Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Two interpretations: One, that a man may be of unrighteous life and yet have a knowledge of the truth; he holds the truth, but is unrighteous in spite of it. The other, that men keep down the truth by their unrighteousness. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:6, where the word here translated "hold" is translated "withhold." We take the latter. Man's unrighteousness "withholds," "keeps back," "represses God's truth." This is evidently the view of the revisers of the Authorised Version, for they translate: "Who hold down the truth in unrighteousness." I. ALL THINGS DEMAND FOR THEIR PROPER DEVELOPMENT SUITABLE CONDITIONS AND SURROUNDINGS. Truth no exception to this rule. We observe that it requires — 1. An appreciative spirit — love for truth. 2. A receptive spirit — openness to truth, 3. An earnest spirit — zeal for truth. Such, and such alone, attain truth; into such minds only will truth enter or come to anything. This with respect to truth generally. Religious truth requires something more. 4. An obedient spirit (John 7:17; John 8:31, 32). II. TRUST INVOLVES A MORAL ELEMENT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT CONCERN THE INTELLECT ALONE, BUT REGULATES THE LIFE. The text declares that unrighteousness — sin — represses the truth. This appears from the following considerations: Sin — 1. Destroys the love of truth. 2. Sensitiveness to truth. 3. Zeal for truth. 4. Obedience to truth.Hence it destroys the conditions necessary to the development and progress of God's truth. III. IT FOLLOWS FROM ALL THIS. 1. That a sinner is disqualified for pronouncing upon Divine truth. 2. That our doubts — all scepticism — are finally referable to a sinful nature in ourselves rather than to any inherent difficulties in the truth itself. 3. That the progress of Christ's religion is hindered not only by outward sin, but by the imperfections and inconsistencies of those who profess it. (H M. Jackson.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; |
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