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Romans 1

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Romans 1 introduces Paul’s gospel: the good news of God’s Son, promised in Scripture, accomplished by the risen Christ, and proclaimed for the obedience of faith among every nation. It also exposes humanity’s desperate need for that gospel: though all people know enough of God through creation to be accountable, sinful hearts suppress that truth, exchange God’s glory for idols, and fall under His righteous wrath.

Bible Text

[1] Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God, [2] which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, [3] concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, [4] who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, [5] through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake; [6] among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ; [7] to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [8] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. [9] For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers, [10] requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. [11] For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established; [12] that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine. [13] Now I don't desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. [14] I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. [15] So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome. [16] For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. [17] For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith." [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, [19] because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. [20] For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. [21] Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. [24] Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, [25] who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. [26] For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. [27] Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. [28] Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; [29] being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, [30] backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; [32] who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Word study (Berean Standard Bible)

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1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called [to be] [an] apostle, [and] set apart for [the] gospel of God— 2[the gospel] He promised beforehand through His prophets in [the] Holy Scriptures, 3regarding His Son, who was a descendant . . . . . . of David according to [the] flesh, 4[and] who through [the] Spirit of holiness was declared with power [to be the] Son of God by [His] resurrection [from the] dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5Through [Him] [and] on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all [those] among the Gentiles [to the] obedience that comes from faith. 6[And] you also are among those who are called [to belong to] Jesus Christ. 7To all in Rome who are loved by God [and] called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ. 8First , I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my spirit in {preaching} the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times, asking that . . . now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you. 11For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12that is, [that] you and I may be mutually encouraged . . . . . . by each other’s faith. 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you ([but] have been prevented [from visiting] until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you , just as [I have had] among the other Gentiles. 14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to [the] wise and [the] foolish. 15That is why I am [so] eager to preach the gospel also to you who [are] in Rome. 16I 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. 17For [the gospel] reveals [the] righteousness of God [that comes] by faith [from start] to [finish], just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” 18[The] wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all [the] godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by [their] wickedness. 19For [what may be] known [about] God is plain to them, because God has made [it] plain to them. 20For since [the] creation of [the] world [God’s] invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that [men] are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified [Him] . . . as God [nor] gave thanks [to Him], but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24Therefore God gave them over . . . in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with [one another]. 25[They] exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. 26For this reason . . . God gave them over . . . to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural [ones]. 27Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women [and] burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent [acts] with [other] men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge . . . . . . God, [He] gave them up . . . to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, [and] depravity. [They are] full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, [and] malice. [They are] gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, [and] boastful. [They] invent [new] forms of evil; they disobey [their] parents. 31[They are] senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32[Although they] know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, {they} not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice [them].

Strong's dictionary data: Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). Word data: Berean Standard Bible (public domain).

Cross-references by phrase

Connections anchored to exact phrases of this passage, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · CrossReferences.org (CC BY)

What does Romans 1 mean?

The Heart of This Passage

Romans 1 introduces Paul’s gospel: the good news of God’s Son, promised in Scripture, accomplished by the risen Christ, and proclaimed for the obedience of faith among every nation. It also exposes humanity’s desperate need for that gospel: though all people know enough of God through creation to be accountable, sinful hearts suppress that truth, exchange God’s glory for idols, and fall under His righteous wrath.

Context

Paul writes to the church in Rome, a congregation made up of both Jewish and Gentile believers whom he had not yet visited. His letter presents a sustained explanation of the gospel: first, why all humanity is guilty before God (Romans 1–3); then, how sinners are justified solely through faith in Christ (Romans 3–5); and finally, how that grace produces holiness, assurance, and covenant life.

Paul begins by identifying himself as Christ’s “servant,” literally doulos, a bondservant belonging wholly to his Master. He is a “called” apostle and “set apart” for God’s gospel—not self-appointed, but sovereignly commissioned. Chrysostom observes that Paul’s calling displays both humility and the unique authority entrusted to the apostles (Chrysostom on Romans 1:1).

What It Teaches

First, the gospel is God’s gospel, centered on God’s Son. It was promised beforehand in the Old Testament Scriptures and concerns Jesus Christ: truly human, “of the seed of David according to the flesh,” and powerfully declared to be the Son of God through His resurrection. The resurrection did not make Jesus divine; rather, it publicly vindicated and displayed Him as the eternal Son and reigning Messiah. God’s one covenant purpose of redemption reaches its fulfillment in Christ.

Second, grace creates a people who belong to Christ. Paul received “grace and apostleship” to bring about “obedience of faith.” Faith is not mere agreement with facts; it is a trusting submission to the crucified and risen Lord. Yet this obedience does not earn salvation. It flows from grace, as the fruit grows from a living tree. The Roman Christians are “beloved of God” and “called to be saints”: their identity begins in God’s electing love and effective call, not in their own merit.

Third, the gospel is God’s powerful means of salvation. Paul is not ashamed of a message centered on a crucified Savior, even in the proud capital of Rome. Why? Because it is “the power of God for salvation” to every believer—Jew and Gentile alike. The preached Word is not powerless information; the Holy Spirit makes it effective to convict, convert, strengthen, and comfort His people through faith (1695 Baptist Catechism Q94). As Matthew Henry notes, apart from God’s power the gospel would be only “a dead letter,” but God works through it to save believers (Matthew Henry on Romans 1:16-18).

Verse 17 states the letter’s central theme: in the gospel, “God’s righteousness” is revealed. This is not first God’s standard by which He condemns us, but the righteous status He graciously gives to sinners through Christ. We receive it “from faith to faith”—entirely by faith from beginning to end. Paul confirms this from Habakkuk: “the righteous shall live by faith.” This is justification by faith alone: sinners are accepted before God because of Christ’s righteousness, received by faith alone.

Fourth, God’s wrath against sin is just. From verse 18 onward, Paul begins demonstrating universal human guilt. God reveals Himself in creation—His eternal power and divine nature are clearly displayed. This is often called general revelation. People therefore are “without excuse.” The problem is not lack of evidence but moral rebellion: knowing God, humanity refuses to glorify or thank Him.

This refusal is idolatry. People “exchanged” the Creator’s glory and truth for created things and lies. The first commandment requires us to worship and glorify the true God as God; all creature-worship is therefore a profound betrayal of our Maker (1695 Baptist Catechism Q52). The consequence is that God “gave them up”: a fearful expression of judicial judgment in which He hands rebels over to the desires they have chosen.

Paul includes same-sex sexual practice among actions “against nature,” meaning contrary to God’s creational design for male and female in marriage. But his purpose is not to isolate one sin as though other sinners stand innocent. The list that follows includes greed, envy, deceit, pride, family rebellion, lack of mercy, and approving evil. All of us need the same Savior. God’s wrath is not excessive or arbitrary; it is His holy and settled opposition to sin, rightly deserved by original and actual sin (Heidelberg Catechism Q10).

Living It Out

Do not be ashamed of Christ’s gospel. Speak it with humility and courage, trusting not your eloquence but God’s power to save.

Practice daily worship and thanksgiving. Ingratitude is not a small fault; Romans identifies it as part of idolatry’s root. Receive every good gift as coming from the Creator, and give Him glory rather than making created things your ultimate treasure.

Examine your own heart before condemning the sins of others. Ask where you exchange God’s truth for a lie—through comfort, reputation, pleasure, control, or approval. Then flee afresh to Christ, whose righteousness alone can stand before God’s judgment.

Finally, seek the church’s mutual strengthening. Paul expected both to serve the Romans and to be encouraged by their faith. Grace produces neither spiritual pride nor passivity; it establishes believers in humble, persevering fellowship (Chrysostom on Romans 1:11).

Related Passages

  • Habakkuk 2:4 — Paul’s quotation establishes that God’s righteous people have always lived by faith.
  • Acts 17:24-31 — Paul likewise proclaims the Creator, humanity’s accountability, and coming judgment.
  • Romans 3:21-26 — This explains how God remains just while justifying sinners through Christ’s atoning blood.
  • Ephesians 2:1-10 — God’s sovereign mercy rescues those dead in sin and creates them for good works.

Sources

  • Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Romans 1:16-18
  • John Chrysostom on Romans 1:1
  • John Chrysostom on Romans 1:11
  • 1695 Baptist Catechism Q52
  • 1695 Baptist Catechism Q94
  • Heidelberg Catechism Q10

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This passage speaks to:

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, located in central Italy and home to a substantial Christian community when Paul wrote. Its importance in Romans 1 lies in Paul’s desire to preach there, extending the gospel into the empire’s leading city among both Jews and Gentiles.

Places in this passage

Romans 1 mentions Rome.

Rome · Chalaph

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