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.^{(A) 22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^{(B) 23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images^(C) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

⁴ In him was life,^(A) and that life was the light^(B) of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness,^(C) and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.^(D)

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John.^{(E) 7} He came as a witness to testify^(F) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.^{(G) 8} He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light^(H) that gives light to everyone^(I) was coming into the world.

⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light^(A) that gives light to everyone^(B) was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,^(C) the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.^{(D) 12} Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed^(E) in his name,^(F) he gave the right to become children of God^(G)—

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.^(A) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.^{(B) 16} In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(C) that they may see your good deeds^(D) and glorify^(E) your Father in heaven.

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

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over^(G) to shameful lusts.^(H) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.^{(I) 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.^(J)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(K) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

²⁴ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united^(A) to his wife, and they become one flesh.^(B)

²⁵ Adam and his wife were both naked,^(C) and they felt no shame.

⁸ and the two will become one flesh.’^[a](A) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”