St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, 1:24-2:16

Discussion

First, review - 1:8-23, A question I think Paul is illuding to - How can we know what is true? Scripture alone? Nature alone? Conscience alone? What is the cure for us who tend to suppress the truth?
"...God gave them up..." In what way does God give them up? (Simply withdraws the grace)
1. To Impurity and Idolatry: vs. 24 and 25
2. To Homosexuality: vs. 26 and 27
3. To all Wickedness: vs. 28-31
vs. 32, "...but approve..." Why does it always end this way? The idea that it is not good enough to go to hell alone but we must make sure others join us?

vs. 1: Up until now Paul has been generalizing about all peoples - Jews, Greeks, barbarians. Now he turns the corner with the phrase "O Man" to the Jew in particular. He begins a common greek literary form of diatribe - an imaginary debate opponent.
vs. 2 and 3: The world's view of the religious is a group looking down their noses at others yet doing the same things. Hypocrites.
vs. 4 and 5: Presumption. What was their presumption? God's kindness, not His wrath leads to repentence. How was that kindness manifested to the Jews? (Presumption: see also I Corinthians 10:1-6)
vs. 6-11:
1. Salvation by works alone???? (See also Prov 24:12 and Matt 16:27)
2. Notice the phrase again, "Jew first and then the Greek" - sound familiar? (See 1:16)