Rom. 1: 19-2: 1.

A (1: 19-22) a. Known of God.

b. Inexcusable.

B. (23-31)

c1. Changed the glory.

d1. Given up to uncleanness.

c2. Changed the truth.

d2. Given up to infamous passions.

c3. Changed natural use.

d3. Given up to reprobate mind.

A (32-ii.1)

a. Knowing the judgment of God.

b. Inexcusable.

This threefold giving up indicates the dispensational position of the Gentiles from

the dispersion at Babel, and the call of Abraham, until the ministry of the reconciliation

committed to Paul, when Israel began to pass off the scene. The Gentiles were aliens

from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise

throughout the dispensation of the law under Moses, throughout the kingdom under

David, throughout the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom during the earthly

ministry of the Lord Jesus, and throughout a part of the period covered by the Acts of the

Apostles. To this period Paul referred when he said to the Athenians; "At the time of this

ignorance God winked," but indicated that a change had come by adding, "but now

commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17: 30). That the reconciliation of the

world was closely associated with the setting aside of Israel may be seen by reading Rom.

11: 15. Referring to the structure we observe that not only is there a threefold giving up,

but also that this giving-up is preceded by a threefold change ;

There is a slight alteration in the words translated "change" in these verses in the

A.V. We have attempted to indicate the difference by using" change" and" exchange."

First they changed the glory of God without actually giving up God altogether, but this

soon led to the next step, for they exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and then

worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator. It is not possible for God to

take second place. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Into the third item we cannot go.

The defiling character of idolatry may be gathered from its annals, and we do not feel that

any good purpose would be served by elaborating this revolting subject here. At the same

time we know only too well that human nature is not a whit better to-day than when it

openly practised the sins condemned in Rom. 1: We need to faithfully warn the

rising generation, speaking very tenderly and lovingly, yet nevertheless plainly, for

Babylonianism in all its forms is rising like a flood, and the book of the Revelation

reveals Rom. 1: in a superlative degree. We need not go so far into the future as the book

of the Revelation, however, for 2 Timothy 3: 1-8 uses many of the words of Rom. 1: to

describe the perilous times at the close of this present dispensation. The sequence of the

apostasy and its relation to the development of the mystery of iniquity, otherwise called"

the lie," and the mystery of godliness, otherwise called " the truth," can be traced through

Paul's epistles.