Romans 1:18-32 is a large compendium of unrighteousness, comprising evil and/or wrong personal traits, thoughts, attitudes, acts, conduct and attitude.
The precise number of unrighteous stuff varies from Bible commentator to Bible commentator, depending on what is counted as a single, distinct item of unrighteousness, whichever term or description is used. One probable count, - as used below,- has 32 Items, after and not including 3 words of generic compounding nouns as a kind of “header”: ungodliness, unrighteousness of men and suppressors of the truth in unrighteousness (verse 18), which are explained in verses 19-20.
There are seeming overlaps in meaning among the 32 items. For example, the reference to items (5) and (9) in the list discussed below are both concerning worshipping and serving any artefact or life-form, respectfully, instead of God but both wrongs are, in essence idolatry. Likewise, items (6), (7), (10) and (11) are all wrongs stemming from human gender and sexuality, but distinct characteristics of illicit or deviant expressions of these human traits and conduct. A useful study of what the Bible describes as “unrighteous” should look into the shades of meaning of almost-synonymous terms and expressions in koine Greek as well as in English translation. Also, a study of intertextual (i.e cross-referenced) use of similar words in identical or different but related contexts throughout the Bible or either Testament can help shed light on the precise meaning of words carrying the meaning of unrighteousness in specifics.
Verse 21-22 of Romans 1 (according to some commentators) begins a proper listing of sins and wrongdoings that concludes at verse 32 at chapter’s end. They are : (1) not glorifying God as God, (2) ingratitude, (3) being futile in thought with (4) foolish, darkened hearts. Verse 23 refers to item and, at verse 23, (5) changing the glory of the incorruptible God into the images of corruptible man and other fauna.
Romans 1:24, has a general overarching sin, i.e. (6) uncleanliness in the form of lust, causing (7) the “dishonouring” or wrong use of their bodies among themselves, (8) exchanging the truth of God for a lie and (9) worshipping and serving creatures instead of the Creator. Romans 1:25 does not say that images of creatures were worshipped (as idolatry had been earlier referred to in item (5)) but rather sinners also worshipped and served the creatures themselves.
Romans 1:26-27 in rather stark, “matter of fact language of koine Greek refers to the detestable wrong of (10) human homosexuality of both genders. This is different from the more encompassing sexual sins of item 7, which covers all sexual deviance (with debased minds, doing unfitting things). However. most encompassing in sexual terms is item (11),- “sexual immorality” which covers adultery between the two genders.
Varieties of unrighteousness are listed in Romans 1:29-31,- (12) wickedness, (13) covetousness, (14) maliciousness, (15) envy, (16) murder. (17) strife, (18) deceit, (19) evil mindedness. At the end of Romans 1:29, evil traits of humans are replaced by individual action or conduct identifiers: (20) whisperers, (21) backbiters, (22) haters of God, (23) violent, (24) proud, (25) boastful, (26) inventors of evil things, (27) disobedient to parents, (28) undiscerning, (29) untrustworthy, “unloving, (30) unforgiving, (31) unmerciful and (32) and approvers of others’ unrighteousness although knowing that practisers as well as mere approvers of unrighteousness both are deserving of death.
Our concerned Father has provided many so-called “Catalogues of Vices and Virtues” are found throughout the Bible, appearing in different contexts and comprising different numbers of items. Examples in the Old Testament of such lists of unrighteousness are the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and Proverbs 6:16-19 among many other passages. In the New Testament prominent lists are the Lord’s woes to the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:13-30) and the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), also among many such passages. No Christian can possibly complain that there is a lack of precise, easilymemorised and applied items, as there are simply many lists of what constitutes unrighteousness in preparation for the inevitable personal judgment of God at world’s end.
Romans 2:1-11 comprises a categorical explanation and warning of Who will judge and how, with what consequences to the judged. The approach mirrors Ezekiel 18:1-32 and 33:10-20, two important passages on the matter of God’s fairness in judgment based on man repenting of previous sins and doing good works in believing faith and repentance from sin in life before facing Him to be judged.. Romans 2:1-11 is, like the two Ezekiel passages, purposely redundant in expressive emphasis. Two groups are described by their worldly aims and objectives in this life as well as their “deeds”, i.e. works and conduct (Romans 1:6, as also Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The two groups are the eternally rewarded in Romans 2:7, 10 set against the eternally punished in Romans 2:8-9.
The excursus of Romans 2:12-16 declares that there is only one standard of judgment by God. It is obedient faith in the gospel (Romans 1:16 and 2:16). Before the gospel age, judgment will be by the operative covenant mankind were under at their lifetime, God having been operative in revealing His determination of what is good for man to obey so as to be rewarded following judgment and its converse, which is disobedience to the same, bringing great loss and punishment or justification by obedient or “doers’ “ faith (Romans 2:12-14). A clear indication that those non-Abrahamic races and peoples (including the nonIsraelites who were therefore outside of Moses’ law) had been given “law written in their hearts” by God (see Hebrews 1:1-2 and Romans 1:18-21). Its not merely what the Bible says (that aliens to the law of Moses also had a law of God binding them upon which they will be judged) but also all their lives had been lived under that law “… who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:14-16). As we can infer, this legallybinding law (to which they ought to be obedient and by which they will be judged) for those living before the Gospel Age and not being subject to Moses’ Law as only Moses’ people, the Israelites were bound, were instead by whatever patriarchal law applied to them in certain countries and peoples into which God placed them for their welfare and good so that they should seek Him (Acts 14:15-17; 17:25-27). Reaching back to Old Testament days, this is precisely what the king and population of the Assyrian people of Nineveh did (Jonah 3:1-10), most importantly repenting before God at the preaching of Jonah although they never were bound to the Law of Moses. being not Israelites.
In summary, the judgment of God at world’s end will be just and fair and based upon obedience to the gospel call (including for repentance for every man everywhere in the present age.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 14For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.