The kingdoms of Israel and Judah furnish a striking illustration of the inseparable connection between religion and morals. But all the paganisms of the East at this day attest its accuracy, from the more elaborate idolatry of India and the simpler and more stupid idolatry of China down to the childish rudiments of nature worship prevalent among the savage tribes. This sinfulness and the wrath of God upon sinfulness is the reason why righteousness can only be And it is so. As they were aware of this, it showed their guilt in still persevering in the face of his judgments, and his solemn purpose to inflict punishment. The Jews (o) By the judgment of God he means that which the philosophers called the law of nature, and the lawyers themselves termed the law of nations. But (8) this knowledge can never be wholly extinguished in the breast of men. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary32. (7) To take pleasure in what is sinful and vicious for its own sake, and knowing it to be such, is the last and lowest stage of human recklessness (Ro 1:32). If this was the state of things in the ancient pagan world, the same may be expected to be the state of paganism still. (6) Moral corruption invariably follows religious debasement. If this was the state of things, then it was clear that there was need of another plan of saving people. The truth was not to their taste. Let religion exert its full influence on any nominally Christian nation, and these things would cease. But,(2) These things do not exist where religion exerts its influence. It disclosed another plan; and its effects were seen at once throughout the most abandoned states and cities of the ancient world. (o) By the judgment of God he means that which the philosophers called the law of nature, and the lawyers themselves termed the law of nations. Murder is no better than lies if lying does the trick.”—C. They are abundantly sustained by the pagan writers themselves. A monstrous contest of abandoned wickedness is carried on. The apostle places this terrible truth in the forefront of his argument on justification by faith, that upon the basis of universal condemnation he might rear the edifice of a free, world-wide salvation; nor can the Gospel be scripturally preached or embraced, save as the good news of salvation to those that are all equally "lost." The same things have been again and again witnessed in China, and Hindostan, and Africa, the Sandwich islands, and in aboriginal America. But a man cannot be brought to greater slavery than to be given up to his own lusts. They need the countenance of others. In the conclusion of this chapter we may make a few additional observations. (2) We must not magnify the supernatural revelation which God has been pleased to make of Himself, through Abraham's family to the human race, at the expense of that older, and, in itself, lustrous revelation which He has made to the whole family of man through the medium of their own nature and the creation around them. But (8) this knowledge can never be wholly extinguished in the breast of men. It stalks forth before all eyes. In the summer of 386, a young man wept in the backyard of a friend. Leading to idolatry (the worship of creation instead of the Creator) 1) E.g., making God into their own image 2) E.g., making God into the image of other animate objects c. Modern man has his ownEp 5 [The wrath of God at the last day will involve a fiery end (cf. More profound and laborious philosophers than had arisen, the pagan world could not hope to see; more refinement and civilization than then existed, the world could not expect to behold under paganism. To test this, we must not look to Popery, surrounded with, and more or less influenced by, the presence and power of Protestantism; nor to Protestantism under every sort of disadvantage, internal and external. Salem Media Group. They are abundantly sustained by the pagan writers themselves. (1) That this is true, too true. If God were to allow us to go our own way completely (which He sometimes does), we … The lust of sin increases daily; and shame is daily more and more extinguished. Let it send its influence into other lands, and the world, the now polluted world, would become pure before God. They "join hand in hand," and become confederate in iniquity. More profound and laborious philosophers than had arisen, the pagan world could not hope to see; more refinement and civilization than then existed, the world could not expect to behold under paganism. And so strikingly is this to be seen in all its essential features in the East at this day, that (as Hodge says) the missionaries have frequently been accused by the natives of having forged the whole of the latter part of this chapter, as they could not believe that so accurate a description of themselves could have been written eighteen centuries ago. This section of the Book of Romans is one of the clearest and most powerful descriptions of the fallen nature of humanity and the judgment fitting to the fallenness. Seneca de Ira, ii. International Bible Lesson Commentary Romans 1:16-32 (Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 2. This the Gentiles knew by the light of nature, and by the examples of God’s justice in the world. Believing as they do, Christians are bound to send the gospel to the pagan world. 4. awful completion of this description of vice; an opposition to knowledge and conscience, i.e. The means which they had of arriving at the knowledge of God were, their own reason, their conscience, and an observation of the effects of depravity.The judgment of God - The word "judgment" here denotes the declared sentiment of God that such things deserved death. Paul is not teaching that every single person, of all time, will receive God's mercy., of all time, will receive God's mercy. And if such a man is a wicked man, how much more wicked are such who commit sin themselves, and delight in the sins of others? That this was the case with the pagan there can be no doubt. Seneca de Ira, ii. death; People do not commit sin often alone. (18-23) Is He just or unjust? But look at Romanism where it has unrestrained liberty to develop its true character, and see whether impurity does not there taint society to its core, pervading alike the highest and the lowest classes; and then look at Protestantism where it enjoys the same advantages, and see whether it be not marked by a comparatively high standard of social virtue. For the Greeks could know no other law of God, being destitute of revelation; that they which commit such things are worthy of death — God hath written on the hearts of men not only his law, but the sanction of his law. Romans 1:32 and although they know (AAPMPN) the ordinance of God, that those who practice (PAPMPN) such things are worthy of death, they not only do (3PPAI) the same, but also give (3PPAI) hearty approval to those who practice (PAPMPN) them. This is an essential point. No, it is by the fallenness of mankind, the turning away from God. So Paul judged; and so we should judge still. As said, expository preaching is always a good thing. 5. It is on this principle that modern missions to the pagan are established; and if the toils of the apostles were demanded to spread the gospel, then are the labors of Christians now. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. But all the paganisms of the East at this day attest its accuracy, from the more elaborate idolatry of India and the simpler and more stupid idolatry of China down to the childish rudiments of nature worship prevalent among the savage tribes. Have pleasure ... - They delight in those who commit sin; and hence, encourage them in it, and excite them to it. The account given here of ancient pagans would apply substantially still to the pagan world. Mark Dunagan Commentary on the Bible Romans 1:32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but … While God calls, he makes what he calls. Werner Bible Commentary "For freedom Christ has freed us" — Galatians 5:1 Home » Bible Commentaries » Comments on Romans Romans 1:1-32 Submitted by admin on Thu, 2009-02-12 18:20. now from this whole account we see the insufficiency of the light of nature to guide persons in the way of salvation; what need there was of a divine revelation; and how impossible it is that such men should ever be justified before God, by any works of seeming righteousness done by them; which the apostle had in view, in giving this account of the depraved nature and conduct of the Gentiles, and of those among them who professed to be, and were the wisest and most knowing of them. Who knowing the judgment of God The account given here of ancient pagans would apply substantially still to the pagan world. So public has abandoned wickedness become, and so openly does it flame up in the minds of all, that innocence is no longer seldom, but has wholly ceased to exist." Romans 1:18-32 - NIV: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them This is the climax of our apostle's charges against the heathen; and certainly, if the things are in themselves as black as possible, this settled and unblushing satisfaction at the practice of them, apart from all the blinding effects of present passion, must be regarded as the darkest feature of human depravity. All rights reserved. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Romans 11:1-2 EXEGESIS: ROMANS 9-10. This was a grievous aggravation of the offence. ], the royal, divine, principle of justice , that God approves of virtues, hates vices, visits the wicked with the punishment of death, and justly and deservedly so, in order that He may show that He is not unjust. After all that their greatest philosophers could do, this was the result, and it is clear that there was need of some better plan than this. If this revolting and melancholy picture of the pagan world was a true representation, then it was clear that there was need of some other plan of religion. THE CONTEXT In chapter 9, Paul deals God's election of Israel (9:1-18), God's wrath (9:19-29), and Israel's unbelief and the idea of the law as a stumbling stone (9:30-33). At the beginning of the letter, Paul states that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone … Continue reading "Commentary on Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32" Romans 1:18-32 teaches the sinfulness of man in rejecting the truth of God and replacing it with false gods and false concepts of God. And it is not wisdom or benevolence to withhold it from them. He knew his life of sin and rebellion against God left him empty and feeling dead; but he just couldn’t find the strength to make a final, real decision for Jesus Christ. HAVING concluded his prefatory address, the Apostle now announces, in brief but comprehensive terms, the grand subject which occupies the first five chapters of this Epistle, namely, the doctrine of Ver. In the conclusion of this chapter we may make a few additional observations.1. but have pleasure in them that do them—deliberately set their seal to such actions by encouraging and applauding the doing of them in others. Rev., better, practice. If it was right, and wise, and proper for them to go to other lands to proclaim "the unsearchable riches of Christ," then it is equally proper and wise to do it now. Livy says of the age of Augustus, in some respects the brightest period of the Roman history, "Rome has increased by her virtues until now, when we can neither bear our vices nor their remedy." In this passage, Paul describes the current generation—how men have rejected God's will and supplanted it with gross idolatry and how they have become lovers of themselves, exalting the creation and their desires above the Creator. This we have in part seen In addition we may adduce the testimony of two Roman writers respecting the state of things at Rome in the time of the apostle. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. It greatly heightens guilt when we excite others to do it, and seduce them from the ways of innocence. Alas! Not only do the same — Allow themselves in the practice of these sins; but have pleasure in them that do them — Approve, encourage, and patronise them in others, and even take pleasure in their committing them. Clarke's Romans 1:32 Bible Commentary Who, knowing the judgment of God - Δικαιωμα, the grand rule of right which God has revealed to every man, the knowledge of which he has, less or more, given to every nation of the world, relative to honouring parents, taking care of their own offspring, keeping their engagements, etc., etc. all which greatly aggravated their wickedness, since they sinned 2.Geneva Study BibleWho knowing the {o} judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but {p} have pleasure in them that do them. (p) T. Bab. at least of corporeal death: not only do the same, but have pleasure in those that do The nature of man, whether pagan or Christian, is still the same; and the charges of the apostle apply more or less to the state and character of men at all times, till they are brought to full submission to the faith of Christ, and renewed by Divine power. 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