Because men do this is literally “because of this,” and it has been rendered by such expressions as “for this reason” (Revised Standard Version), “in consequence” (New English Bible), and “this is why” (An American Translation*, Jerusalem Bible). In this verse any reference to men must, of course, be to “persons.” In the present verse passions is equivalent to “lusts.” The sin to which Paul has reference is homosexuality among women; homosexuality among men is referred to in the following verse. In most languages there is a perfectly proper manner of referring to homosexual activity. The reference to shameful passions may simply be translated by some generic term for homosexual relations, or it may require a very general expression such as “they have bad sexual desires” or “they have the wrong kind of sexual desires.” This can then be followed by the two statements, the one referring to women and the other to men. The second sentence in verse 26 may simply be translated as “women have sexual relations with women, which is not the way it should be.” This final phrase is simply a way of indicating the unnatural character of such acts.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .