which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,
Parallel translations
- WEB which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
- KJV (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
- BSB the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
- NKJV which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
- NLT God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The gospel is not a novelty but was promised long beforehand by God through the prophets in the Old Testament. This shows continuity between the Scriptures and Christ.
Overview
Paul stresses that the Good News was promised 'before' in the holy Scriptures, rooting the gospel in God's long-standing plan. This affirms that the Old Testament anticipates Christ and that God keeps His word across the ages. For Reformed readers, it underscores the unity of redemptive history and the trustworthiness of God's promises fulfilled in Jesus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Titus 1:2in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began;
- Luke 1:70(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
- Rom 3:21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
- Rom 16:26—
- Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
- Rom 3:2Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.
- Luke 24:26–27Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?”
- Acts 26:6Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 1:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.