Romans 1:2

King James Version

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Long ago, God had promised the good news through the Good Book and the cowboys who wrote it.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Legacy Standard Bible
which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Bible in Basic English
Of which God had given word before by his prophets in the holy Writings,

Darby Translation
(which he had before promised by his prophets in holy writings,)

New King James Version
which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

Christian Standard Bible®
which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures—

World English Bible
which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Which he had promised before, by his prophets in the holy scriptures,

Weymouth's New Testament
which God had already promised through His Prophets in Holy Writ, concerning His Son,

King James Version (1611)
(Which he had promised afore by his Prophets in the holy Scriptures,)

Literal Translation
which He promised before through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(which he promysed a fore by his prophetes in ye holy scriptures)

Mace New Testament (1729)
which God had promised by his prophets in the holy scriptures,

THE MESSAGE
The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.

Amplified Bible
which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures—

American Standard Version
which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

Revised Standard Version
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which he promysed afore by his Prophetes in the holy scriptures

Update Bible Version
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

Webster's Bible Translation
(Which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures)

Young's Literal Translation
which He announced before through His prophets in holy writings --

New Century Version
God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures.

New English Translation
This gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

Berean Standard Bible
which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

Contemporary English Version
that he promised long ago by what his prophets said in the holy Scriptures.

Complete Jewish Bible
God promised this Good News in advance through his prophets in the Tanakh.

English Standard Version
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Geneva Bible (1587)
(Which he had promised afore by his Prophetes in the holy Scriptures)

George Lamsa Translation
Which was promised from early days by his prophets in the holy scriptures,

Hebrew Names Version
which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

International Standard Version
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy ScripturesActs 26:6; Romans 3:21; 16:26; Galatians 3:8; Titus 1:2;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
which from of old he had promised by the hand of the prophets, in the holy writings,

Murdock Translation
(which he had before promised, by his prophets, in the holy scriptures,

New Living Translation
God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.

New Life Bible
The Good News was promised long ago by God's early preachers in His Holy Writings.

English Revised Version
which he promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,

New Revised Standard
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which he promised beforehand, through his prophets, in holy scriptures -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Which he had promised before, by his prophets, in the holy scriptures,

Lexham English Bible
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which he had promised afore by his prophetes in ye holy scriptures

Easy-to-Read Version
God promised long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures to give this Good News to his people.

New American Standard Bible
which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Good News Translation
The Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets, as written in the Holy Scriptures.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
which he hadde bihote tofore bi his profetis in holi scripturis of his sone,

Contextual Overview

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, ² (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) ³ Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which 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: ⁵ By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: ⁶ Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: ⁷ To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Which: Luke 24:26, Luke 24:27, Acts 10:43, Acts 26:6, Titus 1:2

by: Romans 3:21

the holy: Romans 3:2

Reciprocal: Luke 1:69 - in John 5:39 - they which Romans 16:26 - and by 2 Timothy 3:15 - the holy Revelation 22:6 - the holy

Cross-References

Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

Job 26:7
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

Job 26:14
Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

Psalms 33:6
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Isaiah 45:18
For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord ; and there is none else.

Nahum 2:10
She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which he had promised afore,.... The Gospel is here further commended from the antiquity it: it was no novel doctrine, an upstart notion, but what God had conceived in his own breast from eternity. This mystery was hid in him from the beginning of the world, and was ordained before the world was; in time God was pleased to make it known to the sons of men; he "promised" it, he spoke of it, and declared it

by his prophets, Isaiah and others, "afore" the Apostle Paul was called forth to be a preacher of it; which promise, or promises of it, lie

in the Holy Scriptures; the books of the Old Testament, so called from the author, matter, and usefulness of them. The apostle speaks in the language of his nation, for the Jews frequently call the Bible, writings, Holy Ones; "for", say they, כל כתובים קדש, "all the Scriptures are holy" c, and style them, כתבי הקדש, "Scriptures of holiness", or holy Scriptures d.

c Misn. Yadaim, c. 3. sect. 5. d Misn. Parah, c. 10. sect. 3. T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 116. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which he had promised afore - Which gospel, or which doctrines, he had before announced.

By the prophets - The word “prophets” here is used to include those who wrote as well as those who spake. It included the teachers of the ancient Jews generally.

In the holy scriptures - In the writings of the Old Testament. They were called holy because they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and were regarded as separated from all other writings, and worthy of all reverence. The apostle here declares that he was not about to advance anything new. His doctrines were in accordance with the acknowledged oracles of God. Though they might appear to be new, yet he regarded the gospel as entirely consistent with all that had been declared in the Jewish dispensation; and not only consistent, but as actually promised there. He affirms, therefore:

(1) That all this was promised, and no small part of the Epistle is employed to show this.

(2) That it was confirmed by the authority of holy and inspired men.

(3) That it depended on no vague and loose tradition, but was recorded, so that people might examine for themselves.

The reason why the apostle was so anxious to show that his doctrine coincided with the Old Testament was because the church at Rome was made up in part of Jews. He wished to show them, and the remainder of his countrymen, that the Christian religion was built on the foundation of their prophets, and their acknowledged writings. So doing, he would disarm their prejudice, and furnish a proof of the truth of religion. It was a constant position with the apostle that he advanced nothing but what was maintained by the best and holiest men of the nation. Acts 26:22-23, “saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come,” etc. There was a further reason here for his appealing so much to the Old Testament. He had never been at Rome. He was therefore personally a stranger, and it was proper for him then especially to show his regard for the doctrines of the prophets. Hence, he appeals here so often to the Old Testament; and defends every point by the authority of the Bible. The particular passages of the Old Testament on which he relied will come before us in the course of the Epistle. See particularly Romans 3:0;Romans 4:0; Romans 9:0; Romans 10:0; Romans 11:0. We may see here,

1. The reverence which Paul showed for the Old Testament. He never undervalued it. He never regarded it as obsolete, or useless. He manifestly studied it; and never fell into the impious opinion that the Old Testament is of little value.

(2)If these things were promised - predicted in the Old Testament, then Christianity is true. Every passage which he adduces is therefore proof that it is from God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 1:2. Which he had promised afore — Both in the law and in the prophets God showed his purpose to introduce into the world a more perfect and glorious state of things; which state was to take place by and under the influence of the Messiah, who should bring life and immortality to light by his Gospel.