Bible Commentary

Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 31. without understanding, covenant-breakers ] The Gr. words are almost identical in form and sound. On “ without understanding ” see note on Rom 1:21, where “foolish” represents the same Greek word; an epithet full of deep meaning. implacable ] Lit. truce-less; an adjective used in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:31”

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 30. backbiters ] Rather, evil speakers, without the special notion of speaking in the absence of the person attacked. haters of God ] The Gr., by formation and classical usage, should rather mean hateful to God; men whose character is peculiarly … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:30”

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 29. fornication ] This word is to be omitted. maliciousness ] Same word as 1Pe 2:1, (where E. V. “malice,”) 16. The Gr. is a wider word than these English words; evil in its largest sense, but specially, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:29”

And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 28. And even as, &c.] In this and the following verses the developements of sin are followed into less monstrous but more pervading and not less … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:28”

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And likewise the men … – The sin which is here specified is what was the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:27”

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 26. For this cause ] Resuming Rom 1:24. vile affections ] Lit. passions of disgrace; stamped with essential degradation. (Far different is the Greek, where (in E. V.) the same … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:26”

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 25. who changed ] The Greek relative pronoun implies that this was the cause of the special turn taken by the judicial hardening: seeing they had changed, &c. the truth of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:25”

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 24 32. The same subject: heathen sin judicially aggravated 24. Wherefore God also gave them up ] The inevitable connexion of idolatry with debased morality is stated here. Nothing but the knowledge of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:24”

And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 23. into an image made like to ] Lit. in the resemblance of the likeness of; i.e. “ so as to appear in a form like man, bird, beast, snake, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:23”

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 22. Professing themselves to be wise, &c.] A severe but just description of speculation, primitive or modern, which ignores Revelation where Revelation has spoken. St Paul does not mean that in such speculations no intellectual power was exerted; surpassing power often was, and is, displayed in them. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 1:22”