(1:20) "The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; that they are without excuse." Those who fail to see
evidence of God's existence are "without excuse." Can God be found from reason alone?
(1:21-22) "Their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Is it OK to call someone a fool?
(1:24) "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness."
(1:25) "Served the creature more than the Creator"
The Religious Right often uses Romans 1:21-25 to condemn environmentalists. [more]
(1:26-27)
With his usual intolerance, Paul condemns homosexuals (including lesbians). This is the only clear reference to lesbians
in the Bible. What the Bible says about homosexuality
(1:26-27) "The natural use of the woman"
Paul explains that "the natural use"
of women is to act as sexual objects for the pleasure of men.
Notice, though, that it is God who makes gay people gay, by giving "them up to vile affections." So according to the Bible,
gay people don't choose to be gay; they are gay because God made them that way
(to punish them for God knows what). God
will make you gay!?
(1:26) "God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature."
(1:27) "Also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another."
(1:28) "God gave them over to a reprobate mind."
(1:29-31) I'm not sure who Paul is talking about here, but they're all a bunch of proud,
wicked, malicious, deceitful murderers, backbiters, and God-haters.
(1:29) "Filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,"
(1:30) "Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,"
(1:31) "Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful."
(1:32) "They which commit such things are worthy of death."
Homosexuals (those "without natural affection") and their
supporters (those "that have pleasure in them") are "worthy of death" - along with gossips, boasters, and disobedient children.
1:10
Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous
journey by the will of God to come unto you.
1:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to
the end ye may be established;
1:12
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith
both of you and me.
1:13
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to
come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among
you also, even as among other Gentiles.
1:14
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise,
and to the unwise.
1:15
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are
at Rome also.
1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as
it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath
shewed it unto them.
1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; that they are without excuse:
1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither
were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
1:22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
1:23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
1:24Wherefore God also gave
them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the
creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
1:26
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the
natural use into that which is against nature:
1:27
And likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working
that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their
error which was meet.
1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
1:29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,
1:30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents,
1:31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers,without
natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
1:32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do
them.
Get the SAB
(1:25) "Served the creature more than the Creator"