Written in the Stars

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

Paul begins his systematic presentation of the gospel by addressing the problem which the gospel solves. The problem is that the wrath of God is being revealed against sin.

In these opening statements, Paul describes men (a gender-inclusive term in Paul’s mind) as not only committing specific and individual sins: there is a far more radical problem.

Sinful people, says Paul, suppress the truth. They are not merely misguided in their wrongdoing. They are active participants in opposing truth. The word “suppress