Romans 1:23

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21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but ^abecame futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 ^aProfessing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the ^aincorruptible ^bGod into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 ^aTherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, ^bto dishonor their bodies ^camong themselves,

25 who exchanged ^athe truth of God ^bfor the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to ^avile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27 Likewise also the¹ men, leaving the natural use of the² woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

<< Romans 1:22

Romans 1:24 >>

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 represented them as slaves to the most disorderly and disgraceful passions; excelling in irregularities the most profligate of men, as possessing unlimited powers of sensual gratification.

And to birds - As the eagle of Jupiter among the Romans, and the ibis and hawk among the Egyptians; which were all sacred animals.

Four-footed beasts - As the apis or white ox among the Egyptians; from which the idolatrous Israelites took their golden calf. The goat, the monkey, and the dog, were also sacred animals among the same people.

Creeping things - Such as the crocodile and scarabeus, or beetle, among the Egyptians.

Other Adam Clarke entries containing Romans 1:23:

Psalms 106:20
Hosea 4:7
Romans 1:18

<< Romans 1:22

Romans 1:24 >>

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