Rom 1:18-21 | 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.

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.
1:21 ^o To know God in Scripture usually means to have an intimate, saving relationship with him (see 2 Cor 5:16 ^p; Gal 4:9 ^q; Phil 3:8 ^r, 10 ^s). Here, however, they knew God means that people knew about God. All people have some understanding of God through creation, yet they do not do what is right based on that knowledge. Rather than learn more about God, they worship gods of their own making.