Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech, Romans

Richard Francis Weymouth's landmark translation renders Paul's thunderous letter to the Romans into vivid, speakable English. Written around 57 AD to a young Christian community navigating questions of faith, law, and identity, Romans stands as perhaps the New Testament's most intellectually ambitious text. Weymouth, working in the early twentieth century, sought to strip away the accumulated archaisms of centuries and restore the urgency and clarity of Paul's arguments about salvation through faith, the radical inclusivity of grace, and the transformation possible for both Jew and Gentile. His translation was revolutionary for its era, prioritizing directness over ceremonial language while preserving the theological weight of Paul's thinking. For readers who have struggled with the King James Version's magnificent difficulty, or for those studying Romans comparatively, Weymouth offers a window into how one gifted scholar heard this ancient letter speak to modern ears. The text includes Paul's soaring explorations of sin's universality, the wrestling match between law and grace, and his passionate plea for unity among diverse believers.