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 1:30 mean?

Explanation

Romans 1:30 speaks about a collection of negative traits and behaviors that exist among those who have turned away from God.

These are backbiters (those who speak negatively about others behind their back), haters of God (those who have enmity against the divine and his principles), despiteful (full of spite or malice), proud (excessively high opinion of oneself), boasters (those who brag about their accomplishments), inventors of evil things (those who create or revel in things that are morally wrong), and disobedient to parents (those who disrespect the authority of or do not listen to their parents).

This verse is a condemnation of these characteristics and is meant to portray the moral decay prevalent in society when individuals reject God's righteousness.

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Romans was written by the Apostle Paul around A.D. 57 as a letter to the Christians in Rome. At that time, Rome was a leading world power with diverse cultures, religions, and morals. The Roman Empire was known for its hedonism, paganism, and the worship of many gods.

This verse is part of a broader section where Paul argues that God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

He discusses how humanity knew God but did not honor Him, leading to moral degradation and a plethora of negative character traits, such as those mentioned in the verse.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse portrays the consequences of rejecting God, leading to a debased mind and the ensuing immoral behavior.

This aligns with the Christian doctrine of sin's pervasiveness and the natural human condition's inclination toward unrighteousness without God.

In Calvinist theology, this verse underscores the total depravity of man, while in other theological circles, it might be cited as a call to righteousness and transformation through faith in Christ.

Practical Applications

In contemporary life, Romans 1:30 stands as a warning against engaging in behaviors and developing attitudes that are contrary to Christian values.

It urges believers to conduct self-examination and to strive for humility, sincerity, love for God, and respect for parental figures.

It draws attention to the ethical and societal consequences of such negative traits and encourages a path that fosters community, integrity, and piety.

Cross-References

2 Timothy 3:2-3: "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"
Proverbs 30:11-14: "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother."
Ephesians 6:1-3: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."

Language Study

The following words are significant in understanding Romans 1:30:

"Backbiters" (Greek: καταλάλους, katalalous): It means slanderers or those who talk against someone.
"Haters of God" (Greek: θεοστυγεῖς, theostugeis): Literally, it means God-hating.
"Inventors of evil things" (Greek: εφευρετάς κακῶν, epheuretas kakon): It refers to those who are creators or discoverers of evil or harmful practices.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, specific characteristics outlined in Romans 1:30, such as pride and disobedience to parents, were also viewed negatively.

Various ancient philosophies like Stoicism and Confucianism preached humility, respect for authority, and moral integrity.

Religiously, traits like backbiting or boasting are commonly looked down upon in Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism.

Scientific Perspectives

Science has delved into understanding human behaviors and characteristics such as those listed in Romans 1:30, especially from a psychological and sociological standpoint.

Research into moral development, personality disorders, and societal norms may provide insights into why certain individuals might exemplify these behaviors.

However, science generally does not attribute these behaviors to spiritual causes but rather to a complex interplay of genetics, environment, and personal choices.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have perspectives on Romans 1:30.

Some focus on the broad degradation of human morals and the turning away from divine law.

Others may hone in on specific aspects of the text as emblematic of fallen human nature.

Matthew Henry's commentary, for instance, might describe the behaviors in this verse as evidence of the wrath of God upon all ungodliness.

Similarly, John Calvin may touch upon the inherent sinfulness of humanity without the saving grace of God.

Each commentary underscores the argument that these vices are associated with turning away from God, and they offer interpretations on how this reflects the broader theological teachings of the Bible.

Romans 1

Romans 1

What does Romans 1:30 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 1:30 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?