Understanding the Greek Text

The Book of Romans was originally written in Koine Greek, the common language of the eastern Mediterranean during the time of the early church. This page provides the complete Greek text of Romans alongside transliteration and English translation, allowing you to engage with Paul's letter in its original form.

Studying the Greek text can reveal nuances and theological depths that may not be immediately apparent in translation. Key Greek terms like δικαιοσύνη (righteousness), χάρις (grace), πίστις (faith), and νόμος (law) carry rich theological meaning that shaped Paul's arguments.

Interlinear Text
Key Greek Terms
Greek Alphabet

The interlinear format below presents each verse with:

  • The Greek text as originally written
  • Transliteration to help with pronunciation
  • Word-by-word English translation
  • Smooth English translation

Click on any Greek word to see detailed information about its meaning, grammar, and usage in Romans.

Below are some of the most theologically significant Greek terms in Romans:

  • δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) - Righteousness/Justice - A central concept in Romans, referring to God's righteous character, his righteous actions in salvation, and the righteous status he grants to believers.
  • χάρις (charis) - Grace - God's unmerited favor and kindness toward sinners that leads to salvation.
  • πίστις (pistis) - Faith/Faithfulness - Both human trust in God and God's faithfulness to his promises.
  • νόμος (nomos) - Law - Primarily refers to the Mosaic Law but can also mean principle or rule.
  • ἁμαρτία (hamartia) - Sin - Missing the mark of God's standard; can refer to sinful acts or to sin as a power.
  • εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion) - Gospel/Good News - The message of salvation through Christ.
  • σωτηρία (sōtēria) - Salvation - Deliverance from sin and its consequences.

The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters:

Α α
Alpha
Β β
Beta
Γ γ
Gamma
Δ δ
Delta
Ε ε
Epsilon
Ζ ζ
Zeta
Η η
Eta
Θ θ
Theta
Ι ι
Iota
Κ κ
Kappa
Λ λ
Lambda
Μ μ
Mu
Ν ν
Nu
Ξ ξ
Xi
Ο ο
Omicron
Π π
Pi
Ρ ρ
Rho
Σ σ/ς
Sigma
Τ τ
Tau
Υ υ
Upsilon
Φ φ
Phi
Χ χ
Chi
Ψ ψ
Psi
Ω ω
Omega

Chapter 1: Greeting and Gospel Introduction

1
Παῦλος δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, κλητὸς ἀπόστολος, ἀφωρισμένος εἰς εὐαγγέλιον θεοῦ,
Paulos doulos Christou Iēsou, klētos apostolos, aphōrismenos eis euangelion theou,
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2
ὃ προεπηγγείλατο διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν γραφαῖς ἁγίαις
ho proepēngeilato dia tōn prophētōn autou en graphais hagiais
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
3
περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, τοῦ γενομένου ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυὶδ κατὰ σάρκα,
peri tou huiou autou, tou genomenou ek spermatos David kata sarka,
concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
4
τοῦ ὁρισθέντος υἱοῦ θεοῦ ἐν δυνάμει κατὰ πνεῦμα ἁγιωσύνης ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν,
tou horisthentos huiou theou en dynamei kata pneuma hagiōsynēs ex anastaseōs nekrōn, Iēsou Christou tou kyriou hēmōn,
and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5
δι' οὗ ἐλάβομεν χάριν καὶ ἀποστολὴν εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ,
di' hou elabomen charin kai apostolēn eis hypakoēn pisteōs en pasin tois ethnesin hyper tou onomatos autou,
through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
6
ἐν οἷς ἐστε καὶ ὑμεῖς κλητοὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
en hois este kai hymeis klētoi Iēsou Christou,
including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7
πᾶσιν τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ῥώμῃ ἀγαπητοῖς θεοῦ, κλητοῖς ἁγίοις, χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
pasin tois ousin en Rhōmē agapētois theou, klētois hagiois, charis hymin kai eirēnē apo theou patros hēmōn kai kyriou Iēsou Christou.
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Chapter 2: God's Righteous Judgment

1
Διὸ ἀναπολόγητος εἶ, ὦ ἄνθρωπε πᾶς ὁ κρίνων· ἐν ᾧ γὰρ κρίνεις τὸν ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν κατακρίνεις· τὰ γὰρ αὐτὰ πράσσεις ὁ κρίνων.
Dio anapologētos ei, ō anthrōpe pas ho krinōn; en hō gar krineis ton heteron, seauton katakrineis; ta gar auta prasseis ho krinōn.
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.