NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 1:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the Christians in Rome, God's friends.
33 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
17 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
33 words
NASB
17 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 1:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 1:1 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
Which translation of Romans 1:1 is best?
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.