Unbelief and Its Consequences

18 For (A)the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who (B)suppress the truth [a]in unrighteousness, 19 because (C)that which is known about God is evident [b]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For (D)since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, (E)being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not [c]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became (F)futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 (G)Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and they (H)exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and [d]crawling creatures.

24 Therefore (I)God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be (J)dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for [e](K)falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, (L)who is blessed [f]forever. Amen.

26 For this reason (M)God gave them over to (N)degrading passions; for their women exchanged natural relations for that which is contrary to nature, 27 and likewise the men, too, abandoned natural relations [g]with women and burned in their desire toward one another, (O)males with males committing [h]shameful acts and receiving in [i]their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28 And just as they did not see fit [j]to acknowledge God, (P)God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper, 29 people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are (Q)gossips, 30 slanderers, [k](R)haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, (S)disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, (T)unfeeling, and unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of (U)death, they not only do the same, but also (V)approve of those who practice them.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:18 Or by
  2. Romans 1:19 Or among
  3. Romans 1:21 Lit glorify
  4. Romans 1:23 Or reptiles
  5. Romans 1:25 Lit the lie
  6. Romans 1:25 Lit unto the ages
  7. Romans 1:27 Lit of the female
  8. Romans 1:27 Lit shamelessness
  9. Romans 1:27 Lit themselves
  10. Romans 1:28 Lit to have God in knowledge
  11. Romans 1:30 Or hateful to God

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

18 The wrath of God(A) is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.(B) 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,(C) so that people are without excuse.(D)

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.(E) 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools(F) 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images(G) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

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

26 Because of this, God gave them over(N) to shameful lusts.(O) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.(P) 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.(Q)

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over(R) 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,(S) 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;(T) 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,(U) no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,(V) they not only continue to do these very things but also approve(W) of those who practice them.

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that is, the one whose [a]coming is in accord with the activity of (A)Satan, with all power and false [b](B)signs and wonders, 10 and with [c]all the deception of wickedness for (C)those who perish, because they did not accept the love of (D)the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason (E)God [d]will send upon them [e]a (F)deluding influence so that they will believe [f]what is false, 12 in order that they all may be [g]judged who (G)did not believe the truth, but [h](H)took pleasure in wickedness.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Or presence
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 I.e., confirming miracles
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Or every deception
  4. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit is sending
  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit an activity of error
  6. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Or the lie
  7. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Or condemned
  8. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Or approved

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan(A) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders(B) that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.(C) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.(D) 11 For this reason God sends them(E) a powerful delusion(F) so that they will believe the lie(G) 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.(H)

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