Rom 1:18-20 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rom 1:18-3:20: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21 ) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32 ) and Jews (2:1–3:8 ) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20 ). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12 ; Num 11:1 ; Jer 21:3-7 ) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually depicts God’s anger as occurring in the end times (Rom 2:5 , 8 ; 5:9 ; Col 3:6 ; 1 Thes 1:10 ), the present tense of shows refers to God’s expressions of anger throughout human history.

a1:18–3:20►

b3:21►

c1:18-32►

d2:1–3:8►

e3:9-20►

f1:18►

gExod 32:10-12►

hNum 11:1►

iJer 21:3-7►

jRom 2:5►

k8►

l5:9►

mCol 3:6►

n1 Thes 1:10►

‏ Romans 1:18-20

Summary for Rom 1:18-3:20: 1:18–3:20 ^a Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21 ^b) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32 ^c) and Jews (2:1–3:8 ^d) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20 ^e). 1:18 ^f God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12 ^g; Num 11:1 ^h; Jer 21:3-7 ⁱ) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually depicts God’s anger as occurring in the end times (Rom 2:5 ^j, 8 ^k; 5:9 ^l; Col 3:6 ^m; 1 Thes 1:10 ⁿ), the present tense of shows refers to God’s expressions of anger throughout human history.