18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²²Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. ²⁴Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. ²⁶For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. ²⁸And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; ³²who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

2 ¹Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ²But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶who "will render to each one according to his deeds": ⁷eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

Romans 1:17-32, 2:1-8

Commentary

Righteousness, God’s essential attribute, is revealed. It is not man’s invention; it is God’s revelation. Left to himself, man would never have thought of it. From faith to faith: Its source and end are the same. To those who possess God’s righteousness Paul pronounces, The just shall live by faith. What one believes does make a difference. If he believes the gospel he has life (union with God); otherwise he has death (separation from God).

Faith—definition

Romans 1:17. Six kinds or expressions of faith occur in Scripture. Doctrinal faith, called "the faith," refers to the content of Christian belief (Jude 3). Saving faith is trusting in Christ and in Him alone for salvation (Acts 16:31). Justifying faith is the believer’s reliance on the fact that God has declared him righteous (Genesis 15:6). Indwelling faith is trusting God’s Word in and through us (Galatians 2:20). Daily faith is that day-by-day dependence on God which is part of the sanctification process (II Corinthians 5:7). The gift of faith is a special ability of faith, resulting in a vision of what God can do, faith that is the means by which we can achieve that vision, and the power with God to get answers to prayer (Hebrews 11:1–3). Illustration: God’s hall of faith (Hebrews 11) identifies a number of Old Testament saints who experienced God’s blessing as a result of their faith. Although they did not all experience the same kind of victories, all pleased God by faith (Hebrews 11:6). Application: The Christian should remember that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). (First Reference, Genesis 15:6; Primary Reference, Romans 1:17; cf. Romans 4:20.)

Romans 1:18. The wrath is not the revelation of a future judgment of God or of the Great Tribulation, but a present revelation that parallels the present revelation of God’s righteousness (cf. Romans 1:17). This revelation comes from heaven. Ungodliness is failure in the religious realm. Unrighteousness is failure in the moral sphere or injustice toward man. Who hold (literally, "hold down," "suppress") the truth in unrighteousness. They received the truth concerning the wrath of God but hindered it and prevented it from completing its work.

Wrath of God

Romans 1:18. In order to express His nature (holiness, truth, and justice), God must punish sin. Since sin personally offends God, no one should be surprised that sin makes God angry. To deny His anger is to reject the necessity of Christ’s reconciling work on the cross. God’s wrath is revealed both in nature and in the Scriptures. Illustration: The rage that today is vented against sin will someday be completely unleashed in hell against those who refuse to accept the satisfaction (propitiation) that Christ made on the cross for sin. Application: Since this propitiation by Christ suffices for the whole world, there is no reason anyone should spend eternity in hell unless he voluntarily rejects God’s truth. (First Reference, Genesis 49:7; Primary Reference, Romans 1:18; compare with John 14:2.)

Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God

Romans 1:20. The argument from cause and effect is one logical argument for the existence of God. As everything that exists must have an adequate cause, so an all-powerful and intelligent God is an adequate cause to explain the universe. The Scripture identifies that "cause" as the creative power of God (Genesis 1:1; Romans 1:19, 20). (First Reference, Genesis 1:1; Primary Reference, Romans 1:20; cf. Psalm 94:9.)

Romans 1:20. God’s creation reveals two things about Him: his eternal power and Godhead (Greek theioteµs, "divine nature," "divinity"). Creation reveals that God is powerful; hence, man is obligated to Him and the fact that He is God. Without excuse: No man is able to stand before God and say that he turned away from God because God did not give any light. All men have had the revelation of God; therefore, all men are accountable to Him.

Romans 1:24–32. God gave them up (cf. vv. 24, 26, 28): This giving is not permissive (i.e., God lets them do what they want to do) or privative (i.e., God withdraws His gracious help); it is judicial. They were blinded not because God withdrew His light, but because of the judicial acts of God whereby He delivered them over to the natural result of their unbelief and action. When they followed the lie they began to walk in conformity to the lie. This is the kind of life-style described. Three results of the Gentiles’ rejection are given: God gave them up to all forms of uncleanness and its consequent actions (vv. 24, 25); God gave them up to all forms of sexual depravity and its consequent actions (vv. 26, 27); and God gave them over to a mind that would not retain Him in its knowledge and its consequent actions (vv. 28–32).

Romans 2:1. Thou … that judgest: Paul now turns his attention to the self-righteous moralist.

Judgments

Romans 2:1–16. Throughout the Scriptures, God is presented as a Judge. In the Old Testament, the judgment of God is observable through the Flood, the destruction of Sodom, and the collapse of various nations, including both Israel and Judah. In the New Testament, judgment tends to occur in eight areas:

1. the Cross judgment (John 16:11);
2. the believer’s self-judgment (1 Cor. 11:31);
3. the chastisement by the Father (Hebrews 12:6–11);
4. the Bema (judgment seat) of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10);
5. the Tribulation (Ezekiel 20:37, 38);
6. the judgment of Gentile nations (Matthew 25:31–46);
7. the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11–15); and
8. the judgment of angels (I Corinthians 6:3).

Illustration: The fundamental principle of divine judgment is that God will judge according to truth (v. 2), deeds (v. 6), light (vv. 11–15), and the gospel, which reveals human thoughts and motives (v. 16).  

Application: Christians should live their lives accountable to God for their attitudes and actions. (First Reference, Genesis 3:15; Primary Reference, Romans 2:1–16; compare with Obadiah 15.)

Romans 2:3. Escape the judgment of God: Jewish tradition taught that Abraham sat at the gate of hell to prevent any Jew from entering. They were not ignorant of God, but of God’s design to bring them to repentance.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., King James Version Study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1988 by Liberty University.

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