A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Romans · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
1. PAul a ſervant of Jeſus Chriſt, called to be an Apoſtle, ſeparated unto the Goſpel of God,
1. …y an immediate appearance of Chriſt from Heaven, by Voice and Inſpiration, ſ…t to publiſh the glad tidings of Redemption and Salvation by Chriſt.
2. Which he had promiſed afore by his prophets in the holy ſcripture.
3. Concerning his ſon Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, who was made of the Seed of David according to the fleſh.
4. And declared to be the ſon of God with power, according to the ſpirit of holineſs, by the Reſurrection from the dead.
3. Having his Humane Nature from his Mother of David's line.
4. But the Power of God which owned him, by the Spirit of Holineſs, and his Reſurrection from the dead, did demonſtrate that he was not a meer Man, but Gods own Son, ſent from Heaven, and miraculouſly incarnate.
5. By whom we have received grace and Apoſtleſhip for obedience to the faith, among all nations, for his name.
5. By whoſe own heavenly miſſion I received this favour and honour, to be his ſpecial Meſſenger, ſent to call all Nations to believe and obey the Goſpel, and proclaim the Glory of his Name.
6. Among whom are ye alſo, the called of Jeſus Chriſt.
6. Of whom God hath vouchſafed you to be a part, being the called followers of Jeſus Chriſt.
7. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be ſaints, Grace be to you, and peace from God our father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
7. To all in Rome that are the beloved of God, called out of the World, into the Holy Chriſtian ſtate, I ſalute you by this Benediction and Prayer, that the Grace of God, our Father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and that true Peace and Welfare which is its ſpecial Fruit, may be yet more upon you.
8. Firſt, I thank my God through Jeſus Chriſt for you all, that your faith is ſpoken of throughout the world.
8. And firſt, I thank my God through Jeſus Chriſt, that (as you dwell in that City which is moſt eminent in the World, which is an advantage to the luſtre and communication of your Faith, ſo) your profeſſion of that Faith is ſo illuſtrious, as to be famous throughout the World.
9. For 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.
10. Making requeſt, if by any means now at length, I might have a proſperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
9. For God, whom I ſerve with a devoted Soul, doth know, that this your honourable profeſſion of the Chriſtian Faith, doth make me the more conſtantly remember you in my Prayers.
10. And requeſt of God, if it ſeem good to him, that I may come to you, for the furtherance of my joy, and your edification.
11. For I long to ſee you, that I may impart unto you ſome ſpiritual gift, to the end you may be eſtabliſhed. 12. That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me.
11, 12. For I long to ſee you▪ that by communicating to you what God hath given to me, you may be further eſtabliſhed, and you and I may be comforted in the mutual manifeſtation of our Concordant Faith.
13 Now I would not have you ignorant brethren, that oft times I purpoſed to come unto you, but was let hitherto, that I might have ſome fruit among you alſo, even as among other Gentiles.
13. I would have you know, that as God hath called me to be an Apoſtle to the Gentiles, I oft purpoſed to come to you, (though hitherto hindred) that I might reap ſome fruit of that my Office among you, as well as among other Gentiles.
14. I am a debter both to the Greeks and the Barbarians, both to the wiſe and to the unwiſe.
14. By this my Miſſion and Office, it is my duty to Preach the Goſpel, both to the learned Greeks and Romans, and to unlearned Barbarous Nations.
15. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Goſpel to you that are at Rome alſo.
15. Therefore, if it be the Will of God, that I ſhall come unto you, I am ready as the Apoſtle to the Gentiles, to exerciſe mine Office, by Preaching to you as I have done to others.
16. For I am not aſhamed of the Goſpel of Chriſt: For it is the power of God to ſalvation, to every one that believeth; to the Jew firſt, and alſo to the Greek.
16. For though a Crucified Chriſt be to the Jews a ſtumbling block, and to the Gentiles fooliſhneſs, I am not aſhamed moſt openly to own and Preach this Goſpel: For the Power of God, by this called weakneſs and fooliſhneſs by Men, is manifeſted in it, and by it, in the Converſion, Comfort, and Salvation of every true Believer, whether Jews, with whom it began, or Greeks to whom it is now preached.
17. For therein is the righteouſneſs of God revealed, from faith to faith, As it is written, The juſt ſhall live by faith.
17. For that ſort of Righteouſneſs, which God hath made the neceſſary and acceptable way to Salvation, is therein revealed to the World; even Righteouſneſs by Faith, is revealed to beget Faith in Men; by which it is that Men muſt be juſtified and ſaved, as was foretold.
18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs.
18. For that Goſpel which pardoneth Penitent Believers, doth reveal Gods wrath againſt the Impenitent and Unbelievers, who by the love of Sin, reſiſt and reject the Truth, and continue in ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs.
19. Becauſe that which may be known of God is manifeſt in them; for God hath ſhewed it to them.
19. For they may know much of the nature and attributes of God, as manifeſted by the light of Nature in them, and by the Providence of God among them: by which God ſheweth it unto them.
20. For 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 have no excuſe.
20. For though God and Heavenly things be inviſible, even his Eternal Power, and his God-head, yet are they clearly to be ſeen in the Glaſs of his Works; ſo that their ſin againſt God, thus revealed, leaveth them without all juſt excuſe.
21. Becauſe, that when they knew God, they glorified him him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart was darkened. 22. Profeſſing themſelves wiſe, they became fools. 23. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God, into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and four-footed beaſts, and creeping things.
21. Becauſe, when by his Works, and the light of Nature they were forc'd to confeſs the Divine perfections, they yet lived, not to his Glory, or in holy thankfulneſs to the God whom they acknowledged, but diſhonoured him, and corrupted their Minds by vain Imaginations, and their fooliſh Hearts were darkened by groſs errours. 22. And profeſſing themſelves to be the Learned Philoſophers, and Wiſe Men of the World, and contemning others as Ignorant and Barbarous, they ſhewed by their practice that they were Fools. 23. For when their Tongues acknowledged the glory of the incorruptible God, they worſhipped him as in and by the Images of Corruptible Men, and of Birds, Beaſts, and creeping things; as if God had been like theſe.
24. Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanneſs, through the luſts of their own hearts, to diſhonour their own bodies between themſelves. 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worſhipped and ſerved the creature more than the creator, who is bleſſed for ever, Amen.
24. Wherefore as a juſt puniſhment for their wilful ſins God leſt them to the luſts of the Fleſh, to baſe unnatural uncleanneſs. 25. Seeing they confeſſing the Perfections of the True God, yet repreſented him in the Image of vain ſhadows and Creatures, and ſo offered their worſhip to ſuch Creatures, and to the Stars, rather than to the True and Bleſſed Creator whom they acknowledged.
26. For this cauſe God gave them up to vile affections, for even their women did change the natural uſe, into that which is againſt nature. 27. And likewiſe, alſo the men leaving the natural uſe of the woman, burned in their luſt one towards another, men with men, working that which is unſeemly, and receiving in themſelves that recompenſe of their errour which is meet.
26, 27. For this Sin, God gave them to baſe luſts againſt Nature, who in their Religion ſinned againſt the light of Nature; both Women and Men burning in worſe than beaſtly unnatural luſts towards thoſe of their own Sex, and by being left to that unnatural filthineſs, were juſtly puniſhed for their unnatural Idolatry.
28. And 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 were not convenient.
28. And as their wicked Hearts refuſed to obey and honour God practically, though they did in words acknowledge him; God gave them over to a reprobate Mind, to do thoſe things which the light of Nature and common Reaſon do condemn.
29, 30, 31. Being filled with all unrighteouſneſs, fornication, wickedneſs, covetouſneſs, maliciouſneſs, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whiſperers, backbiters, haters of God, deſpightful, proud, boaſters, inventers of evil things, diſobedient to parents, without underſtanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.
29. So far is their Learning and Arts from making them juſt and happy, that they abound with all manner of odious ſhameful Sin (here named.)
32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit ſuch things are worthy of death, not only commit the ſame, but have pleaſure in them that do them.
32. And all their knowledge (of Good and Evil) is ſo far from Juſtifying or Sanctfying them, that they live in the practice of that which they know God doth condemn, and in their Societies and Converſation make it their delight.