Romans 1:21-23 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:21

Because that when they knew God - When they thus acquired a general knowledge of the unity and perfections of the Divine nature, they glorified him not as God - they did not proclaim him to the people, but shut up his glory (as Bishop Warburton expresses it) in their mysteries, and gave the people, in exchange for an incorruptible God, an image made like to corruptible man. Wherefore God, in punishment for their sins, thus turning his truth into a lie, suffered even their mysteries, which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise - This is most strikingly true of all the ancient philosophers, whether Greeks or Romans, as their works, which remain, sufficiently testify. The word φασκοντες signifies not merely the professing but the assumption of the philosophic character. In this sense the word φασκειν is used by the best Greek writers. See Kypke. A dispassionate examination of the doctrine and lives of the most famed philosophers of antiquity, of every nation, will show that they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:23

They changed the glory, etc. - The finest representation of their deities was in the human figure; and on such representative figures the sculptors spent all their skill; hence the Hercules of Farnese, the Venus of Medicis, and the Apollo of Belvidere. And when they had formed their gods according to the human shape, they endowed them with human passions; and as they clothed them with attributes of extraordinary strength, beauty, wisdom, etc., not having the true principles of morality, they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:21

Verse 21 21.For when they knew God, etc. He plainly testifies here, that God has presented to the minds of all the means of knowing him, having so manifested himself by his works, that they must necessarily see what of themselves they seek not to know — that there is some God; for the world does not by chance exist, nor could it have proceeded from itself. But we must ever bear in mind the degree of knowledge in which they continued; and this appears from what follows. They glorified him not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:22

Verse 22 22.While they were thinking, etc. It is commonly inferred from this passage, that Paul alludes here to those philosophers, who assumed to themselves in a peculiar manner the reputation of wisdom; and it is thought that the design of his discourse is to show, that when the superiority of the great is brought down to nothing, the common people would have no reason to suppose that they had any thing worthy of being commended: but they seem to me to have been guided by too slender a... read more

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:22

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