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
