Verse 24
Wherefore; their impiety was the cause of what followed: this is repeated again, that it may be the better observed. The contempt of God and of religion is the cause of all wickedness.
God also gave them up; this phrase is thrice used in this context, viz. Romans 1:24,Romans 1:26,Romans 1:28; it seems to be taken out of Psalms 81:12. Some think his giving them up, is only’ his withdrawing his grace from them, and permitting them to sin; but there seems to be more in it than a bare subtraction or permission. He did not only leave them to themselves, but, in a judicial way, he put then, into the hands of Satan, and of their own lusts; as it is said, Psalms 69:27, he added iniquity to their iniquity, making the latter iniquity a punishment of the former.
Between themselves; some read it, in themselves, and some read it, one among another; so the same word is rendered, Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13. The apostle here speaks more generally of all kinds of pollution and uncleanness that was committed by them, whether natural or unnatural.
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