Romans 8-14

English Standard Version

Life in the Spirit

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.^{[a] 2} For the law of ^(A)the Spirit of life ^(B)has set you^[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For ^(C)God has done what the law, ^(D)weakened by the flesh, ^(E)could not do. ^(F)By sending his own Son ^(G)in the likeness of sinful flesh and ^(H)for sin,^[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that ^(I)the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, ^(J)who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For ^(K)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on ^(L)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on ^(M)the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set ^(N)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is ^(O)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; ^(P)indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact ^(Q)the Spirit of God dwells in you. ^(R)Anyone who does not have ^(S)the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of ^(T)him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus^[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies ^(U)through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

¹² So then, brothers,^[e] we are debtors, ^(V)not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you ^(W)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are ^(X)led by the Spirit of God are ^(Y)sons^[f] of God. ¹⁵ For ^(Z)you did not receive ^(AA)the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of ^(AB)adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ^(AC)“Abba! Father!” ^16 (AD)The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then ^(AE)heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, ^(AF)provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time ^(AG)are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for ^(AH)the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation ^(AI)was subjected to futility, not willingly, but ^(AJ)because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that ^(AK)the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that ^(AL)the whole creation ^(AM)has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have ^(AN)the firstfruits of the Spirit, ^(AO)groan inwardly as ^(AP)we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, ^(AQ)the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For ^(AR)in this hope we were saved. Now ^(AS)hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we ^(AT)wait for it with patience.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For ^(AU)we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but ^(AV)the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And ^(AW)he who searches hearts knows what is ^(AX)the mind of the Spirit, because^[g] the Spirit ^(AY)intercedes for the saints ^(AZ)according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together ^(BA)for good,^[h] for ^(BB)those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he ^(BC)foreknew he also ^(BD)predestined ^(BE)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be ^(BF)the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also ^(BG)justified, and those whom he justified he also ^(BH)glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? ^(BI)If God is for us, who can be^[i] against us? ^32 (BJ)He who did not spare his own Son but ^(BK)gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? ^(BL)It is God who justifies. ^34 (BM)Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—^(BN)who is at the right hand of God, ^(BO)who indeed is interceding for us.^{[j] 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than ^(BR)conquerors through ^(BS)him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God's Sovereign Choice

9 ^(BT)I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For ^(BU)I could wish that I myself were ^(BV)accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,^[k] my kinsmen ^(BW)according to the flesh. ⁴ They are ^(BX)Israelites, and to them belong ^(BY)the adoption, ^(BZ)the glory, ^(CA)the covenants, ^(CB)the giving of the law, ^(CC)the worship, and ^(CD)the promises. ⁵ To them belong ^(CE)the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, ^(CF)who is God over all, ^(CG)blessed forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, ⁷ and not all are children of Abraham ^(CH)because they are his offspring, but ^(CI)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” ⁸ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but ^(CJ)the children of the promise are counted as offspring. ⁹ For this is what the promise said: ^(CK)“About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” ¹⁰ And not only so, but ^(CL)also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of ^(CM)him who calls— ¹² she was told, ^(CN)“The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, ^(CO)“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

¹⁴ What shall we say then? ^(CP)Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses, ^(CQ)“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion,^[l] but on God, who has mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ^(CR)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” ¹⁸ So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For ^(CS)who can resist his will?” ²⁰ But who are you, O man, ^(CT)to answer back to God? ^(CU)Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” ^21 (CV)Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump ^(CW)one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? ²² What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience ^(CX)vessels of wrath ^(CY)prepared for destruction, ²³ in order to make known ^(CZ)the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he ^(DA)has prepared beforehand for glory— ²⁴ even us whom he ^(DB)has called, ^(DC)not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? ²⁵ As indeed he says in Hosea,

²⁷ And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ^(DG)“Though the number of the sons of Israel^[m] be as the sand of the sea, ^(DH)only a remnant of them will be saved, ²⁸ for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” ²⁹ And as Isaiah predicted,

Israel's Unbelief

³⁰ What shall we say, then? ^(DL)That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, ^(DM)a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹ but that Israel ^(DN)who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness^{[n] (DO)}did not succeed in reaching that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the ^(DP)stumbling stone, ³³ as it is written,

10 Brothers,^[o] my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that ^(DU)they have a zeal for God, ^(DV)but not according to knowledge. ³ For, being ignorant of ^(DW)the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. ⁴ For ^(DX)Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.^[p]

The Message of Salvation to All

⁵ For ^(DY)Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that ^(DZ)the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But ^(EA)the righteousness based on faith says, ^(EB)“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the ^(EC)abyss?’” (that is, ^(ED)to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? ^(EE)“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if ^(EF)you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and ^(EG)believe in your heart ^(EH)that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, ^(EI)“Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ^12 (EJ)For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; ^(EK)for the same Lord is Lord of all, ^(EL)bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For ^(EM)“everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him ^(EN)of whom they have never heard?^[q] And how are they to hear ^(EO)without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ^(EP)“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ¹⁶ But ^(EQ)they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ^(ER)“Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷ So ^(ES)faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

¹⁸ But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

¹⁹ But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

²⁰ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

²¹ But of Israel he says, ^(EZ)“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask, then, ^(FA)has God rejected his people? By no means! For ^(FB)I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,^[r] a member of the tribe of Benjamin. ^2 (FC)God has not rejected his people whom he ^(FD)foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? ^3 (FE)“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” ⁴ But what is God's reply to him? ^(FF)“I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ So too at the present time there is ^(FG)a remnant, chosen by grace. ^6 (FH)But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What then? ^(FI)Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest ^(FJ)were hardened, ⁸ as it is written,

⁹ And David says,

Gentiles Grafted In

¹¹ So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass ^(FN)salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion^[s] mean!

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as ^(FO)I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴ in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and ^(FP)thus save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection means ^(FQ)the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? ^16 (FR)If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ But if ^(FS)some of the branches were broken off, and you, ^(FT)although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root^[t] of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. ¹⁹ Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you ^(FU)stand fast through faith. So ^(FV)do not become proud, but ^(FW)fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²² Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, ^(FX)provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise ^(FY)you too will be cut off. ²³ And ^(FZ)even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

The Mystery of Israel's Salvation

^25 (GA)Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers:^{[u] (GB)}a partial hardening has come upon Israel, ^(GC)until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

²⁸ As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are ^(GH)beloved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹ For the gifts and ^(GI)the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰ For just as ^(GJ)you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now^[v] receive mercy. ³² For God ^(GK)has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and ^(GL)wisdom and knowledge of God! ^(GM)How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

³⁶ For ^(GQ)from him and through him and to him are all things. ^(GR)To him be glory forever. Amen.

A Living Sacrifice

12 ^(GS)I appeal to you therefore, brothers,^[w] by the mercies of God, ^(GT)to present your bodies ^(GU)as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.^{[x] 2 (GV)}Do not be conformed to this world,^[y] but be transformed by ^(GW)the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may ^(GX)discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[z]

Gifts of Grace

³ For ^(GY)by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you ^(GZ)not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, ^(HA)each according to ^(HB)the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For ^(HC)as in one body we have many members,^[aa] and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, ^(HD)though many, ^(HE)are one body in Christ, and individually ^(HF)members one of another. ^6 (HG)Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if ^(HH)prophecy, ^(HI)in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if ^(HJ)service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; ^(HK)the one who leads,^[ab] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with ^(HL)cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian

^9 (HM)Let love be genuine. ^(HN)Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ^10 (HO)Love one another with brotherly affection. ^(HP)Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, ^(HQ)be fervent in spirit,^{[ac] (HR)}serve the Lord. ^12 (HS)Rejoice in hope, ^(HT)be patient in tribulation, ^(HU)be constant in prayer. ^13 (HV)Contribute to the needs of the saints and ^(HW)seek to show hospitality.

^14 (HX)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ^15 (HY)Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ^16 (HZ)Live in harmony with one another. ^(IA)Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.^{[ad] (IB)}Never be wise in your own sight. ^17 (IC)Repay no one evil for evil, but ^(ID)give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, ^(IE)live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, ^(IF)never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[ae] to the wrath of God, for it is written, ^(IG)“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, ^(IH)“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Submission to the Authorities

13 Let every person ^(II)be subject to the governing authorities. For ^(IJ)there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you ^(IK)will receive his approval, ⁴ for ^(IL)he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, ^(IM)an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also ^(IN)for the sake of conscience. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ^7 (IO)Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

^8 (IP)Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for ^(IQ)the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, ^(IR)“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: ^(IS)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore ^(IT)love is the fulfilling of the law.

¹¹ Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you ^(IU)to wake from sleep. ^(IV)For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. ^12 (IW)The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us ^(IX)cast off ^(IY)the works of darkness and ^(IZ)put on the armor of light. ^13 (JA)Let us walk properly as in the daytime, ^(JB)not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, ^(JC)not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ But ^(JD)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, ^(JE)to gratify its desires.

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

14 As for ^(JF)the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. ^2 (JG)One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. ³ Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and ^(JH)let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. ^4 (JI)Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master^[af] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

^5 (JJ)One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. ^(JK)Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since ^(JL)he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷ For ^(JM)none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, ^(JN)whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. ⁹ For to this end Christ ^(JO)died and lived again, that he might be Lord both ^(JP)of the dead and of the living.

¹⁰ Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For ^(JQ)we will all stand before ^(JR)the judgment seat of God; ¹¹ for it is written,

¹² So then ^(JT)each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

^13 (JU)Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide ^(JV)never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. ¹⁴ I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus ^(JW)that nothing is unclean in itself, ^(JX)but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. ¹⁵ For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, ^(JY)you are no longer walking in love. ^(JZ)By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. ^16 (KA)So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. ^17 (KB)For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but ^(KC)of righteousness and ^(KD)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Whoever thus serves Christ is ^(KE)acceptable to God and approved by men. ¹⁹ So then let us ^(KF)pursue what makes for peace and for ^(KG)mutual upbuilding.

^20 (KH)Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. ^(KI)Everything is indeed clean, but ^(KJ)it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. ^21 (KK)It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.^{[ah] 22} The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. ^(KL)Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. ²³ But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.^[ai]