Thematic Bible: The unrighteous

But to the ones who have selfish ambition [Note: Some translate these words "are contentious"] and refuse to obey the truth, but [instead] obey what is wrong, [God will bring] wrath, fury, Verse ConceptsGod's IndignationAttention SeekersRejection Of God, Results OfSelf IndulgenceSelfishnessPerforming The TruthContinuing In SinSelf CenterednessRejectionCompetitiondisobedience

Verse ConceptsDishonesty, Kinds OfInjustice, Nature And Source OfLeaders, PoliticalMastersRiches, Dangers OfServants, Working Conditions OfWagesUnjust GainDishonesty CondemnedEmployersPresumptuous PlansWoe To The WickedInjustice

Or, do you not know that evil people will not possess God's kingdom? Do not be misled: neither will sexually immoral people, nor idolaters, nor those who are sexually unfaithful to their mates, nor homosexual perverts. [Note: The Greek uses two words here, denoting both the passive and active partners in male homosexual acts]. And neither will thieves, nor greedy people, nor drunkards, nor abusive talkers, nor swindlers possess God's kingdom. And some of you have practiced such things, but you were washed [i.e., from your sins. See Acts 22:16]; you were dedicated [i.e., set apart for God's service]; you were made right with God in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit of our God.

For God's extreme anger is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who restrain the truth [from being known and obeyed] by their wickedness. Verse ConceptsAbsolute TruthAgnosticismGodlessnessHonestyGod's Intolerance Of EvilMalicePropitiationPunishment, By GodSin, And God's CharacterUnbelief, As Response To GodUnbelief, Nature And Effects OfUngodlinessUnrighteousnessImpietyDivine DispleasureThose Against TruthHiding SinsAgainst The TruthGod Acts From HeavenGod's Things RevealedInjusticeatheismwrathpotentialTruth Not Being In Us

And then the lawless person [See verse 3] will be revealed, the one whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the brilliant appearance of His presence [i.e., at His second coming]. The coming [of this lawless person] is according to the work of Satan, [and will be] attended by all kinds of powerful [i.e., miraculous] signs and false wonders, and all kinds of wicked deception toward those people who are perishing [spiritually], because they refused to love the truth so they could be saved. read more.
And this is the reason that God sends them a strong delusion [to influence them]: It is so that they would believe the lie, in order that all those who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in wrongdoing, would be condemned.

However, these people are like unreasonable, ignorant creatures of instinct, born as animals which are [to be] caught and destroyed. They speak out against things about which they are ignorant. In [the process of] destroying others, they will certainly be destroyed themselves. They suffer wrong themselves for doing wrong to other people. They consider it [especially] pleasurable to carry on their drunken revellings, [even] during the daytime. They become blots and blemishes [i.e., like spoiled food] in your fellowship meal, as they revel in their deceitful behavior. Their eyes are filled with sexual lust, and they are never satisfied when it comes to sinning. They entice unstable people and have hearts trained to be greedy [i.e., they continually desire the possessions of others]. [In this condition] they are under God's curse. read more.
They strayed away [from God] by taking the wrong road like Balaam, the son of Bosor did, who loved the reward for doing wrong.