Romans 1:17 The phrase "from faith to faith" has been variously interpreted. It has been understood as meaning:

(1) from the faith of the Old Testament to that of the New Testament;

(2) from the faith of the preacher to that of the hearers;

(3) from God’s faithfulness to man’s faith; or

(4) from a young faith to a mature faith.

Literally, the words can be translated "out of faith unto faith." The fourth interpretation is the most probable.

Romans 1:18 God’s wrath focuses on those who "suppress the truth in unrighteousness." God’s wrath is not like human wrath. It is not an uncontrolled explosion of anger but a settled and consistent holy reaction to that which is contrary to the nature and will of God. His wrath is of a personal sort, directed toward offenses against Himself ("ungodliness") and toward offenses against others ("unrighteousness of men").

Romans 1:19 A naive notion that those who have never explicitly heard the gospel are not under condemnation is corrected in this passage. That which may be intuitively known about God has been placed in the minds (heart, conscience, cf. 2:15) of all men by God. This does not refer to the cosmos itself, which is an additional witness (Ps. 19:1; Acts 14:17). Rather, the "invisible attributes" of God are clearly seen and comprehended, stressing two great truths: (1) the fact of the existence of the godhead or deity, and (2) the eternal power of that deity. The apostle’s conclusion is that all men are, therefore, without excuse (v. 20).

Romans 1:21–23 Paul continues the theme of the accountability of all men by listing four ways in which men have demonstrated their rebellion against God: (1) Although men realize God’s existence, they do not glorify Him (v. 21). (2) Men are universally guilty of ingratitude to God (v. 21). (3) In the process of time men become increasingly "futile" ("empty" or "vain") in their imaginations, darkening their minds (v. 21). (4) Finally, the process climaxes in a tendency to distort the concept of God and of His creation (v. 23). From this develops idolatry (v. 23) and distortion, even of the biological designs of the eternal God (1:24–27).

Romans 1:24–28 Three times God is said to give sinful man over to the evil desires of his heart (vv. 24, 26, 28). Within these declarations is a note of sorrow, together with a pronouncement of judgment.

Romans 1:24 Homosexuality is pictured by Paul not as the ultimate sin but as the ultimate distortion of God’s creative genius. When the human family indulges in sexual behavior antithetical to that for which they were biologically, psychologically, and emotionally designed, the "futile" imagination has so "darkened" the foolish heart (v. 21) that it is virtually impossible to view anything as God intended. To these awesome sins of homosexuality and sodomy, Paul applies six terms of evaluation: (1) "uncleanness" (v. 24), (2) "lusts" (v. 24), (3) "dishonor" (v. 24), (4) "vile passions" (v. 26), (5) "against nature" (v. 26), and (6) "shameful" (v. 27). After listing a host of other iniquities, Paul concludes the section with the promise of the certainty of God’s judgment against all such sin. Additional passages demonstrate that homosexuality is a hideous sin which falls under the scope of God’s judgment (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; I Corinthians 6:9).

Romans 1:32 This verse seems to imply that to "approve of those who practice" evil deeds is worse than the deeds themselves. In a sense this is true. To set up a favorable atmosphere in which evil is encouraged or applauded may have a much more disastrous effect ultimately than the committing of a single deed, because more evil eventually results.

Romans 2:5 A future revelation of the eschatological wrath of God is forecast for those characterized by hardness and impenitence of heart. Two terms are used in the New Testament to describe God’s wrath. Occasionally, thumos (Greek) is employed, as in verse 8 ("wrath"). Generally thumos describes the ebb and flow of man’s anger. It is more passionate but also more temporary in nature. The word most often employed to designate God’s anger is orgeµg (Greek), defined as the eternal disposition of settled anger in the very essence of God’s nature against the destructive forces of evil in the universe (compare with Romans 1:18). Men make themselves the object of that wrath when they sin and become a part of the destructiveness of evil. The concept of wrath includes God’s present displeasure with evil as well as the ultimate confinement and defeat of all evil in the eternal state of hell (Matthew 8:12). Wrath is as much a part of the character of God as is love. A God who does not exercise wrath against injustice is an immoral God. A universe in which evil exists unchallenged and ultimately unvanquished is inconceivable and could not be ruled by a good God of holy love. Essential to a good God of love is His wrath against evil.

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