Editing Divine retribution (section)

=== New Testament and Christian thought===
{{see also|Attributes of God in Christianity#Wrath}}
The New Testament associates the wrath of God particularly with imagery of [[Judgment Day|the Last Day]], described allegorically in {{bibleverse||Romans|2:5}} as the "day of wrath". The wrath of God is mentioned in at least twenty verses of the [[New Testament]]. Examples are:
* {{bibleverse||John|3:36}} – [[John the Baptist]] declares that whoever believes in the Son has [[Eternal life (Christianity)|eternal life]]; whoever does not obey the Son, or in some [[English translations of the Bible|English translations]], does not believe the Son,<ref>{{bibleverse||John|3:36|NKJV}}: NKJV</ref> shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.<ref>{{bibleverse||John|3:36|ESV}}: [[English Standard Version]]</ref>
* {{Bibleverse|Acts|5:1}} – [[Ananias and Sapphira|Ananias and his wife Sapphira]] are struck dead for holding back some of the proceeds after selling a piece of property
* {{bibleverse||Romans|1:18}} – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
* {{bibleverse||Romans|5:9}} –  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
* {{bibleverse||Romans|12:19}} – Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
* {{bibleverse||Ephesians|5:6}} – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
* {{bibleverse||Revelation|6:17}} – For the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to withstand?
* {{bibleverse||Revelation|14:19}} – So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
* {{bibleverse||Revelation|15:1}} – Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God was finished.
* {{bibleverse||Revelation|19:15}} – From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

[[Eusebius]] suggests that the final illness and death of [[Herod the Great]] was an example of divine punishment for the [[massacre of the Innocents|slaughter of the innocents]] after the [[birth of Jesus]]. [[Matthew's gospel]] mentions Herod's death in passing.<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|2:19}}</ref> [[Josephus]] gives a more vivid portrayal of his condition and demise.<ref>Flavius Josephus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+AJ+17.6.5 Antiquities of the Jews], 17.6.5, edited by [[William Whiston]], accessed on 25 June 2024</ref>

[[Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer|Heinrich Meyer]] observes in his consideration of John 3:36 that the wrath of God "remains" on anyone who rejects belief in the Son, meaning that the rejection of faith is not the trigger for God's wrath, it is there already. Their refusal to believe amounts to a refusal to allow the wrath of God to be lifted from them.<ref>Meyer, H. A. W. (1880), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/meyer/john/3.htm Meyer's NT Commentary] on John 3, translated from the German sixth edition, accessed 8 January 2024</ref>