Romanos 1:18-32

Romans 1:18-Jonah : . Mankind is in a ruinous plight: God’ s Anger, which is His righteousness reacting against wrong, rests upon the race.

Romans 1:18 a . “ The Divine wrath is being revealed from heaven” in action “ against all impiety and unrighteousness of men.” The revelation is apparent in the moral outcome of irreligion described in Romans 1:21-Jonah :— an apocalypse more appalling than earthquake or famine.

Romans 1:18 b – Romans 1:20 . Man is responsible for his perdition: “ in” committing “ unrighteousness men hold down the truth” ; they ignore “ the knowledge of God” lodged in conscience ( cf. Romans 2:14 f.) and shining from the face of nature, so leaving themselves “ without excuse” ( Romans 1:21-Isaiah : , cf. Romans 1:28). “ Ingratitude” lies at the root of this disregard of God; its fruit is mental impotence and confusion, evidenced by the monstrous follies of idolatry. The nemesis of religious apostasy delineated in Romans 1:24-Obadiah : has two outstanding features: the horrible “ uncleanness” notorious in the Græ co-Roman world, much of it associated with idolatry ( Romans 1:24-Daniel :); and the “ malignity” and inhumanity in manifold forms pervading society ( Romans 1:28-Obadiah :).

Romans 1:32 . The climax of depravity is seen in those who, while they sin themselves in defiance of judgment, applaud the sins of others. Thrice ( Romans 1:24; Romans 1:26; Romans 1:28) the expression recurs, “ God gave them over . . . to uncleanness,” etc.: God’ s will operates in the inflexible laws by which sin breeds its punishment ( James 1:15); men deny their Maker, then degrade themselves. First ( Romans 1:19-Ecclesiastes :) and last ( Romans 1:28), the charge is that men “ did not think God worth while keeping in mind.”— This indictment is confirmed by contemporary literature; Corinth, from which Paul wrote— the metropolis of Greek vice— colours the lurid picture.