A. God’s Wrath Against the World (1:18-32)
In Greek this section begins with For. This is interpreted in two ways. The first is to understand this section as giving the reason why the righteousness of God is needed. This provides the background for the declaration in 3:21 that the righteousness of God, as the salvation provided by God, has been revealed in Christ Jesus.
The other interpretation is to understand vv.18-32 as the substantiation for the statement in 1:17. The righteousness of God is being revealed as the wrath of God toward sin. In the OT the righteousness of God does punish sins (e.g., Ne 9:33; 2Ch 12:5-6; Da 9:14). In 2:16 Paul indicates that his Gospel declares God’s judgment. Therefore, the second interpretation is better. The righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel. To those who believe, it is the power of God unto salvation (cf. 1Co 1:18). To those who do not believe but are disobedient and rebellious, it means the wrath of God (cf. 2Co 2:16).
Most people are ashamed of their anger. Some scholars think that wrath is unworthy of God, and interpret the wrath of God as some kind of impersonal law of retribution (Dodd, 21-24). Yet Paul’s use of from heaven (v.18) seems to contradict this. The wrath of God is not an irrational emotional outburst. It is his personal reaction to sin based on his holy character. Its judicial character is intimated in 13:4-5. The wrath of God is radically different from human wrath. Human anger wants its objects to receive its full blow. But God provides the way for the objects of his wrath to avoid its effects. This kind of wrath is not unworthy of God.
The wrath of God is being revealed (v.18). It is manifested in the terrible corruption and perversion of human life. This, however, is only the beginning. There still is the Day of Judgment awaiting the sinner in the future (2:5).
The wrath of God is manifested against the godlessness and wickedness of the world. The first is expounded in vv.19-25, and the second in vv.26-32.
Since the creation of the world, God’s eternal power and his divine nature have been seen and understood from what has been made. But many people refuse to acknowledge him, and they even rebel against him. Therefore, God gives them up. Therefore (v.24), because of this (v.26), and since (v.28) all indicate that human sin is the cause, and God’s giving them up is the effect. God gives them up by withdrawing his restraining grace (Wesley, Notes, 364). As a result, all sorts of corruption take over. The thinking of men and women become so corrupt that they exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship creatures instead of the Creator. In their idolatry they defile their bodies through cultic prostitution (vv.24-25). Indeed, their sexual relationships become corrupt, and they practice homosexuality (vv.26-27). Finally, their personal relationships with others become corrupt (vv.28-31). They not only sin; they also encourage others to sin (v.32).
In this section, Paul maintains that God’s revelation in nature is adequate to condemn human beings if they refuse to follow its lead to God. However, Paul does not say that the revelation in nature is adequate to lead them to salvation.