John Bengel Commentary - Romans 1:18 - 1:18

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John Bengel Commentary - Romans 1:18 - 1:18


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Rom 1:18. Ἀποκαλύπτεται, is revealed) See verse 17, note.-γὰρ, for) The particle begins the discussion; the Statement of Subject [Proposition] being now concluded, ch. Rom 6:19; Mat 1:18; Act 2:15; 1Co 15:3. The Latins generally omit it.[11] This is Paul’s first argument: All are under sin; and that the law shows; therefore, no one is justified by the works of the law. The discussion of this point continues to the third chapter, Rom 1:20. From this he draws the inference, therefore [justification must be] by faith, ch. Rom 3:21, etc.-ὀργὴ Θεοῦ, wrath of God) [not as Engl. Vers. “the wrath”] Ὀργή without the article, in this passage [is denounced against all unrighteousness]; but ἡ ὀργὴ is denounced against those [the persons; not as ὀργή, against the sin], who disregard righteousness. Wrath is, as it were, different, when directed against the Gentiles, and when against the Jews. The righteousness and the wrath of God form, in some measure, an antithesis. The righteousness of the world crushes the guilty individual; the righteousness of God crushes beneath it the sin, and restores the sinner. Hence there is frequent mention of wrath, especially in this epistle, ch. Rom 2:5; Rom 2:8, Rom 3:5, Rom 4:15, Rom 5:9, Rom 9:22, and besides, ch. Rom 12:19, Rom 13:4-5.-ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ, from heaven) This significantly implies the majesty of an angry God, and His all-seeing eye, and the wide extent of His wrath: whatever is under heaven, and yet not under the Gospel, is under this wrath,-Psa 14:2.-ἐπὶ πᾶσαν, upon all) Paul, in vividly presenting to view the wrath of God, speaks in the abstract, concerning sin: in presenting to view salvation [Rom 1:16, he speaks] in the concrete, concerning believers; he now, therefore, intimates enigmatically [by implication], that grace has been procured for sinners.-ἀσέβειαν καὶ ἀδικίαν, ungodliness and unrighteousness) These two points are discussed at the twenty-third and following verses. [Paul often mentions unrighteousness, Rom 1:29, as directly opposed to righteousness.-V. g.]-ἀνθρώπων τῶν) A periphrasis for the Gentiles.-ΤῊΝ ἈΛΉΘΕΙΑΝ, the truth) to which belongs, whatever of really sound morality the heathen writings possess.-ἐν ἀδικίᾳ, in unrighteousness) The term is taken now in a larger sense, than just before, where it formed an antithesis to ἀσέβειαν, viz., in the sense of ἈΝΟΜΊΑ, ch. Rom 6:19.-ΚΑΤΕΧΌΝΤΩΝ, holding back) [holding, Engl. Vers. less correctly] Truth in the understanding, makes great efforts, and is urgent; but man impedes its effect.

[11] But the Vulg. has it “Revelatur enim.”-ED.