By Ken Yates

INTRODUCTION

In the first two chapters of Romans, Paul speaks of the wrath of God. When they hear that phrase, most Evangelicals assume that it refers to the lake of fire. Unbelievers, it is thought, will be cast into hell and experience God’s wrath forever. Unbelievers will spend eternity in the lake of fire. But is that what Paul meant by the wrath of God in Romans 1-2?

WRATH IN ROMANS 1–2

A closer look at Romans 1–2 leads to the conclusion that wrath in these chapters does not refer to a fiery hell. In Rom 1:18, Paul says that we can see the wrath of God in the present age. The verse reads, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…” It is not something we will see in the future when unbelievers are judged at the Great White Throne. Paul says it is seen when men act unrighteously. Sin in the life of a person brings the wrath of God in this present world.

That is the way we should understand wrath in Rom 2:5 as well. Paul writes, “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath…” Wrath in 1:18 and 2:5 refers to the same thing. In 2:2-5 Paul says that people are storing up wrath now by their sinful actions. If sin results in God’s wrath in this present world (1:18), the “day of wrath” is the time in this life when God’s judgment falls upon a person because of his deeds. Our sins have negative consequences here and now. If we are living in an ungodly manner, a modern-day idiom expresses our situation: “The hammer is about to fall.”

Hodges gives a great summary of what Paul means by “the wrath of God” in Rom 1:18 and 2:5. He writes:

The fundamental truth expressed in this unit (1:18–2:5) is that all men… are subject to God’s wrath as a result of their sinful behavior. This wrath is not eschatological, but a distressing present reality (Hodges, “Romans,” GNTC, 305).

But many disagree. Evangelical tradition is strong. It maintains that the wrath of God must refer to eternal punishment. One writer admits that wrath in 1:18 speaks of the habitual conduct of the unbeliever. However, the same writer says that in 2:5 it speaks of a future judgment when each person will receive what he deserves. The good works a person does reveal whether he will be saved from hell or not. Witmer comments, “A person who continually does evil and rejects the truth shows that he is unregenerate, and therefore will be an object of God’s wrath” (“Romans” in BKC, 445).

Mounce says that the wrath of God in Romans 1–2 is a present reality, but is “primarily eschatological.” The wrath of God describes the eternal destiny, or experience, of the unbeliever in the lake of fire (Mounce, Romans, 77, 90).

These writers disagree with Hodges and maintain that one’s works determine his eternal destiny because they indicate whether he is a believer or not. The ungodly unbeliever will receive God’s wrath in the lake of fire. He will find that out on the “day of wrath” when he is cast into hell.

But the day of wrath does not refer to the time when unbelievers are cast into the lake of fire. Many OT writers speak of that day and say that it occurs in this present life. They agree with Paul: People can experience God’s wrath in this world because of their unrighteous deeds.

THE DAY OF WRATH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

In Prov 11:1-4, Solomon speaks of a dishonest businessman who uses his scales to cheat people out of their money. He is proud because he thinks he is clever in his deception and can pull the wool over his customers’ eyes. Solomon describes these actions as perverse.

No doubt, such practices will often result in momentary wealth. The proud, sinful, dishonest businessman thinks that his money will save him from any adversity. But Solomon says these riches will be of “no profit in the day of wrath” (11:4).

Solomon sees the day of wrath as something that comes upon a person in this present life. He says that a righteous life will deliver a person from wrath (11:6). Solomon’s point is that when trouble comes into our lives, righteousness is much more valuable than riches, especially those gained by deception.

A Christian businessman who is dishonest cannot be cast into hell. He has eternal life that can never be lost. But he can experience the wrath of God. That wrath can come in various ways. Perhaps his customers will figure out what he has been doing, and his reputation will be ruined. This will crush his pride. He might lose his business and a way to make a living. Perhaps his actions will result in huge fines or even imprisonment. Perhaps wrath will be experienced through a guilty conscience or the constant fear that he will be found out.

Evangelical writers basically agree. One says that “the day of wrath” here is physical death. Wealth cannot save one from such a fate. Another holds that it is more general and can refer to the different ways God can judge a person in this life, whether he is a believer or not (Buzzell, “Proverbs,” BKC, 928; Ross, “Proverbs,” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 116).

In Ezek 7:19, the prophet predicts a coming “day of the wrath of the Lord.” All agree that this day was experienced by the people of Judah when Babylon defeated them and took them into captivity. Ezekiel mentions their empty “stomachs,” which describes how famine killed those inside Jerusalem when the city was destroyed in 586 BC. All of this happened because of their “iniquity” (Alexander, “Ezekiel,” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 686). At that time, the Lord repaid them for their sins.

The book of Zephaniah has a very similar passage. The prophet speaks of a coming “day of the Lord’s wrath,” when the whole land will be devoured (Zeph 1:18). It will come against Judah because of her sin of idolatry (Zeph 1:4-5). Baker points out that this day of God’s wrath fell on God’s people during Zephaniah’s lifetime when Judah fell to the Babylonians (Baker, “Zephaniah,” New Bible Commentary, 852).

Job also mentions a “day of wrath” (Job 21:30). It is in the context of suffering. He is going through great difficulties and complains to his friends. Why are so many wicked people not going through the things he is going through? The day of wrath does not refer to the time when unbelievers are cast into hell, but to a time of suffering calamity in this life (Alden, Job, 227). Job’s friends were saying that he was experiencing the wrath of God because of his sins.

CONCLUSION

Many Christians see Romans as an evangelistic book that tells unbelievers how to be saved from the lake of fire. As a result, when Paul speaks of “the wrath of God” in Romans, they see it as a description of hell. The context, however, argues against that view.

There is widespread agreement that in the writings of OT prophets such as Solomon, Ezekiel, Zephaniah, and Job, the wrath of God and the day of [that] wrath do not refer to the lake of fire but to the calamitous effects that sin can have in the lives of both believers and unbelievers.

That is what wrath means in Romans as well. Lopez is correct when, in an understatement, he comments that it is highly questionable whether God’s wrath should ever be understood as eternal judgment (Lopez, “Romans,” GNTC, 628).

Eternal life is given free when a person believes in Jesus Christ for it. Works play no part in receiving that gift. Our works neither prove that we are saved nor keep us eternally saved.

But works play a very important role in the life of a believer. They will determine his rewards in the world to come. In this world, obedience to the Lord will also allow us to avoid His wrath and gain His blessings. Sin can cause some devastating consequences in a person’s life. On that point, Job, Ezekiel, Zephaniah, Solomon, and Paul all agree.

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Ken Yates is a retired Army chaplain (Lt. Col). He has many theological degrees, including a Ph.D. from D.T.S. in New Testament. He leads the GES international ministry, cohosts the daily podcast, and assists Bob in all aspects of the GES ministry. His new book, Mark: Lessons in Discipleship, is a wonderful explanation of Christ’s call to discipleship. He and his wife, Pam, live in Columbia, SC.