Romans Chapter 1: Physical Resurrection Eternal Sonship Homosexuality



    1: Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle separated unto the gospel of God 2: Which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures 3: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4: And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead [1] 5: By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name 6: Among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ 7: To all that be in Rome beloved of God called to be saints Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 8: First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world 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 10: Making request if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you 11: For I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to the end you may be established 12: That is that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me 13: Now I would not have you ignorant brethren that oftentimes I purposed to come to you but was hindered up till now that I might have some fruit among you also even as among other Gentiles 14: I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise 15: So as much as in me is I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also 16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes [it came] to the Jew first and [now] also to the Greek 17: For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shall live by faith 18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of those who hold the truth in unrighteousness 19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God has showed it to them 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 [are clearly seen and understood by observing God’s creation] so that they are without excuse 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 hearts were darkened 22: Professing themselves to be wise they became fools 23: And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things 24: Because of this God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves 25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creation more than the Creator who is blessed forever[2] Amen 26: For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature 27: And likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust one toward another men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was appropriate[3] 28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient 29: Being filled with all unrighteousness fornication wickedness covetousness maliciousness full of envy murder debate deceit malignity whisperers 30: Backbiters haters of God despiteful proud boasters inventors of evil things disobedient to parents 31: Without understanding covenant-breakers without natural affection implacable unmerciful 32: Who knowing the judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them[4]


[1] The Sonship of Jesus does not derive from his resurrection, nor was he the Son of God before he entered the Kosmos as the Son of Mary. Jesus' identity as the Son of God, derives wholly from His incarnation. He is called the first-begotten even as he enters the inhabited world. His claim to universal power and authority, as the Son of man, is derived from His physical resurrection. That is because as a physical man who conquered sin, Jesus, as a human, conquered death as well. The sinless Son of Man would never have died had He not voluntarily laid down His life. It was not the scourging, the thorns, or the nails that killed Him. No one took His life; He laid it down (John 10:18). He chose the moment of His death, not man, and not Satan. He was born sinless, and by always doing “the will of His Father,” as a human, he, as a human, remained sinless. Death, therefore, could not hold His human body. His resurrection was when He was declared to be the Son of God “with power”—still a reference to his humanity.  I will declare the decree thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee…The decree was declared the day, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, became the first begotten from the dead (John 2:18), tell us by what authority you do these things…? And Jesus proceeded to tell how His resurrection from the dead would prove His authority)

[2] Jesus is the YHWH the Creator Colossians 1:16, Isaiah 44:24

[3] All unrighteousness is sin, and the scriptures do not leave it to our imaginations to try and figure out what is unrighteousness and what is not. The Bible clearly identifies sinful thoughts and behaviors for what they are. Homosexuality was rampant among the Romans to whom Paul was writing (within both pagan worship customs and in personal relationships), and the apostle minced no words in condemning that sin while exposing the progression of sin in general, that results from rejecting God and his truth. Paul noted that the Eternal Godhead is revealed even in nature, so no one could plead ignorance on the great day of judgement. Keep in mind, here, that Paul was writing to Romans who had turned from idolatry and sinful lifestyles to serve the Living God. He opens the letter praising God for his Son and praising God for their faith. He complements them, but also addresses the culture they they lived in. 

[4] The gentile Christians Paul was writing to, were no doubt surrounded by temptation (just as Christians today are), and he gives stern warning to those who are tempted to return to sinful lifestyles, and also to those who would condone behaviors their culture accepted and perhaps even promoted. ..



Additional commentary pending for this chapter. Questions and comments are welcome.
Did you find this article helpful? Link to this post or share with your connections on social media

No comments: