Romans 1:19-25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 1:19-32

In this last part of the chapter the apostle applies what he had said particularly to the Gentile world, in which we may observe, I. The means and helps they had to come to the knowledge of God. Though they had not such a knowledge of his law as Jacob and Israel had (Ps. 147:20), yet among them he left not himself without witness (Acts 14:17): For that which may be known, etc., Rom. 1:19, 20. Observe, 1. What discoveries they had: That which may be known of God is manifest, en autois?among... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 1:18-23

1:18-23 For the wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven, directed against all impiousness and wickedness of men, who, in their wickedness, wilfully suppress the truth that is struggling in their hearts, for, that which can be known about God is clear within them, for God has made it clear to them, because, from the creation of the world, it has always been possible to understand the invisible things by the created things--I mean his invisible power and divinity--and things have been so... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 1:24-25

1:24-25 So then God abandoned them to uncleanness in their hearts' passionate desires for pleasure, desires which made them dishonour their bodies among themselves, for they are men who have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and who worship and serve the creation more than they do the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. The word translated desires (epithumia, Greek #1939 ) is the key to this passage. Aristotle defined epithumia ( Greek #1939 ) as a reaching out after... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:19

Because that which may be known of God ,.... There are some things which could not be known of God by the light of nature; as a trinity of persons in the Godhead; the knowledge of God in Christ as Mediator; the God-man and Mediator Jesus Christ; his incarnation, sufferings, death, and resurrection; the will of God to save sinners by a crucified Jesus; the several peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, particularly the resurrection of the dead, and the manner of worshipping of God with acceptance:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:20

For the invisible things of him ,.... Not the angels, the invisible inhabitants of heaven: nor the unseen glories of another world; nor the decrees of God; nor the persons in the Godhead; but the perfections of God, or his "properties", as the Arabic version reads it; and which are explained by "his eternal power and Godhead": these, from the creation of the world are clearly seen ; this is no new discovery, but what men have had, and might, by the light of nature, have enjoyed ever... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:21

Because that when they knew God ,.... Though they had such a knowledge of the being and perfections of God, yet they glorified him not as God . They neither thought nor spoke honourably of him; nor did they ascribe those perfections to him, which belonged to him; they did not adhere to him as the one and only God, nor honour him as the Creator of all things out of nothing, and as the sole Governor of the universe; they did not glorify him by the internal exercise of fear of him, love to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise ,.... The learned men among the Gentiles first called themselves σοφοι , "Sophi", wise men: and afterwards, to cover their wretched pride and vanity, φιλοσοφοι , "Philosophers", lovers of wisdom; but notwithstanding all their arrogance, their large pretensions to wisdom, and boast of it they became fools ; they appeared to be so; they showed themselves to be such in those very things they prided themselves with the knowledge of: as, for instance,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:23

And changed the glory of the incorruptible God ,.... God is incorruptible and immortal in his nature, and so is opposed to all corruptible creatures and things: he has a glory which is essential to him, and a manifestative one in the creatures, and which is relative, and of right belongs to him: his absolute essential glory cannot be changed, cannot be taken away from him, nor given to another; but his relative glory may be said to be changed, when another is worshipped in his stead, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:24

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness ,.... Not by putting any into them, but by leaving them to the pollution of their nature; by withdrawing his providential restraints from them, and by giving them up to judicial hardness: through the lusts of their own hearts . The heart of man is the source of all wickedness; the lusts that dwell there are many, and these tend to uncleanness of one sort or another: by it here is meant particularly bodily uncleanness, since it is said they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 1:25

Who changed the truth of God into a lie ,.... Not the truth of the Gospel, which they were unacquainted with; but that which might be known of God as true, and was known of them by the light of nature; or the true God himself, whom they "changed into a lie"; by ascribing to false deities, which were lying vanities, those things which were known of God; and by worshipping them instead of him: for they worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator ; or "above him" or "against... read more

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