Die getuienis van Romeine 1:18-32 oor God se openbaring: ’n sintaktiese, stilistiese en gedagte-strukturele ontleding van die teks

Abstract

The evidence from Romans 1:18-32 about God’s revelation. A syntactical, stylistical and thought-structural analysis of the text The question at stake in this article is to what extent people who have not heard the Gospel of Jesus can know God – according to Romans 1:18-32. In the ensuing argumentation the evidence from syntactical, stylistical and thought-structural analyses is investigated in search of answers to this issue. It becomes clear that it is crucial to take into consideration the function of this pericope within Paul’s wider argumentation in attempting to interpret it. Before Paul can indicate that salvation is equally available to Jews and Gentiles, he must prove that all people are equally in need of it. His purpose is thus to draw up the indictment that everyone, non-Jews (Rom. 1:18/19-32) and Jews (Rom. 2:1-3:8) alike, are in the power of sin and subject to God’s judgement. Paul marshals the evidence against everyone. The way in which Paul demonstrates this is by dividing the human race into two sections and accusing every one of them. He begins by reminding each group of their knowledge of God and His goodness. He then confronts them with the fact that they have not lived in accordance with their knowledge of God. Instead, they have deliberately suppressed it by continuing to live in unrighteousness. They are therefore inexcusably guilty. Nobody can plead ignorance. To interpret Paul as if it would be possible to attain saving faith without the Gospel demonstrates a misunderstanding of Paul’s argumentation.