¶ 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Below are 4 translations (N, R, E and K) of Romans 1:16.
Do they read all the same to you? Are these translations saying the same thing?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Niv)
For I am not ahamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rsv)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Esv)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Kjv)
(note: only Kjv reads "the gospel of Christ".)
Can you discern the STARK differences?
What do you actually believe? Does it matter to you whether you believe the truth or fables?
##1
Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel?
Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because he is most certain and assured that the gospel, the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save His people, will be perceived and received by the believing ones as a message declaring the power of God unto salvation.
The gospel is NOT the power of God unto salvation.
Jesus Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God, unto salvation.
1Co 1:24 "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
The gospel is the good news. Good news declares the POWER of God, ALREADY exercised, unto the salvation of His people; and the gospel is perceived and received as such by the believing ones - those already regenerated by God.
1Co 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Good news informs and instructs, edifies and sanctifies, renews and liberates THOSE who are ALREADY saved by the power of God in Jesus Christ.
The gospel of Christ... what about it?
Well, the gospel of Christ PRESUPPOSES the power of God ALREADY EXERCISED in the work of salvation. Otherwise, there would be no gospel! The gospel is the good news of what has happened by the power of God. It is not an announcement that something good will happen by the power of God when some conditions are met - a preacher preaching, and a sinner dead in trespasses and sins hearing and believing! Many think such announcement to the dead in trespasses and sins is good news! Is there greater delusion?
To deny this is to leave Paul WITHOUT the gospel of Christ, and how could Paul be ashamed of that which did not exist or has not happened?
##2
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Niv)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Kjv)
Niv says what the gospel DOES to everyone who believes - the gospel BRINGS salvation to them.
Kjv says what the gospel IS to every believing ones - the gospel (the message of glad tidings) IS perceived as declaring the power of God unto salvation (i.e. the gospel is good news of God's power unto salvation) to them.
To others, the same glad tiding is foolishness!
See the VAST difference now???????
##3
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
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For in the gospel is proclaimed the great news of the righteousness of God's own provision for the salvation of His people.
The gospel is proclaimed from faith to faith, preached by those who believe to those whom the Spirit of God has worked faith within them.
Why should Paul be ashamed of the gospel when he is assured that the just (those justified freely by the grace act of God while in the state of condemnation and death) shall live by faith???
Sin, the transgression of the law, brought condemnation and death.
Righteousness, the obedience to the law, secured justification and eternal life.
Rom 5:18
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
