Romans 1:18-3:20

New International Version

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.

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 You, therefore, have no excuse,^(X) you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.^{(Y) 2} Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches^(Z) of his kindness,^(AA) forbearance^(AB) and patience,^(AC) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?^(AD)

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath^(AE), when his righteous judgment^(AF) will be revealed. ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”^{[a](AG) 7} To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor^(AH) and immortality,^(AI) he will give eternal life.^{(AJ) 8} But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,^(AK) there will be wrath and anger.^{(AL) 9} There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil:^(AM) first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;^{(AN) 10} but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.^{(AO) 11} For God does not show favoritism.^(AP)

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law^(AQ) will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey^(AR) the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,^(AS) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets^(AT) through Jesus Christ,^(AU) as my gospel^(AV) declares.

The Jews and the Law

¹⁷ Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;^{(AW) 18} if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?^{(AX) 22} You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?^{(AY) 23} You who boast in the law,^(AZ) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”^[b](BA)

²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law,^(BB) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.^{(BC) 26} So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,^(BD) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?^{(BE) 27} The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you^(BF) who, even though you have the^[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,^(BG) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.^{(BH) 29} No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,^(BI) by the Spirit,^(BJ) not by the written code.^(BK) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.^(BL)

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way!^(BM) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.^(BN)

³ What if some were unfaithful?^(BO) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?^{(BP) 4} Not at all! Let God be true,^(BQ) and every human being a liar.^(BR) As it is written:

⁵ But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,^(BT) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)^{(BU) 6} Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?^{(BV) 7} Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,^(BW) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”^{(BX) 8} Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?^(BY) Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?^(BZ) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.^{(CA) 10} As it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(CH) it says to those who are under the law,^(CI) so that every mouth may be silenced^(CJ) and the whole world held accountable to God.^{(CK) 20} Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;^(CL) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.^(CM)