created is eagerly awaiting the time whenhewill reveal whoarehis true children, I consider thatwhatwesuffernowisnot worth paying attention to.

God's Spirit helps us whenour spirits feel weak; he prays for us and God understands whathis Spirit intends.

God works out allthingsinawaythat produces good spiritual benefits for us who love him. Hedoesthisbecause, having known thatwewouldbe saved andthuswewouldhavethe character ofhis Son, he chose us and declared us righteous, andhewill surely give us future splendor.

We must conclude fromthesethingsthat no one can defeat us, and absolutely no oneand nothing can separate usfrom Christ's loving usand God's loving us.

I tell you very sincerely that I grieve greatly about most of my fellow Israelites having rejected Christ. I would be willing to be separated from Christ if that would help them believe in him.

Thisdoesnot prove thatGodhas failed todofor Abraham whathe promised, because, as Scripture illustrates, itisnotallwhoare naturally descended from Jacob or Abraham whomGod considers tobehis children, butitisthosewhowere born asaresultofwhatGod promised whomhe considers his children.

Asthe Scriptures indicate, God's choosing people depends not ontheir wishes or efforts. He helps whomever he wants to help, andhe makes stubborn whomever he wants to make stubborn. We cannot conclude that God is unjust in choosing the ones he wants to choose.

My reply to anyone's objection tothis doctrine isthatGodhasa right to carry out his purposes; he tolerated the people who caused himtobe angry, in order thathe might disclose how gloriously he acts toward thoseonwhomhe intends tohavemercy.

The non-Jews foundthewaybywhich God could declare them righteous. The Jews didnot succeed in fulfilling whatthe Mosaic laws require. Instead, they tried to find awaytobe declared righteous by doing thingsin order that God would accept them.

My deep desire and earnest prayer is that God will save the Jews, who do not understand how to seek him correctly.

The message of Scripture isthatthosewho confess publicly that Jesus istheir Lord andwhobelieve inwardly that God brought Jesus backto life willbe saved, because God accepts people only becauseoftheirfaith, Jews and non-Jews alike.

Theremaybethosewho object by saying, “If God does not send someoneto preach tothe Jews, they cannot ask Christtosavethem.” My reply tothemisthat God has already sent peopleto preach aboutChristtothem, but most ofthe Jews havenot accepted the gospel. However, some Jews do believe inChrist, and many otherpeopleareindeed hearing the message.

In reply toa question of whether the Jews haveheardor understood aboutChrist, Iwouldsaythat, asis supported bythe Scriptures, theyhavehearditand should have understood it, becauseeven non-Jews, whowere not searching for God, understood it.

God has certainly not rejected all Jews. I am evidence of that. Just like in the past, there is also at the present time a small group of us Jews who have become believers.

The Scriptures confirm thatthepeopleof Israel asa whole didnot find thewayofbeing declared righteous, althoughthosewhom God had chosen did find it.

My reply toa question astowhetherthe result ofthe Jews' unbelief isa permanent falling away fromGodis, “No! Godis saving many non-Jews tomake many Jews enviousand seek tobe saved.”

I highly esteem the work thatGodhas called me todoasan apostle among you non-Jews. I hope thatIwill make my fellow Jews jealous, andasa result, someofthemwillbe saved.

You non-Jews who trust inJesusmustnot despise the Jews whom God has rejected. Youmustnot become proud, butinstead beware. God willnot spare youifyou fall away fromhim, andhewillcertainly act kindly toward the Jews ifthey trust in Christ.

I want youto know thatallthepeopleof Israel willsome day be saved, asthe Scriptures say willhappen. God still loves thembecauseoftheir ancestors. Itishis purpose to act mercifully towards themaswellastowardall non-Jews.

I marvel at how great God's wisdom and knowledge are, andhis decisions and actions towardus!

I appeal to you that you present yourselves to God by making yourselves like living sacrifices, which is the appropriate way to serve him. Do not let anything non-Christian determine how you act, but instead let God change your way of thinking.

Donot think aboutyourselvesmore highly thanyoushould. Instead, think aboutyourselves sensibly, inawaythat corresponds tothe abilities thatGodhas given toyou because you trust in Christ. Maywedo diligently and cheerfully whatGodhas given usthe ability todo.

Inthe various ways inwhichyou act towardpeople, love them sincerely.

Instead of avenging yourselves, allow God to avenge you; and instead ofbeing overcome by something evil done toyou, overcome evil deeds by doing good tothosewho do evil toyou, becausethisiswhatthe Scriptures command.

Be subject to civil authorities, because those who oppose them oppose what God has established and will bring punishment on themselves. Do what is good and then they will commend you. Give to all the authorities what you are obligated to give to them.

Do not leave anydebt unpaid. Your only continual obligation isto love one another, because doing so fulfills allthat God's law requires.

Because itis time for us tobe fully alert and active, wemust quit doing wicked deeds. Wemustdothosethingsthatwill help us resist thatwhichisevil, wemust live properly, andwemustbe like Christ.

Accept those who are not sure whether they are permitted to do certain things. Anyone who thinks that it is all right to eat all kinds of food must not despise those who do not think that, and those who do not think that it is all right to eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, because God has accepted them.

Eachperson should be fully convinced about observing special days, thinking and deciding forhimselfandnotforothers. We should tryto please Godby everything wedo.

Youshouldneither condemn nor despise your fellow believers who believe differently about religious regulations thanyoudo, becauseitis God whowill say whetherhe approves ofwhatwehave done.

Instead of condemning eachother, decide nottodo anything thatmight lead your fellow believer to sin by following your example andwhich would thencauseotherstospeak evil ofyou.

Try todowhatwill help fellow believers tobeat peace with each other andto grow spiritually. Donot destroy whatGodhas done in others' lives asa result ofyour eating certain things.

We should not be irritated by the practices of those who are uncertain whether God will condemn them for doing certain things that the Mosaic laws forbid. Instead, we should do things that please our fellow Christians, because Christ has set us an example.

May God enable youalltolive harmoniously witheachother.

Accept each other asChristhas accepted you, remembering thatwhatChristhas done wasbothto help the Jews andto cause non-Jews topraiseGod.

MayGod make you completely joyful and peaceful in order thatyoumay confidently expecthimtodowhathehas promised.

Ihave written frankly toyouinthis letter becauseofwhatGodhas kindly commissioned metodoamong non-Jews.

Iam happy aboutmy work forGodthatIhavenow completed inthis region by proclaiming thegospelin places wherepeoplehavenot heard aboutChrist.

Becauseofthis work, Ihave often been hindered from visiting you, butI hope toseeyouasI journey through your area andI hope thatyouwillgivemewhatI need formy next journey. ButnowIamaboutto go to Jerusalem to take funds to God's peoplethere. So later Iwill visit youin Rome, andI know thatChristwill bless usthere.

I urge youto pray fervently thatGodwill protect me fromthe unbelieving Jews in Judea andthat God's peopletherewill accept the money thatI take tothem, andalsothatImaybe refreshed by visiting you. MayGodbewithyouall.

I am introducing and commending Phoebe to you, and I ask that you receive her as a fellow believer and that you give her whatever she needs.

I send my greetings tomany individuals amongthe believers there. Allthe congregations inthis area also send their greetings toyou.

Note thosewhoare causing quarrels amongyouandthosewho cause peopleto turn away from God. Avoid them, becausethey only want to satisfy their own desires and deceive thosewho do not suspect their motives. If you avoid such people, God willsoon crush Satan underyour feet.

Several ofthosewhoarewithme send their greetings.

We should forever praise the One who alone is God, who alone is truly wise.

Romans
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Note: The Old Testament in this translation is still being worked on, and is in draft form. Updates will be posted at eBible.org/t4t/.