For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. 17 For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.”' 18 The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.
Paul preached that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation for all who believe (1 Cor. 1:18). It is the whole of Christ’s mission from incarnation to resurrection which delivers mankind from death, due to sin, to a new spiritual life in Christ (Tit. 3:4-7). The Gospel was preached to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. In order to receive salvation, one must have faith for without faith one cannot become sons and daughters of God. The Gospel reveals the righteousness (justice) that flows from God to man by faith which leads to eternal life. God wills everyone to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4).
The wrath of God is revealing itself as God allows those who reject him and embrace sin to suffer the consequence of their choice. God’s divinity and power can be perceived by faith or by human reason through what He has created so no one can claim that they do not know God. God has made it clear to them in their mind and in their conscience. If the Gentiles cannot grasp the truth, it is because of their moral failings. In spite of such knowledge, the Gentiles would not give glory to God. They boasted of their wisdom which was folly (Ps. 14:1) and embraced various kinds of impiety, idolatry, and immorality. Love of God and reverence for God result from knowledge of God, so those without the Gospel can neither acknowledge God nor reverence God. The world with all of its wisdom did not come to know God (1 Cor. 1:21).
Almighty God, through the power of your Gospel may your righteousness be revealed and our faith increased. Turn our hearts to you and grant us sound minds and right reason so that through your sanctifying grace we may learn to truly praise and glorify your name. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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