Romans 1

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

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:

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 recompence of their error which was meet.

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;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

What does Romans 1:21 mean?

Explanation

Romans 1:21 speaks to a pivotal concern in the Christian theological framework: the acknowledgement and honoring of God as Creator and the consequences of failing to do so.

In this verse, the Apostle Paul critiques those who, although aware of God's existence, do not honor Him as divine or express gratitude for His provisions.

The "vain imaginations" mentioned translate into futile or worthless thinking, and the "foolish heart" refers to a lack of wisdom and moral understanding in the inner being of a person.

Paul emphasizes that such attitudes lead to a 'darkened' heart, symbolizing a departure from the truth and light of God's revelation, resulting in spiritual blindness.

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Romans 1:21 is part of Paul’s letter to the Christian community in Rome.

This epistle was written at a time when the early Church was expanding into Gentile (non-Jewish) territories, providing necessary theological foundations for this new and diverse audience.

Roman society was steeped in polytheism and philosophical discourse, which influenced the way people viewed deities and the natural world.

This verse is set within a larger argument (Romans 1:18-32) where Paul explains that God's attributes have been clearly perceived since the creation of the world, and therefore people are without excuse for not honoring Him.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints may highlight various aspects of Romans 1:21.

From a Calvinist perspective, this verse underscores the doctrine of total depravity, the concept that sin affects all parts of a person's being.

An Arminian viewpoint might emphasize human responsibility in choosing to honor God, and how failure to do so results in spiritual decline.

Catholic theology might bring in the idea of natural law, asserting that through reason, humans can discern the existence of God, and the neglect of this discernment leads to disorder.

Practical Applications

This verse serves as a reminder to acknowledge and glorify God intentionally in everyday life. It has practical applications in nurturing a habit of gratitude, avoiding empty pursuits that lead away from God, and ensuring that one's worldview remains anchored in a recognition of God's sovereignty.

The concept of a darkened heart warns individuals against allowing their inner moral compass to be compromised by straying from spiritual truth.

Cross-References

Psalm 14:1: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."
Ephesians 4:17-18: "...walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God..."
Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."
2 Timothy 3:2: "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"

Language Study

"Glorified": From the Greek word "doxazō," which means to honor, recognize the worth, or attribute high status.
"Vain": Translated from "mataioō," meaning to render futile or pointless.
"Imaginations": The Greek word "dialogismos" refers to reasoning or thoughts, often implying a deliberation that leads astray.
"Foolish": From "asunetos," meaning senseless or lacking understanding.
"Heart": The term "kardia" refers to the center of physical and spiritual life, encompassing thoughts, passions, desires, appetite, and will.
"Darkened": The Greek "skotizō" implies obscured, not receiving light, or metaphorically, losing insight or knowledge.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, one can find similarities in the themes of human hubris and the abandonment of proper respect for deities leading to downfall.

For instance, Greek myth often depicted the gods punishing mortals who displayed excessive pride or failed to offer due homage.

In other religious contexts, the act of failing to recognize the divine could result in spiritual ignorance or karmic consequence.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse does not intersect directly with empirical data or scientific principles.

However, the reference to "vain imaginations" might resonate with psychological studies concerning cognitive distortions and the importance of mindset in shaping human behavior and perception.

"Darkened heart" could metaphorically relate to the concept of cognitive bias where one's reasoning is affected by preconceived notions or emotional state.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars offer insights into Romans 1:21.

John Stott, in his commentary "The Message of Romans," suggests that acknowledging God's glory is the essence of a right relationship with Him and that ingratitude is at the heart of human sin.

Douglas Moo, in "The Epistle to the Romans," emphasizes the cognitive aspect, viewing the "vain thoughts" as a deliberate suppression of truth.

These interpretations and others hold a common thread: the recognition that the rejection of God leads to a fundamental disorientation of the human heart and mind.

Romans 1

Romans 1

What does Romans 1:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Romans 1:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?