COMMENT:

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham.

4 and declared with power to be the Son of God, with the Spirit of Holiness. His name is Jesus Christ our Lord.

COMMENT:

John 1:14 The Word was made flesh and lived among us. We saw the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

5 By Him we have received grace and apostleship to bring obedience of faith to all nations for His name. 6 And you also are among those Jesus Christ has called. 7 I am writing to the saints in Rome whom God loves. May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.

8 To begin with, I thank God through Jesus Christ for all of you. Your faith is spoken of throughout the world. 9 God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the preaching gospel of His Son, that I always remember you in my prayers without ceasing, 10 hoping to be able to come to see you one day if God wills. 11 I want to be with you in order to share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be even more established in Him. 12 It is my desire that we comfort each other by our mutual faith. 13 I have often desired to come to you that I might help to increase the church there, even from among the Gentiles. 14 I am in debt to both the Greeks and the barbarians, to the wise and the unwise. 15 My intention has been to preach the gospel in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God providing salvation to all who believe. It came first to the Jew, but has now also gone to the Greek. 17 In it the righteousness of God is revealed to those with faith, just as it is written: those who are righteous shall live by faith.

COMMENT:

Habakkuk 2:4 "Behold, he whose soul is not upright shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith."

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men whose purpose is to suppress the truth, 19 even though God has made this truth evident to them. 20 For since the world was created, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and His divine nature, have been clearly visible by observing everything He has made. So they are without excuse.

COMMENT: We may see the evidence of God in nature. Yet so many choose to believe in evolution.

21 Though they knew of God, they did not acknowledge Him with honor and thanks. They became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

COMMENT: Satan has managed so well to inspire so many to disbelieve in God.

22 Professing to be wise they have become fools, 23 exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God for images in the form of corruptible man, birds, four footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore, God has given them over to their own lusts as they dishonor their own bodies.

COMMENT: Anything we do to dishonor our bodies is a means of dishonoring our Maker and His intention when He created us.

25 They exchange the truth of God for a lie, worshipping and serving the creature instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 44:20 "To worship these is to feed on ashes. A deluded heart misleads the maker. The image cannot save himself or his maker. Those who worship him do not recognize the lie they are living."

Jeremiah 10:14 "Everyone is senseless and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud, for they cannot breath."

26 For this reason God has given them over to their vile passions. Even their women exchange that which is natural for that which is unnatural. 27 Men even burn with lust for each other and abandon what God has ordained from the beginning between men and women. And for their indecent acts they receive the penalty of their perversion.

COMMENT:

Leviticus 18:22 "You shall not lie with a man as one lies with a woman. This is an abomination."

28 Because they no longer want to acknowledge God, He has given them over to their depraved minds as they do what is not right. 29 They have been filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, unholy questioning, deceit, being disposed to evil, gossip, 30 slander, having become haters of God, insolent, proud, boastful, inventing evil, being disobedient to parents. 31 They are without understanding, are covenant breakers, are without natural affection, and without mercy. 32 Though they know that those who commit such things are worthy of death, they do them anyway and encourage others to do the same.

Romans 2 - RWB Paraphrase (29 V)
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1 Therefore, those who pass judgment are without excuse. When you condemn someone else you condemn yourself because you do the same things.

COMMENT:

2 Samuel 12:5-7 When David heard this his anger burned, and he said, "As the LORD lives, this man deserves to die." [6] "He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this without pity." [7] Nathan then said, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel and delivered you from the hand of Saul.'."

2 We know that God judges correctly those who practice such things. 3 Do you think that when you pass judgment on someone who does these things, and then you do the same, that you will escape God's judgment? 4 Do you think lightly of the riches of His goodness, forbearance and longsuffering? Do you not realize that it is the goodness of God that leads you to repentance?

COMMENT: We do not repent on our own, but as the Spirit of God prompts us.

5 Your hard and impenitent heart is storing up wrath against you in the day of God's righteous judgment. 6 He will render to each man according to his deeds.

COMMENT:

Psalms 62:12 To Him belongs mercy, for You apportion to each man according to his work.

Proverbs 24:12 "If you say, "We did not know about this, " will He not consider it who weighs hearts? For He will render to man according to his work and the intent of his heart."

7 Some have patiently done well by seeking eternal life. 8 Others have lived selfishly by not obeying the truth. 9 The evil man has great distress to reckon with, to the Jew first and also the Greek. 10 Glory, honor and peace will be for everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also the Greek.

COMMENT: Even the Gentiles are accountable.

11 God is without partiality.

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 10:17 "For the LORD your God is the God above all gods and Lord of lords, who does not show partiality nor take a bribe."

12 For those who sin without knowing the Law will perish and those who sin while knowing the law will be judged by the Law. 13 Just hearing the Law will not make one just before God. Those who do the Law will be justified. 14 When Gentiles who do not know the Law instinctively do the things of the Law, they are a law unto themselves. 15 They show that the intention of the Law is written in their hearts. Their conscience bears witness to them so that they know when something is right or wrong. 16 There will come a day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the good news of salvation.

COMMENT: The good news of salvation is that Jesus has paid the price of our sins if we repent and claim His sacrifice in our behalf. The Holy Spirit prompts us to do this.

17 If you are a Jew and think you have the Law and are safe to boast of your place with God, 18 and you know what He requires according to the Law, 19 confident that you can instruct others who walk in darkness, 20 correcting the foolish, teaching those young in the faith, saying that you have the truth, 21 and have not taught yourself, is this right? Do you preach that one should not steal and then you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you then commit adultery? You claim to abhor idols. Do you make a sacrilege of Christ's sacrifice for you?

COMMENT: There are many ways to make a sacrilege of Christ's sacrifice, and therefore each of these may be our personal idol.

23 When you boast of the law while breaking it, you dishonor God. 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, just as it is written, 25 for circumcision profits you if you keep the law, but if you are a law breaker, your circumcision become uncircumcision.

COMMENT:

Jeremiah 4:4 "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskins of your heart, men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or else your evil deeds will cause My wrath to go forth like unquenchable fire."

Jeremiah 9:25 "Behold, the days are coming when I will punish all who are circumcised and yet are uncircumcised,"

26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps what the law demands, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 And though he is not physically circumcised, if he keeps the Law, he will judge you who have the Law and circumcision but do not keep the law. 28 Being a Jew is not based on outward signs seen in the flesh. 29 To be a Jew is to be one inwardly. His circumcision is to be of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; His praise does not come from men, but from God.

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 30:6 Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, so that you love the LORD with all your heart and soul, that you may live.

Romans 3 - RWB Paraphrase (31 V)
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1 This being the case, what advantage is there in being a Jew? Of what benefit is circumcision? 2 There is great advantage. To begin with, they have been entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 The fact that some did not believe does not nullify the faithfulness of God. 4 God remains true to His promise, though every man be a liar. For it is written: that You may be justified in Your words, and prevail when You are judged. 5 And if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, we can never say that His wrath is not righteous. 6 God will judge the world. 7 And if my lie shows God to be true and abounding in glory, why am I judged for that? 8 And why not say, as some accuse us, let us do evil that good my come from it? Their condemnation is just. 9 Are we in any way better than them? Not at all, for we know that Jews and Greeks are all sinners: 10 as it is written, there is none righteous, not even one.

COMMENT:

Psalms 14:3 They have all turned aside and have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one.

Psalms 53:1-3 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." In his corruptness he has committed abominable iniquity. No one does good. [2] God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God. [3] They have all turned aside and become corrupt. Not one of them does good.

11 There is none who understands, and none who seek for God. 12 All have turned aside and become useless. There is none who does good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave and their tongue keeps deceiving. The poison of an asp is under their lips.

COMMENT:

Psalms 5:9 There is nothing reliable in what they say. They are destructive from the inside out. Their throat is an open grave behind their flattery.

Psalms 140:3 They sharpen their tongues as a serpent. A viper's poison is under their lips.

14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

COMMENT:

Psalms 10:7 His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression. The idea behind all his words is mischief and wickedness.

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 destruction and misery are in their paths, 17 and they have not known the path of peace. 18 And they have no fear of God.

COMMENT:

Psalms 36:1 Transgression makes the ungodly person think that he need not fear God.

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it is speaking to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed, and all the world become accountable to God. 20 No one will be justified in God's sight by the works of the Law, for the Law only gives a knowledge of sin. 21 The righteousness of God can be manifest apart from the Law, and witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God which comes by faith in Jesus Christ which is given to all who believe in Him. Either way, there is no difference. 23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 24 We are freely justified by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God has made a public propitiation through faith in His blood. This demonstrates His righteousness because of His forbearance in passing over sins previously committed. 26 This demonstrates His righteousness and shows that He is just, and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. 27 There can be no boasting, either of the Law or of works. But we can boast of the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law. 29 God is the God of both the Jews and the Gentiles, 30 since He will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith. 31 Does this mean we nullify the Law through faith? May that never be! In fact, we establish the Law.

Romans 4 - RWB Paraphrase (25 V)
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1 What did Abraham our father discover concerning justification? 2 If Abraham was justified by his own good works he might boast, but not before God. 3 In fact the scripture says, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. 4 When one performs a work, it is not credited to him as a favor but as his due. 5 But the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justified the ungodly, it is his faith that is counted as righteousness. 6 David spoke of the blessing of the man to whom righteousness is credited apart from works. 7 Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

COMMENT:

Psalms 32:1-2 How blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven. [2] He is truly blessed when the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit He finds no deceit!

8 Blessed is the man whose sins God will not take into account. 9 This is the blessing on both the circumcised and the uncircumcised. For we know that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.

COMMENT:

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD and He counted it to him for righteousness,

10 And this was done before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness he had by faith while he was not yet circumcised, so that he might become the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them.

COMMENT:

Genesis 17:10 "Here is the covenant which you and your descendants shall keep: every male shall be circumcised."

12 He was the father of both those who are circumcised and those who followed in his steps before he was circumcised. 13 The promise was given that Abraham and his descendants would be heir of the world, not through the Law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if the Law is the basis of those who are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified. 15 The Law brings about wrath but where there is no Law there is no violation of the Law. 16 Grace is received by faith so that the promise will be guaranteed to everyone, not just those under the Law, but also those who are of the faith of Abraham, the father of us all. 17 As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations. This promise was made before he believed God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which is not.

COMMENT:

Genesis 17:5 You will no longer be known as Abram. Your name shall be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations.

18 Contrary to hope Abraham believed, so that he might become the father of many nations, as he was promised, so shall your seed be. 19 His faith was weak as he realized that his body was as good as dead since he was about an hundred years old. And Sarah was too old to bear children. 20 Yet, because God promised, Abraham believed and his faith grew strong, as he glorified God. 21 He was fully confident that what God promised He was able to accomplish. 22 Because of this he was counted as righteous.

COMMENT:

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD and He counted it to him for righteousness,

23 This account of Abraham was not written only for his sake, 24 but also for our sake, so that we may believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over because of our transgressions and was raised again that we may be justified.

Romans 5 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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1 So, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 It is through Him that we are introduced to this grace wherein we stand, rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God. 3 In addition we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about patience, 4 and patience, experience, and experience, hope. 5 Hope does not disappoint because the love of God lights our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. 6 For while we were helpless, Christ died at the right time for the ungodly. 7 For one would hardly die for a righteous man, though some might. 8 But God demonstrated His love to us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. 9 It is because of Him that we are justified by His blood and saved from the wrath of God. 10 For while we were His enemies we were reconciled to Him by the death of His Son, so we shall be saved by His life. 11 Beside this we have joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we are made right with God. 12 Therefore, as by one man sin came into the world, and death by sin, so all men sin and die. 13 Without the Law sin is not imputed. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even though their sin was not like Adam's, who is the figure of Him that was to come. 15 We see that the offense of one man caused all to die. How wonderful is the grace of God in that His gift of grace, which comes by one Man, Jesus Christ, covers the sins of many. 16 On the one hand one sinned and many received judgment because of his transgression, but on the other hand the transgressions of many was paid for by the free gift of justification. 17 For if death reigned by the transgression of the one, how much greater is the gift of righteousness reigning in the life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as through the transgression of one man condemnation came to all, even so through an act of righteousness by One Man, justification was provided for all men. 19 For as through the disobedience of one man many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One Man many are made righteous. 20 The Law was given so that offense might be better perceived, but where sin increased, grace was more than adequate, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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1 Does this mean that we can sin as much as we want so that grace may abound? 2 May this never be our thought! How shall we who have died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Did you know that those who have been baptized into Jesus Christ have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in His death, so we should also be in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 Knowing that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, and we will no longer be slaves to sin. 7 We who have died are freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ was raised from the dead, never to die again. Death no longer has power over Him. 10 He died to sin once for all, and the life He lives, He lives unto God. 11 So you should consider yourselves dead to sin, and alive to God in Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body to obey its lusts, 13 and do not present the members of your body as instruments of unrighteousness. Instead, present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not be your master. You are not under the Law, but under grace. 15 Shall we sin because we are under grace and not under the Law? We must never think this way. 16 Don't you realize that when you yield yourself to be someone's slave, you are his slave when you obey him, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 Thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you became obedient from your heart according to what you have learned, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of your inherent weakness. For just as you used to present your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness resulting in holiness. 20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What benefit was there in doing the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 Now that you are freed from sin and are servants of God, you may benefit from being sanctified and looking forward to eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 7 - RWB Paraphrase (25 V)
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1 Brethren, you who know the law realize that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives. 2 For a woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives. When he dies she is released from the law concerning her husband. 3 So if she is joined to another man while her husband lives, she is an adulteress. But when her husband dies she is free from the law to join herself to another man. 4 In the same way you were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ so that you may be joined to another, even to Him Who is raised from the dead, in order that you might bear fruit for God. 5 For while you were in the flesh, your sinful passions were aroused by the Law. These passions bore fruit for death. 6 And now that we have been released from the Law, and have died to that which we were bound, we serve in newness of Spirit and not the oldness of the letter of the Law.

COMMENT: Paul is not saying that this law does not need to be kept. He is saying � that we are not bound to the penalty the law's demands because when we die � in baptism, we are then raised to newness of life in Christ Jesus.

7 Shall we say the law is sin? That is not the case! The Law makes it possible to recognize sin, telling us things like, thou shall not covet.

COMMENT:

Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Deuteronomy 5:21 "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or desire his house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

8 The Law did not stop me from coveting and just knowing something is wrong does not keep me from death. 9 At first I lived apart from the Law. When I understood the Law, sin became alive and I died. 10 This commandment, meant to preserve life, has resulted in death for me, 11 for sin, coming on me because of the commandment deceived me through it killed me. 12 So we know that the Law is holy and therefore the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good become a cause of death for me? No! It was sin that did me in and the commandment revealed my condition. 14 We know the Law is spiritual and I am flesh. I have been sold into bondage because of sin. 15 I am in a dilemma. I am not doing what I would like to do. In fact, I do the very thing I hate. 16 If I do what I do not want to do, I am agreeing that the Law is good. 17 At that point it isn't me doing it, but sin which is in me. 18 I know that there is nothing good in me, in my flesh. For willingness is present in me but I lack the will to carry it out. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do. I practice the evil that I do not want. 20 And if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am not the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find that I want to do good even though evil is present in me. 22 I joyfully concur with the law of God in my inner being. 23 But I see a different law in the members of my body. It wages war against the law of my mind. I find that I am held captive to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Who will set me free from my wretched condition and death which is to come? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! I serve the law of God with my mind, but my flesh serves the law of sin.

Romans 8 - RWB Paraphrase (39 V)
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1 This means that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and walk after the Spirit instead of the flesh. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from sin and death. 3 Because of my weak flesh the Law could not do what God did by sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be an offering for sin. He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh. 5 Those that walk according to the flesh have set their minds on the things of the flesh. Those who walk according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded results in death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, and is unable to subject itself to the law of God. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit dwells in you. Now if a man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is in you, He will give life to your mortal body by dwelling in you.

COMMENT: If the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, did Jesus cease to exist for the time He was in the grave? I do mean to ask an unholy question. I am looking for more meaning to the sacrifice God made in providing salvation to mankind.

12 So we are not obligated to live to the flesh, 13 for if we do live to the flesh, we must die, but if we live by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh and we will live. 14 All who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 You are no longer slaves expecting to die, for you have received the spirit of adoption as sons who cry out, Abba, Father.

COMMENT: Abba is something like Daddy.

16 The Spirit Himself assures us that we are children of God. 17 And if we are His children, we are fellow heirs with Christ. But we must suffer with Him in order to be glorified with Him. 18 I consider the sufferings of this life unworthy of comparison to the glory that shall be revealed to us. 19 As creatures we wait eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God, 20 and as creatures we are unwillingly subject to futility, yet with hope. 21 The creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 We know that all creation now groans, suffering the pains of childbirth. 23 We have the First Fruits of the Spirit and we groan within ourselves as we wait for our adoption and the redemption of our bodies. 24 We are saved by hope in what we cannot see. Otherwise it would not be hope. 25 We wait eagerly for this hope we cannot yet see. 26 And in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray. It is the Spirit who makes intercession for us with groaning to deep for words. 27 And He who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for us according to God's will. 28 And we know that God makes all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, making Him the firstborn among many children. 30 Having predestined them, He called and justified them and He will glorify.

COMMENT: This predestination was not a way of selecting only some. It was God's plan to save everyone who is willing to be saved. Glorification will come eventually, in God's good time.

31 So if God is for us, what does it matter if others are against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, sacrificing Him for us, will give us whatever we need. 33 Who shall accuse God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who shall condemn us? Christ died, rose again and now sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Can tribulation do this, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? 36 It is written, for your sake we are being put to death all day long. We are treated as sheep ready to be slaughtered.

COMMENT:

Psalms 44:22 For Your sake we are killed all day long. We are as sheep to be slaughtered.

37 Yet in all these circumstances we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present or yet to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 9 - RWB Paraphrase (33 V)
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1 What I have told you is the truth in Christ. My conscience bears witness with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that my heart is very heavy. 3 For I am willing to be accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, those of my own race, 4 who are Israelites, to whom has been promised the adoption of sons, and the glory and covenants since the giving of the Law and the temple services and its promises, 5 through whom the Christ came according to the flesh and who is over all, blessed by God forever. Amen.

6 Even so, the word of God has not failed. For others outside of Israel have been born into Israel. 7 Neither is all Israel Abraham's children, even though they came from him. The promise to Abraham was that in Isaac shall your descendants be named.

COMMENT:

Genesis 21:12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be concerned for the lad of your maid. Do as Sarah has asked. Your descendants are to come through Isaac."

8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are God's children, but the children of the promise who are counted as his descendants. 9 This is the promise given: at this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.

COMMENT:

Genesis 18:10 The Stranger said, "I will surely return to you at this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind Him.

10 And when Rebekah had twins by our father Isaac, 11 before the twins were born and had done anything good or bad, God chose one of them. 12 For He said to her, the older shall serve the younger.

COMMENT:

Genesis 25:23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb. When they become two peoples they shall be divided. One will be stronger, and the older shall serve the younger."

13 Just as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

COMMENT:

Malachi 1:2-3 "I have loved you, " says the LORD. But you say, "How have You loved us?" The Lord said, "Was not Esau Jacob's brother, yet I have loved Jacob," [3] "and hated Esau, making his mountain desolation and appointing his inheritance to the jackals in the wilderness."

14 What, shall we say that God is not just? No, we can never say this because there is no injustice with God. 15 For He said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

COMMENT: God, who reads hearts, makes just decisions.

Exodus 33:19 And the LORD said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, proclaiming My name. I will be gracious to whomever I will be gracious, and show mercy on whomever I choose."

16 God alone decides on whom He will have mercy. 17 In another place the scripture said to Pharaoh, for this very purpose I raised you up, in order to show My power over you, so that My name might be declared throughout the whole earth.

COMMENT:

Exodus 9:14-16 "For I am about to send all My plagues on you, on your servants and your people, so that you will know that there is no one like Me in all the earth." [15] "I will stretch out My hand strike you and your people and I will cut you off from the earth." [16] "I have allowed you to remain until now in order to demonstrate My power and proclaim My name throughout all the earth."

18 So we see that He has mercy on whomever He will, and others He hardens.

COMMENT:

Exodus 4:21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, be sure to show Pharaoh the rod I have placed in your hand. Nevertheless, I will harden his heart and he will not let My people go."

Deuteronomy 2:30 "But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing to let us pass through his land, for the LORD hardened his heart, in order to deliver him into your hand."

19 You may say, how can He find fault when no one can resist His will? 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, to question God? The thing which is made will not say to its maker, why did you make me this way? 21 Doesn't the potter have the right to make the vessel for whatever use he chooses? 22 What if God, wishing to show His wrath and to make His power known, long endured the vessels of wrath made for destruction,

COMMENT:

Proverbs 16:4 "The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for a day of evil."

23 so that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy that He prepared ahead of time for glory, 24 even those of us He has called, not only from the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles. 25 As He said in Hosea, I will call those who were not of My people, "My people," and her who was not beloved, "My beloved."

COMMENT:

Hosea 2:23 "I will plant her for Myself in the land. I will show my love to the one I previously said I did not love. Those who had not been called My people will become My people and they will say, 'You are my God.'."

26 And it shall come to pass that those who were declared as not My people shall be called the children of the living God.

COMMENT:

Hosea 1:10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said of them, 'You are not my people,' there it shall be said to them, You are sons of the living God."

27 Isaiah cried out concerning Israel, though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant shall be saved.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 10:22 Even though the people of Israel may be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed. It will be overwhelming and righteous.

28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 10:23 The LORD Almighty, will carry out the destruction He has decreed upon the whole land.

29 And just as Isaiah has said, except the LORD of the Sabbath had left us a remnant, we would be like Sodom and Gomorrah.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 1:9 "Unless the LORD of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom and Gomorrah."

Amos 4:11 "I overthrew you the way I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a firebrand snatched from the fire. Still you did not return to Me."

30 Shall we say that the Gentiles which did not follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness by faith, 31 while Israel having followed the Law of righteousness has not attained to it?

COMMENT:

Isaiah 51:1 "Those of you who pursue righteousness and seek the LORD, must look to the rock from which you were hewn, and the quarry from which you were dug."

32 Why is this? Because they did not pursue it by faith. They sought their salvation through the works of the Law. And they have stumbled over the stumbling stone.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 8:14 "And He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel He will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock to make them fall. He will be a trap and a snare for the people of Jerusalem."

33 It is written, behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 28:16 "So this is what the LORD God says, 'I am laying a costly corner stone in Zion. It is a tested stone to be placed firmly for the foundation. Whoever believes in it will never be dismayed.'"

Romans 10 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. 2 They certainly have a zeal for God, though not according to a knowledge of scripture. 3 Because they do not know about God's righteousness, they try to establish their own, and have not subjected themselves to God. 4 For Christ gives the Law a righteous purpose for those who believe in Him. 5 Moses described the righteousness of the law as the basis for living.

COMMENT:

Leviticus 18:5 "A man may live if he keeps My statutes and judgments."

6 And the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, who will ascend to heaven, or bring Christ down here,"

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 30:12 "It is not far from you so that someone else needs to make you hear it."

7 "or who will descend into the abyss?" In other words, bring Christ up from the dead. 8 What does this tell you? The word is near you, even in your mouth and heart. In other words, the word of faith that we preach,

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 30:14 "This word is very near to you, in your mouth and heart, that you may observe it."

9 that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved. 10 For it is with the heart that a person believes and this results in righteousness. As you confess with your mouth, you receive salvation. 11 For the scripture says, whoever believes in Him will not be ashamed.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 28:16 "So this is what the LORD God says, 'I am laying a costly corner stone in Zion. It is a tested stone to be placed firmly for the foundation. Whoever believes in it will never be dismayed.'"

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. It is the same Lord that abounds in riches over all who call upon Him. 13 Whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be saved.

COMMENT:

Joel 2:32 "At that time whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered. There will be those who escape on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, survivors among whom the LORD calls."

14 But how can they call on Him whom they have not believed in? And how shall they believe without hearing of Him? And how will they hear without a Preacher? 15 How can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring good news of good things!

COMMENT:

Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good news, announcing peace, happiness and salvation, saying to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"

16 However, some have not heeded the good news. Isaiah said, Lord, who has received our report?

COMMENT:

Isaiah 53:1 "Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"

17 So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I ask, haven't they heard? They have, for this news has gone to all the earth unto the ends of the world.

COMMENT:

Psalms 19:4 Their witness has gone out to the ends of the earth. He has placed a tent for the sun,

19 But I say, did not Israel know? First Moses said, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 32:21 "They have made Me jealous with what is not God. They provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation."

20 Isaiah is very bold when he says, "I was found by those who did not seek Me. I was manifest to those who did not ask for Me."

COMMENT:

Isaiah 65:1 "I allowed Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me. I let them find Me, saying, 'Here I am. ' I did this for a nation that did not call upon My name."

21 But as for Israel He says, "All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."

COMMENT:

Isaiah 65:2 "All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people. They walk in ways that are not good, and pursue their own thoughts."

Romans 11 - RWB Paraphrase (36 V)
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1 God has not rejected His people, has He? May that never be, for I am an Israelite too, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.

COMMENT:

1 Samuel 12:22 "For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name. The LORD has been pleased to make you His people."

Jeremiah 31:37 Thus says the LORD, "If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth mapped out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done."

2 God has not cast His people away. Remember what the scripture said about Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel?

COMMENT:

Psalms 94:14 The LORD will not abandon His people, or forsake His inheritance.

3 Lord, they have killed Your prophets, and torn down Your altars. I alone am left and they are seeking my life.

COMMENT:

1 Kings 19:10 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. The children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left and they are seeking my life."

4 How did God answered him? He said, "I have kept to Myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

COMMENT:

1 Kings 19:18 "I still have seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed the knee to Baal or kissed him."

5 At this present time there is also a remnant that God has chosen by His grace. 6 And if it is by grace, it is no longer based on works. Otherwise grace would not be grace. 7 How is it that what Israel was seeking was not obtained, except by those who were chosen, while the rest were hardened? 8 Just as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, right down to this very day.

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 29:4 "Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, or eyes to see neither has He given you ears to hear."

9 And David said, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them."

COMMENT:

Psalms 69:22 May their table become a snare. When they feel peace may it be a trap.

10 Let their eyes be darkened so they do not see, and let their backs be bowed down forever.

COMMENT:

Psalms 69:23 May their eyes grow dim until they cannot see, and may their loins become weak.

11 Are they doomed to stumble forever? God forbid. Rather when salvation comes to the Gentiles, let them be provoked with jealousy. 12 If their transgressions cause the Gentiles to learn of salvation, how much greater it will be when they see the light! 13 I am speaking to you who are Gentiles since I am the apostle to the Gentiles. 14 If I might cause my countrymen to be jealous of you, some might be saved. 15 For their rejection of Christ is the cause of reconciliation of the world, when they come to Him, it will be as though from the dead. 16 When the first part of the dough is holy, the whole lump is too. If the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 If some of the branches were removed and you, being of the wild olive were grafted in place of them, and partake of the cultivated olive tree's strength, 18 do not boast over the branches that were removed. Your strength is not your own but comes from the root you have been grafted on to. 19 You may say that branches were removed to make room so that you might be grafted in. 20 It is true that they were removed because of their unbelief. You are there because of your faith. Do not be conceited. Instead, fear, 21 for if God did not spare the original branches, neither will He spare you. 22 Behold then the goodness and severity of God. He was severe with those that fell and good toward you if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you too will be removed. 23 And they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in again, for God is able to do this. 24 For if you were taken from a wild olive tree and grafted in to a cultivated olive tree, how much more will He take the original branches and join them again to their own olive tree. 25 Brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed of this mystery, or wise in your own estimation. A partial hardening has come to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come. 26 Then all Israel will be saved, just as it is written, "The deliver will come from Zion. He will remove ungodliness from Jacob." 27 This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins. 28 They have become enemies of the gospel for your sake, but God still loves them for the sake of the fathers, 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these who have not believed, will believe because of the mercy shown to you. 32 For God is dealing with their unbelief so that He may show mercy to everyone. 33 Oh, the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God! His judgments are unsearchable and His ways are past finding out! 34 For who has known the mind of the LORD? Who can give Him council?

COMMENT:

Isaiah 40:13 "Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or given counsel to Him?"

35 Who can charge the LORD for anything and expect payment?

COMMENT:

Job 41:11 "To whom do I owe anything? Everything under the whole heaven is Mine."

36 All things come from Him and through Him and to Him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 12 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove God's good will, perfect and acceptable. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to each of you, do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Think soberly according to the measure of faith alotted to you. 4 Just as we have bodies with many members, and the members have different purposes, 5 so we who many are one body in Christ, and belong to each other. 6 We have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If someone has the gift of prophecy, let him exercise this gift according to the portion of faith given to him. 7 If service is your purpose, exercise it. If teaching, teach. 8 If your gift is to exhort, then exhort. Let him who gives do this with liberality. Let him who leads, do so with diligence, and he who shows mercy should do this cheerfully. 9 Love without being a hypocrite. Abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the LORD. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless and do not curse those who persecute you. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 16 Be like minded with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never repay evil with evil. Do what is right in the sight of all men.

COMMENT:

Proverbs 24:29 "Do not say, 'I'll do to him as he has done to me, to pay him back.'"

18 As far as possible be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge. Leave it for God to take care of, for it is written, vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the LORD.

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 32:35 "Vengeance is Mine, and retribution. In due time their foot will slip. For the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hurrying toward them."

20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink: for in doing this you heap coals of fire on his head.

COMMENT:

Proverbs 25:21 "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water,"

21 Do not be overcome by evil. Rather, overcome evil with good.

Romans 13 - RWB Paraphrase (14 V)
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1 Let everyone be subject to the governing powers, for God has ordained these authorities.

COMMENT:

Daniel 2:21 "It is He who changes the times and the epochs. He takes down kings and sets them up. He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding."

2 Those that resist authority oppose the ordinance of God and bring condemnation on themselves. 3 For rulers are not the cause of fear to those who do good, but rather those who do evil. If you want to be without fear toward authority, then do what is right. 4 For he is a minister of God to you for good. If you do evil, you should be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. His job is to execute wrath on those who practice evil.

COMMENT:

Ecclesiastes 8:2 "Obey the king's command, because you made a promise before God."

5 So this requires subjection, not just from fear but because of your conscience. 6 This is why you pay taxes, for the rulers are servants of God who take care of these things. 7 Give then what is their due, whether customs, or fear, or honor.

COMMENT:

Matthew 22:21 They said, "Caesar's." Then He said, "Give to Caesar what belongs to him and give to God what belongs to Him."

8 Owe no man anything, but love one another. For when we love each other we fulfill the law. 9 We know the law: you shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness and you shall not covet. Any other commandment is summed up by saying, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

COMMENT:

Leviticus 19:18 "You shall not take vengeance nor bear a grudge against the children of your people. You are to love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

10 Love works no ill to one's neighbor. The law is fulfilled by loving. 11 It is time to be awake, for salvation is nearer than we thought. 12 The night is almost gone and the day is near. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, neither in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, nor in strife or jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the LORD Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh or its lusts.

Romans 14 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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1 Accept those who are weak in the faith and do not pass judgment on doubtful disagreements. 2 One believes that he can eat anything while someone who is weak can eat only herbs. 3 We are not to look down on someone who does not eat what we can eat, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge another's servant? He must give an account for himself, and the LORD will help him. 5 One person has a regard for one day more than the other days. Yet another person regards them as all the same. Let each one make up his own mind.

COMMENT: He is not talking about days of the week, but various feast days.

6 He who observes a day does it because he thinks the LORD wants him to do this. And he who eats does this as unto the LORD, giving thanks, while he who does not eat something also gives thanks for what he does eat. 7 No one lives for himself and no one dies for himself. 8 If we live we live for the LORD and if we die we die for Him. Either way, we are the LORD's. 9 This is why Christ died and rose from the grave, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother and regard him with contempt? We will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, as I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 45:23 "I have sworn by Myself in righteousness. Every knee shall bow to Me and every tongue will swear allegiance."

12 So each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 For this reason we must not judge one another anymore. Instead, be sure that no one places a stumbling block or any obstacle in his brother's way. 14 I am persuaded by the LORD that nothing is unclean of itself. But if it seems unclean to someone, then to him it is unclean. 15 For if some of your food causes your brother's hurt, you are not walking in love. Christ died for him and you must not destroy him with what you eat. 16 Therefore, do not let what is good for you be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking. Instead the kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 He who serves Christ in this way is accepted by God and approved by men. 19 Let us pursue those things that make for peace and for the building up of one another.

COMMENT:

Psalms 34:14 Do good and pursue peace.

20 Do not tear down the work of God. All things are clean, but they are evil to the man who is offended by them.

COMMENT: Paul is not suggesting we are free to eat those things He has forbidden.

21 It is good to not eat meat or drink wine, or do anything that offends your brother or causes him to stumble. 22 Let your faith follow your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who does not condemn himself in what he believes. 23 But the one who doubts is condemned when he does not eat from faith, and what is not of faith is sin.

Romans 15 - RWB Paraphrase (33 V)
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1 It is right for us to adjust our behavior for the sake of those who are weak. 2 It is our duty to please our neighbor for his own good and edification. 3 Even Christ did not live for Himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproach you fell on me.

COMMENT:

Psalms 69:9 Zeal for Your house has consumed me and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through patient encouragement from the scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patient encouragement grant that you can be of the same mind with each other like Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one voice you may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another in the same way that Christ has accepted us to the glory of God. 8 Jesus Christ became a minister to the circumcised in order to confirm the promises made to the Fathers, 9 but also so the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written, for this cause I will confess Thee among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name. 10 In another place He says, rejoice O Gentiles, with His people. 11 And again, praise the LORD all you Gentiles, and let all the people praise Him.

COMMENT:

Psalms 117:1 Praise the LORD, all nations. Laud Him, all peoples!

12 Again in Isaiah, there shall be a root of Jesse, and He shall rise up to reign over the Gentiles. In Him the Gentiles will trust.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 11:10 "In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, who will stand as a banner to the people, for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious."

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace by believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 I am convinced, my brothers, that you are full of goodness and all knowledge, able to admonish each other. 15 I have written to you with much boldness concerning things you have needed to be reminded of, since God has given me grace to do this, 16 to make me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 This is why I glory through Christ Jesus in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I do not presume to say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem round about as far as Illyricum, I have preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have tried to preach the gospel in places other than where Christ was already known, because I did not want to build on someone else's foundation.

COMMENT: Perhaps Paul felt if he was the first to tell them of Christ then he might have less trouble expressing the truth clearly.

21 As it is written, to whom He was not spoken of, they shall see, and they that have not heard shall understand.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 52:15 "So will He sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand."

22 And this has prevented me from coming to you. 23 But now that I have finished what I set out to do in these regions, and having wished to come see you for some years, 24 should I go to Spain, I hope to see you on my way there. 25 But for now, I am headed to Jerusalem to minister to the saints there. 26 Macedonia and Achaia have sent a contribution to the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do this and we are in their debt. Since the Gentiles are partakers of spiritual things, they have a duty to minister to the saints in Jerusalem with material things. 28 After I have delivered their gift with my blessing, I plan to go to Spain after visiting with you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come with the blessing of Christ.

30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to plead together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 so that I may rescue those in Judea who are disobedient and my service may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that I may come to you as God wills and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16 - RWB Paraphrase (27 V)
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1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the LORD, as becomes saints, and that you assist her in whatever she asks of you. She has helped many, including me. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ. 4 They risked their lives for me as well as the churches among the Gentiles. 5 Also greet the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto to Christ. 6 Greet Mary who has labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsman and fellow prisoners, who were outstanding among the disciples and knew Christ before I did. 8 Greet Amplias whom I love in the LORD. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles who has been approved by Christ. Greet those in the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the LORD. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, God's workers. Greet the beloved Persis who has labored much for the LORD. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the LORD, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olypas, and all the saints with them. 16 Greet each other with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ send their greetings. 17 I urge you, brothers, keep your eye on those who cause divisions by working contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Avoid these people. 18 Such men are not servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, but are slaves to their own appetite. They make fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 The report of your obedience has reached us. I am glad for you but I would have you be wise in what is good and stay away from what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

COMMENT:

Genesis 3:14-15 Then the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this you are cursed above all cattle and beasts of the field. You will move about on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life." [15] "I will put animosity between your offspring and her offspring. One from her seed will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel."

21 Timothy my fellow worker greets you, along with Lucius, Jason and my kinsman Sosipater. 22 I, Tertius, who is writing this epistle, greet you in the LORD.

COMMENT: So Paul had a scribe.

23 Gaius, my host, as well as the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer send his greetings. So does Quartus, another brother. 24 The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

25 Now, to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of the LORD Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of sin the mystery which was kept secret since the beginning of the world,

COMMENT: It was Paul's goal that the gospel of Christ would become his.

26 and has now been manifest and confirmed by the scriptures, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, having been made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. 27 To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be the glory forever. Amen.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16