Romans 1:17-28

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

17 For in it h the righteousness of God is revealed i from faith for faith, 1 j as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." 2

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For k the wrath of God l is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be m known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, n have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they o became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 p Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and q exchanged the glory of r the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore s God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to t the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for u a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, v who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason w God gave them up to x dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, y men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, z God gave them up to a a debased mind to do b what ought not to be done.

  1. Cross References
    Romans 3:21
    But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it -
    2 Corinthians 5:21
    For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
    Philippians 3:9
    And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith -
  2. Cross References
    Romans 9:30
    What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith.
  3. Cross References
    Galatians 3:11
    Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith.
    Hebrews 10:38
    But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.
    Habakkuk 2:4
    Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
  4. Cross References
    Habakkuk 2:4
    Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
  5. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:6
    Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
    Colossians 3:6
    On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
    Romans 5:9
    Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
  6. Cross References
    Romans 2:5
    But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
  7. Cross References
    Romans 2:14 - 15
    For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
    Acts 14:17
    Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
    Acts 17:24 - 27
    The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 19:1 - 6
    The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
    Jeremiah 5:21 - 22
    Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.
  9. Cross References
    2 Kings 17:15
    They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.
    Jeremiah 2:5
    Thus says the Lord : "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
    Ephesians 4:17 - 18
    Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
  10. Cross References
    Jeremiah 10:14
    Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.
    1 Corinthians 1:20
    Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 106:20
    They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
    Jeremiah 2:11
    Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
    Deuteronomy 4:16 - 18
    Beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female.
    Acts 17:29
    Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
  12. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:17
    To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
  13. Cross References
    Romans 1:26
    For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.
    Romans 1:28
    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
    Ephesians 4:19
    They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
  14. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:4
    That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.
  15. Cross References
    Isaiah 28:15
    Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter".
    Isaiah 44:19 - 20
    No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?
    Jeremiah 10:14
    Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.
    Amos 2:4
    Thus says the Lord : "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.
    2 Thessalonians 2:11
    Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.
  16. Cross References
    Romans 9:5
    To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 1:24
    Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.
    Romans 1:28
    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
  18. Cross References
    Colossians 3:5
    Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
    1 Thessalonians 4:5
    Not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
  19. Cross References
    Leviticus 18:22
    You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
    Leviticus 20:13
    If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
  20. Cross References
    Romans 1:24
    Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.
    Romans 1:26
    For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.
  21. Cross References
    Jeremiah 6:30
    Rejected silver they are called, for the Lord has rejected them.
  22. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:4
    Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.