Paulos,
I have often been puzzled by Paul's statement that the wrath of God is revealed right now. But now after thinking through this passage, commenting on it, and reading your thoughts, I believe I understand now what Paul was thinking about. My trouble has been that I have seen the sins listed by Paul in vv. 19-31 as being deserving of punishment, which, of course, Paul says in vv. 30-31. But what I failed to realize, which I now realize is that the sins listed are the wrath of God. That is, the dishonorable use of the body, homosexuality, and the list in the last section of Romans 1 are the wrath of God now revealed. These sins are still deserving of death, but they are the 'giving over' of God, who in response to the human exchange of God for creature, gives idolatrous humanity over to dishonor. So the sins listed here are the wrath, which are deserving of death, which flow from the initial sin of idolatry. Do you see this as well?
May the eyes of our judges be opened before the great and terrible day, when all will see!
Grace to you!
Timotheos
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