They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The list of sins here isn't just a random collection; it’s a chilling portrayal of a heart deliberately pushing God out and letting corruption take over, moving from injustice and lusts to outward acts like murder, deceit, and harmful gossip. It paints a stark picture of how deeply sin can warp a person's very character, affecting every aspect of their life and relationships.
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Apostle Paul is detailing the severe spiritual consequences of humanity rejecting God's truth, arguing that this rejection leads to a life of moral decay and sinful practices. He begins by describing how those who suppress the truth of God's existence and power naturally fall into idolatry and worship creation rather than the Creator. This sets the stage for a comprehensive list of the vices that characterize a society that has abandoned God's guidance.
Ever feel like sin is a slippery slope? Paul uses powerful language to show how sin isn't just a single act, but a state of being.
The verse starts with "filled with all manner of unrighteousness." This isn't just about committing sins; it's about being permeated by them.
Beyond just listing bad behaviors, Paul points to the underlying character flaws that drive them. What does it mean to be driven by malice and deceit?
Paul doesn't just catalog outward actions; he delves into the internal dispositions that produce them. He highlights the active, intentional nature of this sin.
Ask a follow-up
These dispositions form the bedrock of sinful behavior, demonstrating a perverted will that actively seeks to harm and deceive.
Sin doesn't just affect individuals; it tears apart communities. Paul highlights specific sins that poison relationships.
Paul includes sins that specifically target social harmony and the reputation of others, showing that ungodliness infects all aspects of life, including our interactions.
These actions demonstrate a profound disrespect for truth and for the dignity of others. They reveal a heart that is not at peace and actively seeks to sow discord, further alienating individuals from God and each other.
Understand the original words
adikia · Greek Noun
The state of being in violation of God's righteous standards; it is the comprehensive opposite of holiness and integrity.
pleonexia · Greek Noun
An inordinate, selfish desire to possess what belongs to others or what one has no right to, often viewed as a form of idolatry.
kakia · Greek Noun
A deep-seated hostility or malignant ill will toward others that seeks to inflict harm or pain.
phthonou · Greek Noun
A painful, resentful awareness of another's advantages, success, or possessions, often accompanied by a desire to see them deprived of those things.
phonou · Greek Noun
The sin of deliberate, unlawful killing of a human being, which is an assault upon the image of God in man.
dolou · Greek Noun
The intentional use of falsehood, craftiness, or treachery to mislead or trick others for selfish gain.
The stark description of vices in Romans 1:29 reflects the moral landscape of the Roman Empire, a society grappling with pervasive paganism, emperor worship, and a general decline in ethical standards that Paul sought to counter with the transformative power of the Gospel.
c. 27 BC - AD 14
Reign of Augustus
The early Roman Empire was established under Augustus, a period of relative peace but also of moral and spiritual decay, with widespread paganism and declining ethical standards.
c. 14 - 37 AD
Reign of Tiberius
Tiberius's reign saw continued imperial consolidation and an increase in social and political corruption, with many in Rome indulging in debauchery and moral decline.
c. 40s-50s AD
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul actively evangelized throughout the Roman Empire, encountering diverse cultures and confronting the prevailing pagan lifestyles and beliefs.
c. 50s-60s AD— this verse
Writing of the Epistle to the Romans
Paul writes his letter to the church in Rome, likely from Corinth or Ephesus, aiming to establish a theological foundation for the Gospel and address the moral condition of both Jews and Gentiles in the empire.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire ravaged Rome, leading Emperor Nero to scapegoat Christians, intensifying persecution against the nascent Christian communities within the empire.
This Psalm describes the wicked as arrogant and self-sufficient, echoing the self-absorbed and godless character described in Romans 1.
Proverbs 6:16-19This passage from Proverbs offers a concise list of things the Lord hates, which strikingly overlaps with the sins Paul enumerates in Romans 1, highlighting their universal and timeless nature.
Galatians 5:19-21Paul lists 'works of the flesh' in Galatians that mirror the sins in Romans 1, reinforcing the idea that these behaviors are deeply ingrained in human nature when not guided by the Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:2-5This passage describes people in the 'last days' who will exhibit many of the same vices detailed in Romans 1, showing how these sinful tendencies can persist and even intensify throughout history.
barnesRomans 1:29: "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,"
Being filled - That is, the things which he specifies were common or abounded among them. This is a strong phrase, denoting that these things were so often practiced as that it might be said they were full of them. We have a phrase like this still, when we say of one that he is full of mischief, etc. Unrighteousness - ἀδικία…
meyerRomans 1:29: "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,"
Romans 1:29-31 . Πεπληρωμένους πάσῃ ἀδικίᾳ ] a more precise definition of ποιεῖν τὰ μὴ καθήκ .: as those who are full of every unrighteousness ( Romans 1:18 ). This is the general statement, and all the points subsequently introduced are its several species , so that μεστοὺς φθόνου and then ψιθυριστὰς κ . τ . λ [536] are apposit…
The list of sins here isn't just a random collection; it’s a chilling portrayal of a heart deliberately pushing God out and letting corruption take over, moving from injustice and lusts to outward acts like murder, deceit, and harmful gossip. It paints a stark picture of how deeply sin can warp a person's very character, affecting every aspect of their life and relationships.
The Apostle Paul is detailing the severe spiritual consequences of humanity rejecting God's truth, arguing that this rejection leads to a life of moral decay and sinful practices. He begins by describing how those who suppress the truth of God's existence and power naturally fall into idolatry and worship creation rather than the Creator. This sets the stage for a comprehensive list of the vices that characterize a society that has abandoned God's guidance.
The Apostle Paul is detailing the severe spiritual consequences of humanity rejecting God's truth, arguing that this rejection leads to a life of moral decay and sinful practices. He begins by describing how those who suppress the truth of God's existence and power naturally fall into idolatry and worship creation rather than the Creator. This sets the stage for a comprehensive list of the vices that characterize a society that has abandoned God's guidance.
"They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips," — The list of sins here isn't just a random collection; it’s a chilling portrayal of a heart deliberately pushing God out and letting corruption take over, moving from injustice and lusts to outward ac…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026