Romans 1, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—

Classic

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Modern

2the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

Classic

2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Modern

3regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,

Classic

3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Modern

4and 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.

Classic

4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Modern

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.

Classic

5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Modern

6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Classic

6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Modern

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.

Classic

7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Modern

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.

Classic

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Modern

9God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you

Classic

9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Modern

10in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.

Classic

10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Modern

11For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,

Classic

11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Modern

12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Classic

12That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Modern

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.

Classic

13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

Modern

14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

Classic

14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Modern

15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

Classic

15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Modern

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.

Classic

16For 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.

Modern

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.”

Classic

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Modern

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

Classic

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Modern

19For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

Classic

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Modern

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.

Classic

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Modern

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.

Classic

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Modern

22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

Classic

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Modern

23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Classic

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Modern

24Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.

Classic

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Modern

25They 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.

Classic

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Modern

26For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.

Classic

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Modern

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.

Classic

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Modern

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.

Classic

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Modern

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,

Classic

29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Modern

30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.

Classic

30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Modern

31They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.

Classic

31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Modern

32Although 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.

Classic

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

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