Open Bible Data Home About News OET Key
OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Rom C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
Rom 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32
OET (OET-LV) For/Because is_being_revealed the_severe_anger of_god from heaven, on all ungodliness and unrighteousness of_people, which the truth by unrighteousness restraining,
OET (OET-RV) God’s severe anger is being revealed from heaven on the ungodliness and disobedience of people who limit the truth by their disobedience
In this section, Paul said that it is clear that God is angry about the bad things that people do. God has shown all people who he is, but they have rejected him. So they became fools and worshiped things instead of God. And so God put them under the control of sinful desires even more.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
The reason why God is angry with people
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness (ESV)
People do what is not right in God’s sight and so God is angry
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven
¶ For God reveals his anger from heaven
¶ For God is showing from heaven that he is angry
This verse begins with a word that is usually translated as “for.” The BSB does not translate this word. It probably introduces support for the gospel being the power of God for salvation to all who believe (1:16).Morris (page 74), Kruse (page 86), and Fitzmyer (page 277). But it is also possible that it introduces support for God’s righteousness being revealed from faith to faith (1:17).Dunn (page 54), Witherington (page 64), and Cranfield (pages 106–108). It probably introduces the whole section (1:18–3:20) rather than just this verse.Cranfield (page 108).
The wrath of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as wrath here means “strong indignation directed at wrongdoing” (BDAG, sense 2, page 720). Here it is God’s anger against people’s sins.
is being revealed: This phrase translates the same Greek word as in 1:17. If possible, translate in the same way here.
from heaven: These words emphasize that God himself is revealing his wrath.
heaven: Here the word heaven refers to the place where God lives.
men who suppress the truth by their wickedness: There are two ways to interpret how this clause connects to “men/people”:
Only some people suppress the truth. In English this is indicated by not having a comma after “men/people.” (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NABRE, NLT, NET, REB)
All people suppress the truth. In English this is indicated by having a comma after “men/people.” For example:
people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness (NIV11) (NIV11, ESV, KJV, NCV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Paul was speaking about certain attitudes and behavior, not all attitudes and behavior.
against all the godlessness and wickedness of men
toward/upon all deeds that disrespect him/God and deeds that are not right to do.
with all deeds and words that insult him/God and are evil to do or say.
all the godlessness and wickedness of men: The word men refers here generally to people. The whole phrase refers to deeds and thinking that are ungodly and unrighteous. For example:
all godlessness of people and their wickedness too
all godless and wicked deeds and thinking of people
godlessness: This word refers to doing or saying things that show no reverence or respect for God. Here are other ways to translate this word:
impiety
doing or saying things that dishonor/disrespect God
wickedness: This word refers to doing things that are not right to do. Here are other ways to translate this word:
unrighteousness (ESV)
injustice (NJB)
evil (GNT)
who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
They prevent others from knowing the truth by their deeds that are not right to do.
They do bad things, and in this way they hide the truth, which they know, about God.
This clause tells the reader more about people. It does not separate some people from other people. Translate this clause so that it tells more about all people. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:
They suppress the truth by their wickedness.
suppress the truth: Here the word suppress refers to preventing others from knowing the truth. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
prevent the truth from being known (GNT)
hold back the truth (NJB)
the truth: Here this word refers to what is true about God, Jesus and the gospel. Some languages only have an adjective meaning “true” and so must add a noun. For example:
the true talk
their wickedness: People’s unrighteous deeds is the way that they suppress the truth. If possible, translate the word wickedness in the same way as in 1:18b.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
For indicates that what follows is the reason why “the righteous one must live by faith,” as mentioned in the previous verse. Use a natural way in your language for indicating a reason. Alternate translation: [The righteous one must live this way because]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἀποκαλύπτεται & ὀργὴ Θεοῦ
˓is_being˒_revealed & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [God is revealing his wrath]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
ὀργὴ Θεοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
Here Paul uses wrath to refer to the outcome of God’s wrath, which is judging and punishing people because they are unrighteous. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [God’s wrathful punishment]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἀσέβειαν καὶ ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of ungodliness and unrighteousness, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [against all the ungodly and unrighteous acts of men]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἀσέβειαν καὶ ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
Here, ungodliness and unrighteousness of men refer to the people who do ungodly and unrighteous things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [against people who do any ungodly or unrighteous deeds]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων
¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for these ideas of unrighteousness and truth, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [who, because they do not want to act righteously, keep holding back what is true about God]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
ἀνθρώπων
˱of˲_people
Although the term men is masculine, Paul is using the word here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: [people]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
τῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων
¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
This phrase gives us further information about the nature of people, who are called men in the previous phrase. It is not making a distinction between different kinds of men. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the relationship between these phrases clearer. Alternate translation: [these same people who in unrighteousness are holding back the truth]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
τῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων
¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκαλύπτεται Γάρ ὀργή Θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπί πασᾶν ἀσέβειαν καί ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τήν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων)
Here Paul speaks of truth as if it were a person who could be restrained or held back. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning in a non-figurative way. Alternate translation: [who in unrighteousness prevent the truth from being known]
OET (OET-LV) For/Because is_being_revealed the_severe_anger of_god from heaven, on all ungodliness and unrighteousness of_people, which the truth by unrighteousness restraining,
OET (OET-RV) God’s severe anger is being revealed from heaven on the ungodliness and disobedience of people who limit the truth by their disobedience
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.