No Mercy

In Romans 1, Paul gives a list of sins, as is common with him, but in this list it is striking that the characteristic note is that of venom. Among other things, he chastizes, “maliciousness,” “envy,” murder,” “malignity,” “whispering” (v. 29), “backbiting” (v. 30), being “without natural affection,” “implacable,” and “unmerciful” (v. 31). This last word, unmerciful, is the rendering of aneleemon, a word that occurs once in the New Testament. Those who love God love to show mercy. Those who hate Him are unmerciful.