How does Romans 1:28 relate to the concept of free will? Text “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” – Romans 1:28 Literary Setting Romans 1:18–32 forms Paul’s first sustained argument after his theme statement (1:16-17). Verses 18-25 describe humanity’s deliberate suppression of the evident knowledge of God; verses 26-32 describe the threefold judicial act of “giving over” (vv. 24, 26, 28). The flow is vital: the “giving over” is the consequence of persistent, culpable, freely chosen idolatry. Created Freedom: The Scriptural Baseline Genesis 1:26-27 shows human beings uniquely bearing God’s image, capable of genuine moral choice (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15). Scripture affirms real agency, not robotic determinism (Isaiah 1:19-20; Matthew 23:37). This liberty is the foundation upon which Romans 1 builds its charge: people could have glorified God but chose otherwise. The Exercise of Will: Suppressing Truth Romans 1:21-23 depicts conscious steps: knowing God → not glorifying → futile thinking → idolatry. The verbs are active; the responsibility is human. This parallels Proverbs 1:29-31, where spurning wisdom results in being “given over” to the fruit of one’s way. Free will here is exercised negatively; sinners prefer autonomy over worship (John 3:19). Divine Judicial Abandonment “God gave them over” is not God overriding freedom but confirming it. Paul’s background includes OT patterns (Psalm 81:11-12; Hosea 4:17). Persistent rebellion triggers a stage where God withdraws restraining grace, allowing the chosen path’s corruption to run its course (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:11). Far from negating will, the phrase presupposes it: God hands people to what they already want. Compatibilism in Paul’s Thought Romans marries divine sovereignty and human responsibility (9:19-21; 10:9-13). Human choices are genuine; God’s rulings are decisive. Paul does not pose a zero-sum game but a both-and: people act freely according to their desires, and God sovereignly governs outcomes—a classical compatibilist framework echoed later by Augustine and the Reformers. The Noetic Effects of Sin The “depraved mind” highlights sin’s impact on cognition. Behavioral science observes confirmation bias; Romans 1 identifies its moral root. The willful rejection of truth results in a mind unable to assess reality properly (Ephesians 4:17-19). Freedom abused becomes bondage (John 8:34). Implications for Salvation Romans 2–3 clarifies that neither Jew nor Gentile escapes this condition; only the gospel (3:21-26) liberates. Regeneration (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5) restores the will, enabling true freedom in Christ (Romans 6:17-18). Thus, Romans 1:28 underscores why grace must be both prevenient and transformative. Pastoral & Missional Application 1. Expect moral confusion where God is rejected; arguments alone will not suffice—prayer for regenerating grace is essential. 2. Evangelism respects volition: proclaim truth, appeal to conscience (Acts 17:30-31), but recognize God alone opens hearts (Acts 16:14). 3. For the believer, continual acknowledgment of God guards against similar downward spirals (Romans 12:1-2). Corroborative Manuscript Witness P46 (c. AD 175-225) contains Romans 1 with no textual variation in v. 28 affecting meaning, confirming the stability of Paul’s wording. Early patristic citations (e.g., Clement of Rome, 1 Clem 35.5) echo the same thought, evidencing historical continuity. Related Passages Psalm 81:11-12; Proverbs 1:29-31; Isaiah 6:9-10; John 12:37-40; Acts 14:16; Romans 9:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. Conclusion Romans 1:28 links free will and divine judgment by portraying God’s “giving over” as the righteous ratification of human choices. Freedom is real; rejection of God is willful; the ensuing depravity is both self-chosen and divinely permitted. Only the redemptive work of Christ can reverse the trajectory, liberating the will to fulfill its highest end—glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. |
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