18
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, ver. 20. From this he draws the inference, therefore [justifi- cation must he] by faith, ch. iii. 21, etc. — opyri ©sou, wrath of God) [not as Engl. Vers. “ the wrath”] ’opyri without the article, in this passage [is denounced against all unrighteousness ] ; but r\ opyri is denounced against those [ the persons ; not as opyi] , against the sin], who disregard righteousness. Wrath is, as it were, different, when directed against the Gentiles, and when against the J ews. 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. ii. 5, 8, iii. 5, iv. 15, v. 9, ix. 22, and besides, ch. xii. 19, xiii. 4, 5. — air ovpavov, 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, — Ps. xiv. 2. — ski naffuv, upon all) Paul, in vividly presenting to view the wrath of God, speaks in the abstract, concerning sin : in presenting to view salvation [ver. 16, he speaks] in the concrete, concerning believers ; he now, therefore, intimates enigmatically [by im- plication], that grace has been procured for sinners. — akfiaav xai ddr/.i av, ungodliness and unrighteousness) These two points are discussed at the twenty-third and following verses. [ Paul often mentions unrighteousness, ver. 29, as directly opposed to righteous- ness.— Y. g.] — a vQpuiKwv ruv) A periphrasis for the Gentiles. — rriv dXrjkiav, the truth) to which belongs, whatever of really sound morality the heathen writings possess. — b dbtxia, in unrighteous- ness) The term is taken now in a larger sense, than just before, where it formed an antithesis to akfisiuv, viz., in the sense of dvofjj'ta, ch. vi. 19. — nanyfvrm, holding back) \liolding, Engl. Yers. less correctly] Truth in the understanding, makes great efforts, and is urgent ; but man impedes its effect.
19. To yvuarov) the fact that God is known : that principle, that God makes Himself known ; that is to say, the existence of an acquaintance with , or knowledge of, God [the fact of God