Romans 1:29

Unrighteousness. A general term already used to describe the condition against which God’s wrath is being revealed (v. 18). Compare the lists of sins in Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Tim. 1:9, 10; 2 Tim. 3:2-4.

Fornication. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the omission of this word.

Wickedness. Gr. poneria, a general term for baseness, malice, vileness, meanness.

Covetousness. Gr. pleonexia, “the desire to have more.” Paul elsewhere describes this sin as idolatry (Col. 3:5).

Maliciousness. Gr. kakia, in meaning somewhat similar to poneria (see above under “wickedness”). Some suggest that poneria represents active wickedness, in contrast with kakia, which stresses the inward state of wickedness.

Envy. Gr. phthonos. Envyings are listed also among the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21).

Debate. Gr. eris, “strife.” Paul is not referring to debates in the modern sense of the term. The Greek word emphasizes primarily the elements of contention, quarreling, and anger (see also Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 1:11; 3:3; 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Titus 3:9, where the same word is variously translated in the KJV as “strife,” “contention,” “debate,” or “variance”).

Deceit. Gr. dolos, “craft,” “deceit,” translated “subtilty” in Matt. 26:4; Acts 13:10; “guile” in John 1:47; 1 Thess. 2:3; etc.

Malignity. Gr. kakoetheia, “malice,” “spite,” “malevolence,” “subtlety.”

Whisperers. Gr. psithuristai, “talebearers,” “scandalmongers.”