Add parallel Print Page Options

22 Although they claimed[a] to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings[b] or birds or four-footed animals[c] or reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over[d] in the desires of their hearts to impurity,[e] to dishonor[f] their bodies among themselves.[g]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:22 tn The participle φάσκοντες (phaskontes) is used concessively here.
  2. Romans 1:23 tn Grk “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God in likeness of an image of corruptible man.” Here there is a wordplay on the Greek terms ἄφθαρτος (aphthartos, “immortal, imperishable, incorruptible”) and φθαρτός (phthartos, “mortal, corruptible, subject to decay”).
  3. Romans 1:23 sn Possibly an allusion to Ps 106:19-20.
  4. Romans 1:24 sn Possibly an allusion to Ps 81:12.
  5. Romans 1:24 tn Or “God delivered them up to the desires of their hearts for impurity.” It is possible that a technical, legal idiom is used here; if so, it would describe God delivering sinners up to a custodian for punishment (see R. Jewett, Romans [Hermeneia], 166-67). In this instance, then, sinners would be given over to their own desires for the express purpose of working more impurity.
  6. Romans 1:24 tn The genitive articular infinitive τοῦ ἀτιμάζεσθαι (tou atimazesthai, “to dishonor”) has been taken as (1) an infinitive of purpose; (2) an infinitive of result; or (3) an epexegetical (i.e., explanatory) infinitive, expanding the previous clause.
  7. Romans 1:24 tn Grk “among them.”