Romans 1:18
What does Romans 1:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 1:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 1:18 means
God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness (irreverence toward God) and unrighteousness (injustice toward people). This wrath is not a sudden outburst but God’s settled, holy opposition to sin. People suppress the truth in unrighteousness—they hold down what they know in order to persist in wrongdoing. The problem, then, is not lack of information but a moral refusal to honor the truth. The revelation of wrath explains the urgent need for salvation by faith: apart from the gospel, all stand exposed to divine judgment because all have participated in suppressing God’s truth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For there is a revelation of the wrath of God from heaven against all the wrongdoing and evil thoughts of men who keep down what is true by wrongdoing;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for revealed is the wrath of God from heaven upon all impiety and unrighteousness of men, holding down the truth in unrighteousness.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those men that detain the truth of God in injustice:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For there is revealed wrath ofGod from heaven upon all impiety, and unrighteousness of men holding the truth in unrighteousness.
Context
After stating the gospel’s saving power and revealed righteousness (vv.16–17), Paul now reveals the universal problem the gospel answers (v.18). He introduces the charge that humanity has suppressed known truth about God, which he will unpack by appealing to creation’s witness (vv.19–20) and tracing the descent into idolatry and moral disorder (vv.21–32). This move from solution to problem ensures readers see salvation as necessary, not optional.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 2:15
in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);
- Romans 1:32
who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.
- Romans 6:13
neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
- Romans 5:6
For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.
- Romans 4:15
for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
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