Romans 1:18-32 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

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 1:21-32 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 1:21-23, 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 1:24-31 has two outstanding features: the horrible uncleanness notorious in the Græ co-Roman world, much of it associated with idolatry (Romans 1:24-27); and the malignity and inhumanity in manifold forms pervading society (Romans 1:28-31).

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 1:19-21) 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.

Related Commentaries of Romans 1:18

Romans 1:18-32

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them;f for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; sog that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retainh God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.