ACC ~ Romans 1 v32

THOSE WHO TAKE PLEASURE IN THOSE WHO DO EVIL. CLEMENT OF ROME: Those who do such things are hateful to God—and not only those who do them but those who take pleasure in those who do them. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT 35.

CONSENT IMPLIES COMPLICITY. AMBROSIASTER: Those who knew by the law of nature that God requires righteousness realized that these things were displeasing to God, but they did not want to think about it, because those who do such things are worthy of death, and not only those who do them but those who allow them to be done, for consent is participation. Their wickedness is double, for those who do such things but prevent others are not so bad, because they realize that these things are evil and do not justify them. But the worst people are those who do these things and approve of others doing them as well, not fearing God but desiring the increase of evil. They do not seek to justify them either, but in their case it is because they want to persuade people that there is nothing wrong in doing them. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

LEADING OTHERS INTO WRONG. APOLLINARIS OF LAODICEA: Here again we see the innocence of God and the guilt of man and the justice of the judgment which is brought. For men do these things, not being unaware that they are worthy of punishment by God the judge. For it is clear that they are not unaware of this when they judge others and hand those who do such things over to death. For when evil men have knowledge of the good and make use of it as if they are not given over to pleasures, they bear witness that God’s creation is good. … But those who lead men into wrong, as well as those who follow what is wrong, are both evil. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THE NEGLECT OF ADMONITION. BASIL: Perverted human tradition is the source of great evil for us, in that some sins are denounced while others are viewed with indifference. Crimes like homicide and adultery are the object of a violent but feigned indignation while others, like anger, reviling, drunkenness or avarice, are not considered deserving of even a simple admonition. ON THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.

DESERVING TO DIE. SEVERIAN: When Paul talks about the “judgment of God” he means the just recompense which God gives to everyone according to their deserts. For men know by their natural reasoning that transgressors will be punished by God, but instead of ceasing from their wicked ways they are actually pleased with those who do such things! … Therefore God will judge those who do such things as absolutely and without question worthy of death. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

APPROVING THOSE WHO PRACTICE EVIL. CHRYSOSTOM: Having assumed two objections, Paul here removes them. For what reason does anyone have to say that he does not know what he should do? Even if he does not know, he is still to blame, because he has turned away from the God who teaches him. But Paul has shown by many arguments that he does know and transgresses willingly. But is such a person drawn by passion? Why in that case does he cooperate with it and even praise it? For they not only do such things themselves, says Paul, but they “approve those who practice them.” Paul thus puts the more serious sin first, in order to get it out of the way (for the one who praises the sin of others is far worse than the one who sins himself), and then he gets ready to deal more firmly with the sinner [in chapter 2]. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 5.

CONSENTING TO EVIL DEEDS. AUGUSTINE: Whatever they had done they did without compulsion. For when they give their consent to evil deeds, they approve even of things which they did not do themselves. AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 7-8.

IDOLATRY AS THE SOURCE OF ALL WICKEDNESS. PELAGIUS: Even people who did not agree with these doings … nevertheless seem to have accepted them, because they agreed to idolatry, which is the source and cause of them all. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

FAILURE OF REPROOF. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: Those who do not admonish adulterers make us suspect that the reason for this failure of reproof is that they commit similar sins themselves. SERMON 42.2.