ROMANS: Wrath of God and the unrighteousness of men

Wrath of God and the unrighteousness of men  

Passage: Rom. 1:18-32

Structure:

a. 1:18-21, they did not acknowledge God

  b. 1:22-23, an exchange of glory  

    c. 1:24-25, blessed God the creator

  b’. 1:26-27, an exchange of natural relations for perversion

a’. 1:28-32, they did not acknowledge God   

Important terms and concepts: The very first word needs an explanation. There are two aspects of “wrath” (1:18) that should be mentioned. First, the fact that God can express such a strong emotion as wrath shows that God of the Bible is not a God of Greek philosophy. Aristotle in his Metaphysics developed this concept where God is presented as being perfectly beautiful, indivisible, and contemplating only perfect contemplation: self-contemplation. While some of these attributes can are applicable to Biblical God, we know that He exhibits personal characteristic – love, compassion, care, sorrow, anger, wrath etc. Second, thou God exhibits the features we used to attribute to humans only, His wrath is without sin – it can be shown being perfectly balanced by his love.    

The pairs St. Paul uses to build up his argument:

  Ungodliness and unrighteousness (1:18)

  Invisible attributes of God: Eternal power and divine nature (1:20)

  They did not honor Him or give thanks to Him (1:21)

  Became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened (1:21)

  They worshiped and served the creature (1:25)

  Do and approve those who practice them (1:32)

Being filled with all manner of unrighteousness: evil, covetousness, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossip, slander, hater of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless (20=2*10). 

Commentary:  St. Paul begins with a harsh statement about the wrath of God, stating that people have no excuse for His nature and power are quite obvious in created world. Then he follows with the statements of 3 exchanges. As a result of each exchange, God gives them up to their own desires, passion etc.  

Unholy exchange:

  Glory of immortal God for the images of men (then a tri-directional development): birds, animals, and creeping things.

  Truth about God for a lie.

  Women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature. Men likewise gave up natural relations  

The concept of being “given up by God” is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. For example, in the Book of Judges when people of Israel “exchange” their faithfulness for the longing after other cults/cultures, at first God “gives” them for a spoil (cp, Judges 2:11-14). Yet later He gives/delivers them into the hands of their enemies without any spoil or gives them up (Judges 6:1).

This is one of the darkest passages in the whole Bible, showing that rejection of God’s order of creation leads to a disaster of personal and social aspects of life. It is not always become obvious immediately – the stronger a culture is grounded in the faith the better it is equipped to withstand the temptations. Yet, over time cultures “ware off” and become more susceptible to the temptations. Then a decline begins.                      

Book of Concord: 

1:18 – SA, III:3, Repentance. The New Testament keeps and urges this office of the Law, as St. Paul does when he says these words.

1:19-32 – FC, SD V:22, The Law and the Gospel. Dr. Luther diligently taught the difference one can have, being taught by the Gospel vs knowledge that comes from the Law.    

Hymnal:

LSB 562 – All Mankind Fell in Adam’s Fall

LSB 663 – Rise, My Soul to Watch and Pray