Romans 1:18-23

Romans 1: 18-23 – Text will be King James for this online study. Class versions will be ESV/HCSB.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

Rom 1:20  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; so that they are without excuse: 

Rom 1:21  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. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

Rom 1:23  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. 

Main Point: Mankind has known about God by the things He has created, but idolatry has been mankind’s preference over the obvious power of Jehovah. This is not an excuse for ignoring Jehovah God. (We can assume due to the idolatry inference that he is addressing Gentiles). Why would he say this?

10. Write down all the things the wrath of God is revealed again and explain what those things are.  Ungodliness, unrighteousness, which ultimately suppress the truth. In this context it will be ignoring the deity of Jehovah and replacing Him with all manner of manmade gods.

11. How has God been made plain to the world? Explain how these things are clearly seen. The basic understanding of a created world demands a creator. This verse clearly pierces the heart of current “science” whose basic objective is to remove the instinctual seeking of God by removing the perceived possibility of any god. When one frees the mind of talking heads and simply, honestly looks at creation….God is the only honest answer (truth). The complexities of life are only now becoming apparent and most science against God is crumbling under its own weight of failures.

12. What are the two sins that lead to the immorality of the Gentiles? What lessons do we learn from this? They knew God, but did not glorify Him, or thank Him. First one must consider these truths….about who God is and what he has done….His power and fully encompassing wisdom. And, how He has supplied us with all we need. The scriptures are full of examples of strong characters who give themselves credit when it is God who has performed great deeds through them. It is easy to move from the paradigm of humility. This is why God asks us to remind ourselves of Him….through prayer…worship…Lord’s Supper

13. What will happen to us when we commit these sins? Claiming to be wise, we become fools. It’s interesting how many in our culture point a finger at Christians as fools…scoffing, mocking and ridiculing. Then turn and bow to the new gods of today. Seeking confirmation of their biases based in failing sciences and mock intellect. We should not however become angry when these people come after us with their spite. Spite and insult is the mark of someone whose conscience is haunting them. They are to be pitied, and helped if they are willing. They live in perpetual fear.

14. Explain verse 23. What is Paul describing the Gentiles doing? Paul is describing what many humans do to get God out of their hearts/minds. They take a wonderful, perfect God, fully worthy of glory….fully worthy of worship…and turn Him into something carnal. This is done for a multitude of reasons, but it starts with a selfish heart. Self serving. Self aggrandizing. Self motivated. Remove God from the equation, and do whatever you want. Many people see freedom as being “free from a deity” whose only purpose is to control and punish. These actions can be motivated by a view of religions’ over-zealous need to control peoples’ lives. The gospel will set us free. What is ignored is that one God is being replace by another god. Either way, we serve something…it is inescapable.

Additional:

18) UNGODLINESS: G766 - From G765; impiety, that is, (by implication) wickedness:

      UNRIGHTEOUSNESS: G93 - ad-ee-kee'-ah From G94; (legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of charater, life or act): - iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.

      TRUTH G225- al-ay'-thi-a From G227; truth: - true, (G227 – not concealing)

21) HONOR (glorify) G1392: dox-ad'-zo From G1391; to render (or esteem) glorious

      THANKFUL _G2168_ yoo-khar-is-teh'-o From G2170; to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude (towards); specifically to say grace at a meal:

Romans 1:8-17

Romans 1: 8-17 – Text will be King James for this online study. Class versions will be ESV/HCSB.

Rom 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 

Rom 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 

Rom 1:10  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 

Rom 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 

Rom 1:12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 

Rom 1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 

Rom 1:14  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 

Rom 1:15  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

Main Point: Paul longs to visit them for mutual benefit. He has planned on it. He is ready to preach to them.

2. Why is Paul thanking God?The faith of the Roman church precedes Paul’s visit. He does not need to go there to know it exists. This reveals the importance of a “tight” network of congregations. Everywhere Paul went and he spoke with someone who knew this congregation, he heard good things. He says “throughout the world”…a little hyperbole for “his world”, which was fairly extensive.

3. What is Paul praying for?This appears to be both an emotional and a pragmatic want. The latter to 1) share in their faith (give/take) - 2) Confirm their direction is solid (established/strengthened). This may indicate that perhaps Paul may have been hearing some things he feels need to be addressed or, perhaps he just knows that opposition is everywhere.

4. Explain Paul’s obligation (vs. 14). What lessons do we learn from this?Paul throws a net over his audience.He explains his position as one who owes a debt…to anyone, regardless of societal status! (This statement is categorically leaving out the Hebrews. Why?)Most specifically, Paul was addressing Greek/Roman thought. Everything outside of the Roman sphere (language etc) was considered barbarian. After all, Rome was the center of the civilized world. It was rich, and full of culture, knowledge, schools. Market places were full of people who did nothing more than “argue” philosophy etc. Paul tells them, this is for you. On the flip side, if you happened to be a poor servant with a “Barbarian” background, he is addressing you too! By stating this, Paul is demolishing any class predisposition that may have existed within the church….before he even starts to say anything!
5. Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel?Short answer, it is the power of God that results in salvation. The bigger question is why did Paul feel the need to say this? And why did he feel the need to point to the fact that it is by God?
6. Who is the gospel for?Everyone!

7. Explain verse 17. Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4. How does the quotation of Habakkuk go toward Paul’s point in verse 17?The Habakkuk context is God explaining to Habakkuk that he rejects arrogance and accepts the humble who exhibit faith. These are the acceptable children to God. The then-current context is the gospel what Paul is speaking of. IT is where the righteousness of God is found….a righteousness that affords salvation. Again, why would Paul open with this?

8. What is the righteousness of God?The Gospel….the offering of His Son.
9. What does it mean that the “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith?There may be many possible answers for this. I feel bound to the context. The context starts with 14) Paul wishes to preach the gospel to Rome: Gentiles, Greeks, Barbarians, wise, unwise. Each soul’s journey will look a little different than the next. The destination is the same, but each walk will look different….faith to faith.

Additional:

9) ceasing G89- Adverb from G88; uninterruptedly, that is, without omission

11) long -  G1971 - From G1909 and ποθέωpotheō (to yearn); to dote upon
      spiritual – G4152 - From G4151; non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal
       gift – G5486 From G5483; a (divine) gratuity, that is, deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, that is, (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: - (free) gift.
established – G4741 From a presumed derivative of G2476 (like G4731); to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - fix, (e-) stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen.

14) debtor – G3781 From G3784; an ower, that is, a person indebted;

16) salvation- G4991 Feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly abstract) noun; rescue or safety

17) righteousness – G1343 From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification