General Comments on Romans As with all of Paul's writings, they are difficult as it is. The KJV is problematic in its translation at times, which makes it even more difficult. I suggest reviewing a modern translation, such as the New American Standard (NAS), for obscure passages in the KJV. While the letter to the Romans was late chronologically, it was placed first because it was generally considered Paul's definitive work. Comments on Romans 1 v1-7 Introduction, identifying the author, his calling and commission, and the intended audience. v8-15 Paul praises the ecclesia in Rome for their apparent faith and tells them he is eager to visit them. v16-32 Herein Paul emphatically states that the righteous will live by faith (v. 16-17) where carnal men have no faith and sin against the laws of God (v. 18-32). In verses 18-32 Paul is moreso recounting the general history of humanity "from the creation of the world" (v. 20) and how they have chosen to worship their own bodies rather than God who created them. In verses 22-31 Paul contrasts various heathen behaviors with those behaviors dictated by God's Law, specifically the Law of Moses. In doing so Paul condemns the heathen to death (v. 32). v17 Paul is quoting Hab. 2:4. v20 "invisible", i.e., eternal, cp. 2 Cor. 4:18. "being understood by the things that are made", according to the KJV rendering Paul appears to be appealing to what we would refer to as the Cosmological Argument. However, the Greek "poiema" translated to "things that are made" in the KJV would be better translated "achievements" or "accomplishments". The most literal translation of "poiema" to English would be "do-effect", it's the things someone does. So, what Paul is saying is that since the Creation of the earth God has manifested himself to man in the things He does, but man has ignored Him. v24-27 Paul is commenting on the carnal nature of idolatry, hence its general appeal. As the various idolatrous religions are simply fabrications of man, they tend to be quite carnal in their practices. And, at the time contemporary with Paul, the Romans and Greeks, as History tells us, were quite idolatrous and lascivious in their practices. Paul makes it perfectly clear the lascivious acts associated with idolatry are no more acceptable then they were anciently then the Lord condemned the Egyptians and the Canaanites for the same behavior. v32 according to the KJV states that those who are familiar with the judgements of God yet still engage in the various practices detailed in v. 28-31 are worthy of death. The Greek for "judgement" in the phrase "Who knowing the judgement of God" is "dikaioma". The most literal translation to English would be "just-effect" or those just acts one is to engage in according to God's dictates. The entry in Strong's for the term: 1345 dikaioma {dik-ah'-yo-mah} from 1344; TDNT - 2:219,168; n n AV - righteousness 4, ordinance 3, judgment 2, justification 1; 10 1) that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law 1a) what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance 1b) a judicial decision, sentence 1b1) of God 1b1a) either the favourable judgment by which he acquits man and declares them acceptable to Him 1b1b) unfavourable: sentence of condemnation 2) a righteous act or deed The appearances of this term and the KJV and NAS rendering are as follows: Passage KJV NAS Luke 1:6 ordinances requirements Rom. 1:32 judgment ordinances Rom. 2:26 righteousness requirements Rom. 5:16 justification justification Rom. 5:18 righteousness righteousness Rom. 8:4 righteousness requirement Hebr. 9:1 ordinances regulations Hebr. 9:10 ordinances regulations Rev. 15:4 judgments righteous acts Rev 19:8 righteousness righteous acts The most fair translations of the term would be "requirements", "regulations," or "ordinances". Thus, what Paul is saying is those people who know what God requires as far as having a godly walk but who go in the complete opposite direction are deserving of death. And this is the typical OT line on condemning those nations who oppose the Lord. Take for example the condemnation of the Egyptians and Canaanites in Lev. 18. The Egyptians and Canaanites were exposed to worship of the Lord via the Israelites, but they rejected it and chose to follow their own carnal idolatries instead. The result is obviously spiritual death, but also physical death in the sense that their nations have become extinct through self-destruction as well as the Lord commanding Israel to exterminate the Canaanites from the land. This passage cannot be taken in context to be Paul endorsing capital punishment on anyone in the ecclesia who commits the acts listed in v. 18-31. Even in 1 Cor. 5:5 where Paul seems to be suggesting an incestuous person is guilty of a capital offense, he states that the individual should be abandoned to Satan for destruction. And later in 2 Cor. 2:5-10 Paul encourages the ecclesia to fellowship the apparently repentant incestuous person back into the Church so Satan doesn't prevail. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.