Romans 1:18-2:29

New King James Version

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

2 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. ² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³ 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? ⁴ 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? ⁵ 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, ⁶ who ^(AA)“will render to each one according to his deeds”: ⁷ eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and ^(AB)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ 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.