Romans 1:16 (GNV)

Passage

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth, to the Iewe first, and also to the Grecian.

Nearby Context

Romans 1:14 I am detter both to the Grecians, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise men and vnto the vnwise.

Romans 1:15 Therefore, as much as in me is, I am readie to preach ye Gospel to you also that are at Rome.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth, to the Iewe first, and also to the Grecian.

Romans 1:17 For by it the righteousnesse of God is reueiled from faith to faith: as it is written, The iust shall liue by faith.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is reueiled from heauen against all vngodlinesse, and vnrighteousnesse of men, which withhold the trueth in vnrighteousnesse.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ashamed", "gospel", "christ", "power", "vnto", "saluation", "euery", and "beleeueth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ashamed" and "gospel", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "Therefore as much as in me is..." into verse 17's "For by it the righteousnesse of God...", so "ashamed" and "gospel" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "ashamed" and "gospel" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.