Paul, A slave of Jesus Christ, By calling an Apostle, Set apart to make known the Good News of God, About him who was born of David's race, About him who was openly appointed God's When, by an act of power made possible By a spirit of devotion, He raised him from the dead; About Jesus Christ our Lord, by means of whom We received the favor of a commission To promote among all nations for his name's sake The obedience which springs from faith: And you yourselves also are among these, And are by calling Jesus Christ's: To all who are in Rome, Loved by God, by calling devoted ones, From God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:8. First, I keep thanking God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is being spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, he whom I am serving with my spirit in making known the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I am always making mention of you in my prayers, asking whether in any way I shall now at length be prospered by the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, for the purpose of strengthening you. That is, that I may be helped by my intercourse with you at the same time that you are helped by means of that mutual faith which acts and reacts on each of us,-both yours and mine. Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that I often intended to visit you, but so far have been prevented. I intended to do this so that I might have some fruit among you also just as I have among the other nations. I have a duty to perform both to Greeks and the people of other nations, both to wise and foolish. So, so far as I am able, I am eager to tell the Good News to you, also, who live in Rome. |