December 14, 2003

THE WRATH OF GOD

Romans 1:16-18

   Just as "the righteousness of God" is revealed in the gospel, so also "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven" (Rom. 1:17-18). Two Greek words are translated "wrath" in the New Testament. "Thumos" appears 18 times of which 10 refer to God's wrath in the Revelation. The rest appear once in eight books where all but one indicate wrath to be a sinful symptom of fallen man. The main word for wrath is "orgee." It appears 36 times in all, seven in Romans 1-5 and all twelve uses in Romans refer to God's wrath, as do the vast majority.

   The meaning of "orgee," wrath, is strong desire in a negative sense as indicated by its synonyms; anger, indignation, fury, & vengeance. Wrath indicates strong displeasure usually against people who have acted badly. Thus in Romans 1:18 "God's wrath is revealed...against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." Just as His righteousness is revealed in the gospel and is a blessing to believers, His wrath is revealed against those who behave contrary to the truth of the gospel.

   God's case against the Gentiles finds them "despising the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance." And "after their hardness and impenitent heart" they "treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath, that is, the revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (2:4-5). And God's righteous judgment will be against those "that are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [His] indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, [will be] upon every soul of man that does evil" (2:8-9).

   "Is God unrighteous Who takes vengeance [wrath]?" was put forth by some suggesting their "unrighteousness commends the right-eousness of God" (3:5). Paul took notice only to discredit such distortion. God's truth does not abound because men lie. "Let us do evil that good may come," was the perversion of wicked men. "The law works wrath" (4:15), but for the believer, "Being justified by His blood, we will be saved from wrath thru Him" (Romans 5:9).

Ivan L. Burgener