Biblical Christianity 101, a study of the book of Romans

[TheRocketSurgeon]

It is my interpretation (remember, I agreed with much of what you think about Romans, so far) that Paul is referring to every person as "the evil man"

What is it in the book of Romans that makes you suggest that Paul is speaking about all of Humanity?

Because clearly when he comes to the 'end of this chapter' he contrasts the works of the 'Saved' against the works of 'Evil men' that are listed in chapter one. this would indicate that in Chapter one he is not speaking to everyone. also a good indicator is the list of sins, not everyone takes part in.

In truth Paul is recounting the documented troubles the jews had themselves with god, that are only exaggerated that much more in a Godless society.

Rom 1:28 People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so they do what they should not do. 29 They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst things about each other. They gossip 30 and say evil things about each other. They hate God. They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil. They don’t obey their parents, 31 they are foolish, they don’t keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others. 32 They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die. But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them.

verse Romans 2
2 So do you think that you can judge those other people? You are wrong. You too are guilty of sin. You judge them, but you do the same things they do. So when you judge them, you are really condemning yourself. 2 God judges all who do such things, and we know his judgment is right. 3 And since you do the same things as those people you judge, surely you understand that God will punish you too. How could you think you would be able to escape his judgment? 4 God has been kind to you. He has been very patient, waiting for you to change. But you think nothing of his kindness. Maybe you don’t understand that God is kind to you so that you will decide to change your lives.

The contrast from the Romans 1 group, to the Romans 2 group, is group 1 is identified as Evil, group 2 is identified as sinful. Group 2 is not the same as group one because Sin is an involuntary (as we will learn if we can continue on with this study) while Evil is embracing/loving the sin you do. So two different groups means Paul is not speaking about all of man kind in chapter 1 just 'evil man' just as he says in verse 18. which means group 2 is also repersented by the group of 'pagans' of acts 17.

Which again poops on the expert's idea that what Paul taught in Act 17 is different than what was taught in Romans. (1 and 2)

I think we're talking past one another here, as I'm saying that Paul sees everyone as flawed with a sin-nature to do evil acts, but that Christians behave differently (or try to) despite those flaws because they are saved. Paul is clearly saying that all humanity has that tendency and thus behaves that way, including Christians, but that a saved Christian will avoid such behaviors through grace and repentance. Keep in mind that Paul said, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15)

Paul believed that the works of people who were saved would be visibly different than those of the unsaved, because of the grace of salvation and repentance. This is a core doctrine of Christianity. Whether it bears out in reality is an entirely different question.

So I'm not really sure what you're objecting to, here.

Edit to Add: I realize I'm not being specific enough. Your arguments that Paul is referring to two separate groups seems at odds with his perspective on the nature of being a sinner, and why Christians should behave differently, if they are saved. I think your line between "evildoers" and "sinners" is arbitrary and unsubstantiated, and he is not "clearly" referring to two different groups, there. It is part of a single thought; as you like to point out, the chapter-and-verse numbers we have were not in the originals. So I'm not sure why you're objecting to Ehrman's analysis of Paul's philosophy, since it seems to me that you're objecting to something that's not really there unless we squint and look at it sideways, and the vast majority of Christians see all humans as evil, sin as the practice of evil (that which is against God, the ultimate source of good), and all Christians as sinners-who-have-repented.