Paul now launches into the body of the epistle with an indictment against humanity. He will maintain the charge until 3:21, at which point he will return to righteousness by faith which he introduced in 1:16–17. Romans 1:18–3:20 is a sobering exposé of the dark side of human nature. Throughout the attack Paul labors to demonstrate that there is no distinction between Gentile and Jew in the matter of sin and guilt, a point reasserted in 3:10–12, 3:23, and 11:32. Gentile and Jew are equally guilty before God, but they are not guilty in the same way. In 1:18–32 Paul focuses primarily on the Gentile sins of idolatry and immorality. His accusations, which are generally typical of Jewish allegations of Gentiles, are remarkably similar to those found in Wisdom of Solomon 12–15. In 2:1–3:20 Paul t…