Professing (5335) (phasko from phemi = to say or affirm) means to affirm, allege, pretend, profess. The idea conveyed by this verb is that one is speaking with an air of certainty, stating something with a high degree of confidence. The NAS translates phasko with the English word assert which means to affirm or declare positively or with assurance and often even forcefully or aggressively. The idea of assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence. Marvin Vincent writes that phasko "is used of unfounded assertion." Thinking they are wise, they have become fools because their own speculations cannot replace the revelation they reject. Here are the three NT uses of phasko -- Acts 24:9; 25:19; Ro 1:22 Vincent says, “is used of unfounded assertion.” (Webster adds that "assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for.") Vine adds this pithy comment: "Mere profession of wisdom is spiritual hallucination. The condition of heathenism is the consequence of departure from the primitive acknowledgment of God and the recognition of His attributes as revealed in creation; it is not a state from which men have advanced by stages to attain the knowledge of God." Man rationalizes his sin and proves his utter foolishness by devising and believing his own philosophies about God, the universe, and himself. The next stage of downfall consists, as in Orwell’s novel, 1984, in asserting as truth its opposite—darkness is really light, futility is really wisdom. See related word - Wisdom (4678) sophia God warned faithless Israel and by way of application all of sinful mankind in Isaiah 5:20, 21... Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And clever in their own sight! (cp Mal 2:17, 3:15, Jdg 21:25= they did wrong and because of their deception thought it was right [!], see warning in Pr 17:15, Jesus also warned against this danger in Lk 11:35, 36, cp Lk 16:15) Frederick Louis Godet writes that ... Paul does not mean to stigmatize ancient philosophy absolutely; he only means that all that labor of the sages did not prevent the most civilized nations, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, from being at the same time the most idolatrous of antiquity. The popular imagination, agreeably served by priests and poets, did not allow the efforts of the wise to dissipate this delirium. When good is omitted, there always comes in its place an evil committed. As, in respect of the understanding, the refusal of adoration ( they did not glorify ) became a vain laboring of the mind ( they became vain ), and, finally, complete estrangement from truth, folly ( they became fools ); so in respect of the heart , ingratitude was first transformed into darkness; and, finally—such is the last term described ver. 23-into monstrous and debasing fetishism. The ungrateful heart did not stop short at not thanking God, it degraded and dishonored Him, by changing Him into His opposite. (Romans 1:18-32 The Wrath of God on Gentiles) Sinners are fools for they think they are "safe" and there is no Holy One to judge them. Isaiah records these words to foolish, idol worshipping Babylon... "And you felt secure in your wickedness and said, 'No one sees me,' Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you; For you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me.' (Isaiah 47:10) Spurgeon - The way to be a fool is to pretend to be wise. A shortcut to wisdom is the confession of folly. The near way to folly is the profession of wisdom. THEY BECAME FOOLS: emoranthesan (3PAPI): Newell comments... Rejecting the light of God’s knowledge in their consciences, men now arrogated to themselves wisdom, and became—what? Fools! “The fear of the Lord is the beginning”—of both knowledge and wisdom (Pr 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Ps 111:10-note; Job 28:28). (Romans 1 Commentary) They became fools - Compare Psalm 14:1 (note) All of creation screams in glorious harmony the resounding chorus... "There is a Creator! Observe His handiwork! Believe My awesome testimony!" (cp Ps 19:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-note - literally every sunrise testifies to the truth "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God." Isa 45:5, 14, 21, 46:9, see esp Isa 45:22 the verse God used to save Charles Haddon Spurgeon- see Spurgeon's testimony) And yet despite overwhelming evidence, men had made a choice of their will to deny the irrefutable, indescribably glorious truth of natural revelation, not to mention the special revelation found in God's love letter (Ro 5:8-note, cp 1Jn 3:16, 4:10, 11, 19, Ep 5:1, 2-note), the Holy Scriptures. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_122-23.htm#p