God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 (A)For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and (B)unrighteousness of men, who [a]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because (C)what may be known of God is [b]manifest [c]in them, for (D)God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world (E)His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and [d]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but (F)became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 (G)Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the (H)incorruptible (I)God into an image made like [e]corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 (J)Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, (K)to dishonor their bodies (L)among themselves, 25 who exchanged (M)the truth of God (N)for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to (O)vile passions. For even their [f]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the [g]men, leaving the natural use of the [h]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things (P)which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, [i]sexual immorality, wickedness, [j]covetousness, [k]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 [l]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, [m]unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, (Q)knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things (R)are deserving of death, not only do the same but also (S)approve of those who practice them.

God’s Righteous Judgment

Therefore you are (T)inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, (U)for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise (V)the riches of His goodness, (W)forbearance, and (X)longsuffering, (Y)not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your [n]impenitent heart (Z)you are [o]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who (AA)“will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and (AB)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew (AC)first and also of the [p]Greek; 10 (AD)but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For (AE)there is no partiality with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for (AF)not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the (AG)work of the law written in their hearts, their (AH)conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 (AI)in the day when God will judge the secrets of men (AJ)by Jesus Christ, (AK)according to my gospel.

The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles

17 [q]Indeed (AL)you are called a Jew, and (AM)rest[r] on the law, (AN)and make your boast in God, 18 and (AO)know His will, and (AP)approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and (AQ)are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, (AR)having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 (AS)You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, (AT)do you rob temples? 23 You who (AU)make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For (AV)“the name of God is (AW)blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

Circumcision of No Avail

25 (AX)For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, (AY)if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, (AZ)judge you who, even with your [s]written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For (BA)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew (BB)who is one inwardly; and (BC)circumcision is that of the heart, (BD)in the Spirit, not in the letter; (BE)whose [t]praise is not from men but from God.

God’s Judgment Defended

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because (BF)to them were committed the [u]oracles of God. For what if (BG)some did not believe? (BH)Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? (BI)Certainly not! Indeed, let (BJ)God be [v]true but (BK)every man a liar. As it is written:

(BL)“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (BM)(I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then (BN)how will God judge the world?

For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, (BO)“Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their [w]condemnation is just.

All Have Sinned(BP)

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that (BQ)they are all under sin.

10 As it is written:

(BR)“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their(BS) throat is an open [x]tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
(BT)“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose(BU) mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their(BV) feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There(BW) is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever (BX)the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that (BY)every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [y]guilty before God.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:18 hold down
  2. Romans 1:19 evident
  3. Romans 1:19 among
  4. Romans 1:20 divine nature, deity
  5. Romans 1:23 perishable
  6. Romans 1:26 Lit. females
  7. Romans 1:27 Lit. males
  8. Romans 1:27 Lit. female
  9. Romans 1:29 NU omits sexual immorality
  10. Romans 1:29 greed
  11. Romans 1:29 malice
  12. Romans 1:31 without understanding
  13. Romans 1:31 NU omits unforgiving
  14. Romans 2:5 unrepentant
  15. Romans 2:5 storing
  16. Romans 2:9 Gentile
  17. Romans 2:17 NU But if
  18. Romans 2:17 rely
  19. Romans 2:27 Lit. letter
  20. Romans 2:29 A play on words—Jew is literally praise.
  21. Romans 3:2 sayings, Scriptures
  22. Romans 3:4 Found true
  23. Romans 3:8 Lit. judgment
  24. Romans 3:13 grave
  25. Romans 3:19 accountable

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