Romans has been called the greatest theological document ever written. In this letter, the apostle Paul explains the Good News—the climactic revelation of God to the world through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul reflects on the human condition, on the meaning of our lives on earth, and on our hope for the world to come. He constantly moves us back to the fundamentals of God’s truth reveale…
1Pablo, siervo de Jesucristo, llamado a ser apóstol, apartado para el evangelio de Dios,
2que él había prometido antes por sus profetas en las santas Escrituras,
3acerca de su Hijo, nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que era del linaje de David según la carne,
4que fue declarado Hijo de Dios con poder, según el Espíritu de santidad, por la resurrección de entre los muertos,
5y por quien recibimos la gracia y el apostolado, para la obediencia a la fe en todas las naciones por amor de su nombre;
6entre las cuales estáis también vosotros, llamados a ser de Jesucristo;
7a todos los que estáis en Roma, amados de Dios, llamados a ser santos: Gracia y paz a vosotros, de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo.
8Primeramente doy gracias a mi Dios mediante Jesucristo con respecto a todos vosotros, de que vuestra fe se divulga por todo el mundo.
9Porque testigo me es Dios, a quien sirvo en mi espíritu en el evangelio de su Hijo, de que sin cesar hago mención de vosotros siempre en mis oraciones,
10rogando que de alguna manera tenga al fin, por la voluntad de Dios, un próspero viaje para ir a vosotros.
11Porque deseo veros, para comunicaros algún don espiritual, a fin de que seáis confirmados;
12esto es, para ser mutuamente confortados por la fe que nos es común a vosotros y a mí.
13Pero no quiero, hermanos, que ignoréis que muchas veces me he propuesto ir a vosotros (pero hasta ahora he sido estorbado), para tener también entre vosotros algún fruto, como entre los demás gentiles.
14A griegos y a no griegos, a sabios y a no sabios soy deudor.
15Así que, en cuanto a mí, pronto estoy a anunciaros el evangelio también a vosotros que estáis en Roma.
16Porque no me avergüenzo del evangelio, porque es poder de Dios para salvación a todo aquel que cree; al judío primeramente, y también al griego.
17Porque en el evangelio la justicia de Dios se revela por fe y para fe, como está escrito: Mas el justo por la fe vivirá.
18Porque la ira de Dios se revela desde el cielo contra toda impiedad e injusticia de los hombres que detienen con injusticia la verdad;
19porque lo que de Dios se conoce les es manifiesto, pues Dios se lo manifestó.
20Porque las cosas invisibles de él, su eterno poder y deidad, se hacen claramente visibles desde la creación del mundo, siendo entendidas por medio de las cosas hechas, de modo que no tienen excusa.
21Pues habiendo conocido a Dios, no le glorificaron como a Dios, ni le dieron gracias, sino que se envanecieron en sus razonamientos, y su necio corazón fue entenebrecido.
22Profesando ser sabios, se hicieron necios,
23y cambiaron la gloria del Dios incorruptible en semejanza de imagen de hombre corruptible, de aves, de cuadrúpedos y de reptiles.
24Por lo cual también Dios los entregó a la inmundicia, en las concupiscencias de sus corazones, de modo que deshonraron entre sí sus propios cuerpos,
25ya que cambiaron la verdad de Dios por la mentira, honrando y dando culto a las criaturas antes que al Creador, el cual es bendito por los siglos. Amén.
26Por esto Dios los entregó a pasiones vergonzosas; pues aun sus mujeres cambiaron el uso natural por el que es contra naturaleza,
27y de igual modo también los hombres, dejando el uso natural de la mujer, se encendieron en su lascivia unos con otros, cometiendo hechos vergonzosos hombres con hombres, y recibiendo en sí mismos la retribución debida a su extravío.
28Y como ellos no aprobaron tener en cuenta a Dios, Dios los entregó a una mente reprobada, para hacer cosas que no convienen;
29estando atestados de toda injusticia, fornicación, perversidad, avaricia, maldad; llenos de envidia, homicidios, contiendas, engaños y malignidades;
30murmuradores, detractores, aborrecedores de Dios, injuriosos, soberbios, altivos, inventores de males, desobedientes a los padres,
31necios, desleales, sin afecto natural, implacables, sin misericordia;
32quienes habiendo entendido el juicio de Dios, que los que practican tales cosas son dignos de muerte, no solo las hacen, sino que también se complacen con los que las practican.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
I
Versículo 1
I. 1:1-17 These verses contain the normal features of New Testament letter introductions: an identif…
1:1-17 These verses contain the normal features of New Testament letter introductions: an identification of the writer (1:1-6) and readers (1:7), a thanksgiving (1:8-15), and the theme of the letter (1:16-17).
1:1 slave of Christ Jesus: The word slave is used of important Old Testament leaders of God’s people, such as Moses (2 Kgs 18:12), Joshua (Josh 24:29), Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10), and David (2 Sam 7:8). The title underscores Paul’s complete subservience to Christ as Lord. • sent out (literally set apart): Paul may be alluding to being set apart by God for his mission before he was born, as the prophet Jeremiah was (Jer 1:5). He may also be referring to God’s call at the time of his Damascus Road conversion (Acts 9:15-16; cp. Acts 13:2), to preach the Good News to Jews and especially to Gentiles. • The Good News, or “gospel,” is a recurrent topic in the opening of the letter (Rom 1:1, 9, 15, 16). Paul takes the word from the Old Testament, where the Hebrew equivalent refers to the victory that God wins for his people (Isa 40:9; 41:27; 60:6; 61:1; Nah 1:15; see Joel 2:32).
II
Versículo 3
II. 1:3-4 In the Greek, these verses are in carefully structured parallel form; Paul might be quoting…
1:3-4 In the Greek, these verses are in carefully structured parallel form; Paul might be quoting an early Christian creed or hymn about Jesus Christ as God’s Son in order to establish common ground with the Roman Christians, whom he had never visited.
1:3 In his earthly life (literally As regards the flesh): Paul often uses “flesh” (Greek sarx) to refer to bodily existence in this world (e.g., 4:1; 8:3). • Paul refers to King David’s family line because God promised that a descendant of David would be the Messiah and would be given an eternal kingdom (2 Sam 7:13-16; see Isa 9:7; Jer 33:15). Jesus was born into David’s line (Matt 1:6; Luke 1:27, 32), so he was qualified to fulfill God’s promise.
III
Versículo 4
III. 1:4 he was shown to be: Although Jesus eternally existed as the Son of God (1:3), his resurrectio…
1:4 he was shown to be: Although Jesus eternally existed as the Son of God (1:3), his resurrection demonstrated him to be God’s Son, revealing him in all his power and glory.
IV
Versículo 5
IV. 1:5 given us . . . apostles: Here Paul might have been thinking both of himself and of the other …
1:5 given us . . . apostles: Here Paul might have been thinking both of himself and of the other apostles, or he might be using an editorial plural to refer only to himself. • Privilege and authority could specify two separate things, but one might explain the other, as in the privilege of having apostolic authority. Paul always makes it clear that his distinctive authority is a gift from God (see also 15:15-16). • so that they will believe and obey him: This summary of Paul’s purpose in preaching to Gentiles brackets the book of Romans, as he repeats the same idea in slightly different language at the end of the letter (16:26). Paul wanted Gentiles to believe in Jesus Christ; he underscored that believing in Jesus Christ as the Lord entails a commitment to obey him. Faith and obedience are not identical, but one does not occur without the other.
V
Versículo 7
V. 1:7 To be holy means to be set apart for God. This expression is used throughout the Old Testamen…
1:7 To be holy means to be set apart for God. This expression is used throughout the Old Testament to describe Israel, God’s chosen people (cp. Exod 19:6), whom God called from among all other nations to be his own. By calling the Gentile Christians his own holy people, Paul makes it clear that Gentiles are now fully included among God’s people.
VI
Versículo 9
VI. 1:9 When Paul uses the phrase with all my heart (or in my spirit), he might be describing the inf…
1:9 When Paul uses the phrase with all my heart (or in my spirit), he might be describing the influence of God’s Holy Spirit on his own inner person. The word spirit also refers to the deepest part of a person, which the phrase all my heart expresses well.
VII
Versículo 11
VII. 1:11 some spiritual gift: Paul is probably referring to the spiritual benefit that he hopes his m…
1:11 some spiritual gift: Paul is probably referring to the spiritual benefit that he hopes his ministry will bring to the Roman Christians.
VIII
Versículo 13
VIII. 1:13 brothers and sisters: This Greek word (adelphoi) describes people who are in a familial rela…
1:13 brothers and sisters: This Greek word (adelphoi) describes people who are in a familial relationship. Paul and other New Testament writers use this word to indicate that Christians are so intimately tied to one another in Christ that they are family. The word refers to both male and female Christians. • I was prevented until now: Paul wrote this letter when he was in Corinth toward the end of his third missionary journey (see Acts 20:2-4; cp. Rom 16:21-23). The need to plant and nourish churches in the eastern Mediterranean had occupied Paul up to this point. Before he could visit the Roman Christians, he first needed to return to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money collected from the Gentile churches for the impoverished Jewish Christians (15:23-29).
IX
Versículo 14
IX. 1:14 to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world (literally to Greeks and bar…
1:14 to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world (literally to Greeks and barbarians): The Greeks prided themselves on being sophisticated and cultured, while regarding people from other cultures as inferior. They mocked other peoples’ poorly spoken Greek, claiming that they could only say “bar bar,” a nonsense phrase from which our word barbarian comes. Paul uses this cultural divide to emphasize his intention to preach the Good News to all kinds of people.
X
Versículo 16
X. 1:16 Paul consistently emphasizes that the Good News is for everyone. He also insists that God fi…
1:16 Paul consistently emphasizes that the Good News is for everyone. He also insists that God first chose the Jews to be his people, made promises to them, and gave them a unique place in the continuing plan of God (3:1-8; 9:1-5). They have a special responsibility to respond to the Good News and will be judged first if they turn away (2:9-10).
XI
Versículo 17
XI. 1:17 how God makes us right in his sight (literally the righteousness of God): This key phrase ap…
1:17 how God makes us right in his sight (literally the righteousness of God): This key phrase appears eight times in Romans (see also 3:5, 21, 22, 25, 26; 10:3; the only other occurrence in Paul’s writings is 2 Cor 5:21). The expression has Old Testament roots, where God’s righteousness refers to his character (as holy or faithful) or to an act of declaring his people sinless and perfect in his eyes (see especially Isa 46:13; 51:5-8). Paul uses the second meaning in this verse. The Good News has the power to save because it is the fulfillment of God’s promise to vindicate his people. • The phrase makes us right comes from the law court. It does not mean “makes us good people”; it means “puts us in right standing before God.” • “It is through faith that a righteous person has life”: The prophet Habakkuk had struggled to understand how God could use pagan nations to judge his own people Israel. God reminded Habakkuk that his true people—the righteous—need to live by faith (Hab 2:4). In Rom 1–4, Paul repeatedly insists that only through faith can human beings be made right in God’s sight.
XII
Versículo 18
XII. 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after h…
1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20).
1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually depicts God’s anger as occurring in the end times (Rom 2:5, 8; 5:9; Col 3:6; 1 Thes 1:10), the present tense of shows refers to God’s expressions of anger throughout human history.
XIII
Versículo 21
XIII. 1:21 To know God in Scripture usually means to have an intimate, saving relationship with him (se…
1:21 To know God in Scripture usually means to have an intimate, saving relationship with him (see 2 Cor 5:16; Gal 4:9; Phil 3:8, 10). Here, however, they knew God means that people knew about God. All people have some understanding of God through creation, yet they do not do what is right based on that knowledge. Rather than learn more about God, they worship gods of their own making.
XIV
Versículo 24
XIV. 1:24 When human beings exchanged the living God for idols, God abandoned them, a point Paul makes…
1:24 When human beings exchanged the living God for idols, God abandoned them, a point Paul makes twice more in this paragraph (1:26, 28). The word abandon includes a sense of “handing over,” suggesting that God actively consigns people to the consequences of their sin.
XV
Versículo 26
XV. 1:26 women turned against the natural way: In this context, natural way refers to the nature of t…
1:26 women turned against the natural way: In this context, natural way refers to the nature of the world as God made it. As in the Old Testament, Paul singles out homosexuality as a key illustration of how people have fallen away from worship of the true God (see Gen 19:1-28; Lev 18:22; 20:13; Deut 23:17-18). God created human beings as male and female, and engaging in homosexual activity is a violation of God’s creative intention.
16
Versículo 27
16. 1:27 suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved: When people abandon the Creator’s inte…
1:27 suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved: When people abandon the Creator’s intentions, they are judged for their actions. This judgment can take many different forms, but the ultimate consequence is spiritual death (see 1:32).
17
Versículo 28
17. 1:28 thought it foolish: Sin affects our actions and even our thoughts. One of the serious conseq…
1:28 thought it foolish: Sin affects our actions and even our thoughts. One of the serious consequences of turning away from God is an unsound mind; people can no longer use their minds as God intended.
18
Versículo 29
18. 1:29-31 This list of sins follows a popular Hellenistic literary form called a vice list. While n…
1:29-31 This list of sins follows a popular Hellenistic literary form called a vice list. While not exhaustive, it reminds readers of various forms that evil might take.
19
Versículo 32
19. 1:32 To encourage others to sin is worse than sinning oneself (Jas 3:1; cp. Testament of Asher 6:…
1:32 To encourage others to sin is worse than sinning oneself (Jas 3:1; cp. Testament of Asher 6:2: “The two-faced are doubly punished because they both practice evil and approve of others who practice it; they imitate the spirits of error and join in the struggle against mankind”).
Nuevo Testamento
Romans — Capítulo 1
Romans has been called the greatest theological document ever written. In this letter, the apostle Paul explains the Good News—the climactic revelation of God to the world through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul reflects on the human condition, on the meaning of our lives on earth, and on our hope for the world to come. He constantly moves us back to the fundamentals of God’s truth reveale…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1Pablo, siervo de Jesucristo, llamado a ser apóstol, apartado para el evangelio de Dios,
2que él había prometido antes por sus profetas en las santas Escrituras,
3acerca de su Hijo, nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que era del linaje de David según la carne,
4que fue declarado Hijo de Dios con poder, según el Espíritu de santidad, por la resurrección de entre los muertos,
5y por quien recibimos la gracia y el apostolado, para la obediencia a la fe en todas las naciones por amor de su nombre;
6entre las cuales estáis también vosotros, llamados a ser de Jesucristo;
7a todos los que estáis en Roma, amados de Dios, llamados a ser santos: Gracia y paz a vosotros, de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo.
8Primeramente doy gracias a mi Dios mediante Jesucristo con respecto a todos vosotros, de que vuestra fe se divulga por todo el mundo.
9Porque testigo me es Dios, a quien sirvo en mi espíritu en el evangelio de su Hijo, de que sin cesar hago mención de vosotros siempre en mis oraciones,
10rogando que de alguna manera tenga al fin, por la voluntad de Dios, un próspero viaje para ir a vosotros.
11Porque deseo veros, para comunicaros algún don espiritual, a fin de que seáis confirmados;
12esto es, para ser mutuamente confortados por la fe que nos es común a vosotros y a mí.
13Pero no quiero, hermanos, que ignoréis que muchas veces me he propuesto ir a vosotros (pero hasta ahora he sido estorbado), para tener también entre vosotros algún fruto, como entre los demás gentiles.
14A griegos y a no griegos, a sabios y a no sabios soy deudor.
15Así que, en cuanto a mí, pronto estoy a anunciaros el evangelio también a vosotros que estáis en Roma.
16Porque no me avergüenzo del evangelio, porque es poder de Dios para salvación a todo aquel que cree; al judío primeramente, y también al griego.
17Porque en el evangelio la justicia de Dios se revela por fe y para fe, como está escrito: Mas el justo por la fe vivirá.
18Porque la ira de Dios se revela desde el cielo contra toda impiedad e injusticia de los hombres que detienen con injusticia la verdad;
19porque lo que de Dios se conoce les es manifiesto, pues Dios se lo manifestó.
20Porque las cosas invisibles de él, su eterno poder y deidad, se hacen claramente visibles desde la creación del mundo, siendo entendidas por medio de las cosas hechas, de modo que no tienen excusa.
21Pues habiendo conocido a Dios, no le glorificaron como a Dios, ni le dieron gracias, sino que se envanecieron en sus razonamientos, y su necio corazón fue entenebrecido.
22Profesando ser sabios, se hicieron necios,
23y cambiaron la gloria del Dios incorruptible en semejanza de imagen de hombre corruptible, de aves, de cuadrúpedos y de reptiles.
24Por lo cual también Dios los entregó a la inmundicia, en las concupiscencias de sus corazones, de modo que deshonraron entre sí sus propios cuerpos,
25ya que cambiaron la verdad de Dios por la mentira, honrando y dando culto a las criaturas antes que al Creador, el cual es bendito por los siglos. Amén.
26Por esto Dios los entregó a pasiones vergonzosas; pues aun sus mujeres cambiaron el uso natural por el que es contra naturaleza,
27y de igual modo también los hombres, dejando el uso natural de la mujer, se encendieron en su lascivia unos con otros, cometiendo hechos vergonzosos hombres con hombres, y recibiendo en sí mismos la retribución debida a su extravío.
28Y como ellos no aprobaron tener en cuenta a Dios, Dios los entregó a una mente reprobada, para hacer cosas que no convienen;
29estando atestados de toda injusticia, fornicación, perversidad, avaricia, maldad; llenos de envidia, homicidios, contiendas, engaños y malignidades;
30murmuradores, detractores, aborrecedores de Dios, injuriosos, soberbios, altivos, inventores de males, desobedientes a los padres,
31necios, desleales, sin afecto natural, implacables, sin misericordia;
32quienes habiendo entendido el juicio de Dios, que los que practican tales cosas son dignos de muerte, no solo las hacen, sino que también se complacen con los que las practican.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
Versículo 1
I. 1:1-17 These verses contain the normal features of New Testament letter introductions: an identif…
Versículo 3
II. 1:3-4 In the Greek, these verses are in carefully structured parallel form; Paul might be quoting…
Versículo 4
III. 1:4 he was shown to be: Although Jesus eternally existed as the Son of God (1:3), his resurrectio…
Versículo 5
IV. 1:5 given us . . . apostles: Here Paul might have been thinking both of himself and of the other …
Versículo 7
V. 1:7 To be holy means to be set apart for God. This expression is used throughout the Old Testamen…
Versículo 9
VI. 1:9 When Paul uses the phrase with all my heart (or in my spirit), he might be describing the inf…
Versículo 11
VII. 1:11 some spiritual gift: Paul is probably referring to the spiritual benefit that he hopes his m…
Versículo 13
VIII. 1:13 brothers and sisters: This Greek word (adelphoi) describes people who are in a familial rela…
Versículo 14
IX. 1:14 to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world (literally to Greeks and bar…
Versículo 16
X. 1:16 Paul consistently emphasizes that the Good News is for everyone. He also insists that God fi…
Versículo 17
XI. 1:17 how God makes us right in his sight (literally the righteousness of God): This key phrase ap…
Versículo 18
XII. 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after h…
Versículo 21
XIII. 1:21 To know God in Scripture usually means to have an intimate, saving relationship with him (se…
Versículo 24
XIV. 1:24 When human beings exchanged the living God for idols, God abandoned them, a point Paul makes…
Versículo 26
XV. 1:26 women turned against the natural way: In this context, natural way refers to the nature of t…
Versículo 27
16. 1:27 suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved: When people abandon the Creator’s inte…
Versículo 28
17. 1:28 thought it foolish: Sin affects our actions and even our thoughts. One of the serious conseq…
Versículo 29
18. 1:29-31 This list of sins follows a popular Hellenistic literary form called a vice list. While n…
Versículo 32
19. 1:32 To encourage others to sin is worse than sinning oneself (Jas 3:1; cp. Testament of Asher 6:…