Romans 1:18-23
1. Look for images and echoes from the Old Testament. Look for similarities in Paul’s other letters. Look for echoes of Jesus. Ponder the function of this passage in the outline of the letter.
2. Ponder these: How much that is necessary for salvation does everyone know from nature? What they know from nature, is it all outside their mind and conscience and DNA, or did God put some kind of “natural law” of good inside every human? Can someone who doesn’t know the name of Jesus be saved? If so how?
3. Consider and list some of the feelings and attitudes that might have been brought up in remembering the golden calf story.
4. How might the Jews among Paul’s listeners be feeling about Paul’s assertion that these sinners have no excuse?
5. What questions arise for you out of the reading of this text? What did you learn that was new to you, or a new way of looking at something? What does this text tell you about God and about yourself? About humans in general?
Wilma’s Notes:
1:18 Wrath: Exodus 20:5; Ephesians 2:3 (entire chapter, Ephesians 2, is on the theme of Romans 1)
1:19-20 Nature: Job 12:7-9; Psalm 19:1-6; John 1:9
1:21 Forgot God: Exodus 15:24; 16:2; 17:2; Deuteronomy 8:11-19; 2 Kings 17:15-16; Psalm 106:13, 19-21; Jeremiah 2:5; 1 Corinthians 10:6-7; Ephesians 4:16-17
1:22 Wise/foolish: Jeremiah 10:14-15; Matthew 7:24-27; 25:1-13; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
1:23 Images: Exodus 20:5; 32:1-35; Deuteronomy 4:15-19; Isaiah 40:18-20; Jeremiah 10:14-15; Revelation 9:20-21