¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.^{(A) 20} For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,^(B) so that people are without excuse.^(C)

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^{(D) 22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^{(E) 23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images^(F) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over^(G) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.^{(H) 25} They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,^(I) and worshiped and served created things^(J) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.^(K) Amen.^(L)

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over^(M) to shameful lusts.^(N) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.^{(O) 27} In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.^(P)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(Q) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,^{(R) 30} slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;^{(S) 31} they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,^(T) no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,^(U) they not only continue to do these very things but also approve^(V) of those who practice them.

¹⁰ As it is written:

²³ for all have sinned^(A) and fall short of the glory of God,

⁶ You see, at just the right time,^(A) when we were still powerless,^(B) Christ died for the ungodly.^(C)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,^(A) and death through sin,^(B) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned^(C)—

¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man^(A) the many were made sinners,^(B) so also through the obedience^(C) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

⁶ For we know that our old self^(A) was crucified with him^(B) so that the body ruled by sin^(C) might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(D)—

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,^(A) sold^(B) as a slave to sin.^{(C) 15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.^{(D) 16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.^{(E) 17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.^{(F) 18} For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a](G) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.^{(H) 20} Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.^(I)

²¹ So I find this law at work:^(J) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being^(K) I delight in God’s law;^{(L) 23} but I see another law at work in me, waging war^(M) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin^(N) at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?^{(O) 25} Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!^(P)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,^(Q) but in my sinful nature^[b] a slave to the law of sin.^(R)

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God^(A) are the children of God.^{(B) 15} The Spirit^(C) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;^(D) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[b] Father.”^{(E) 16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(F) that we are God’s children.^{(G) 17} Now if we are children, then we are heirs^(H)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings^(I) in order that we may also share in his glory.^(J)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.^(K)