Romans 1:23
Verse
Context
Sermons
Chuck Smith
Jim Cymbala
George Verwer
Joshua Daniel
A.T. RobertsonSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
And changed--or "exchanged." the glory of the uncorruptible God into--or "for" an image . . . like to corruptible man--The allusion here is doubtless to the Greek worship, and the apostle may have had in his mind those exquisite chisellings of the human form which lay so profusely beneath and around him as he stood on Mars' Hill; and "beheld their devotions." (See on Act 17:29). But as if that had not been a deep enough degradation of the living God, there was found "a lower deep" still. and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and to creeping things--referring now to the Egyptian and Oriental worship. In the face of these plain declarations of the descent of man's religious belief from loftier to ever lower and more debasing conceptions of the Supreme Being, there are expositors of this very Epistle (as REICHE and JOWETT), who, believing neither in any fall from primeval innocence, nor in the noble traces of that innocence which lingered even after the fall and were only by degrees obliterated by wilful violence to the dictates of conscience, maintain that man's religious history has been all along a struggle to rise, from the lowest forms of nature worship, suited to the childhood of our race, into that which is more rational and spiritual.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God,.... God is incorruptible and immortal in his nature, and so is opposed to all corruptible creatures and things: he has a glory which is essential to him, and a manifestative one in the creatures, and which is relative, and of right belongs to him: his absolute essential glory cannot be changed, cannot be taken away from him, nor given to another; but his relative glory may be said to be changed, when another is worshipped in his stead, and called by his name. So Philo the Jew (g) speaks of "some, who, leaving the true God, make to themselves false ones, and impose the name of the eternal and incorruptible upon created and corruptible beings.'' Into an image made like to corruptible man; which was worshipped in different forms by the several nations of the world: and to birds; as the dove by the Samaritans, the hawk, the ibis, and others by the Egyptians: and fourfooted beasts; as the ox, and other creatures: and creeping things; such as beetles, serpents, and others, by the same. (g) De Vita Mosis, l. 3. p. 678, 679.
Romans 1:23
God’s Wrath against Sin
22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Creation of the Firmament
By Chuck Smith76125:05CreationGEN 1:11MAT 6:33ROM 1:20ROM 1:23ROM 1:25ROM 1:28The video is a promotion for The Awakening Conference, a resource available from The Word For Today. It features guest speakers who provide practical instruction on how to engage with the world and communicate the gospel. The video emphasizes the importance of learning to effectively share the message of God and finding direction and motivation to engage with others in various settings such as the workplace, school, and community. It also highlights the marvel of God's creation in the balance of the earth and the sea, showcasing the intricate engineering of the water cycle.
To Hope Against All Hope
By Jim Cymbala52122:59HopeGEN 32:26ROM 1:16ROM 1:21ROM 1:23ROM 2:1ROM 4:20ROM 8:24In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Romans chapter 4 as a crucial chapter in the Bible. He begins by discussing Paul's description of humanity's lostness, including both the idolatrous practices of the Gentiles and the self-righteousness of the Jews. The preacher emphasizes that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. He also highlights the importance of gratitude and thankfulness towards God, as well as the descent of humanity into sin and idolatry. The sermon concludes with a call to trust in God's promises and to hold onto them steadfastly.
Subcontinent Report Feb 1983
By George Verwer4901:20:55MissionsROM 1:13ROM 1:17ROM 1:20ROM 1:23In this video, the speaker shares about their recent travels to Oman, Dubai, and India to spread the word of God. They mention the challenges faced in reaching out to Muslims, who they believe are the largest unreached people group in the world. The speaker also talks about the importance of perseverance and wisdom in sharing the gospel, despite the difficulties and dangers faced. They emphasize the need for prayer and support for the ministry, as well as the rebuilding of the audiovisual department.
God Changeth Not
By Joshua Daniel43214:30Character Of GodPSA 106:20DAN 4:16MAL 3:5ROM 1:23ROM 1:25In this sermon, Joshua Daniel discusses the need for a revival of faith and a return to God's unchanging truth. He emphasizes that while God and the gospel remain constant, it is our faith that has changed. Daniel highlights the importance of recognizing and repenting of pride in our hearts, as it can lead to beastly behavior and crimes. He also addresses the issue of idolatry and the worship of created things, specifically mentioning the changing of natural use into that which is against nature. Daniel raises concerns about the societal impact of these changes, including the depopulation of nations and the rise of AIDS, and calls for a return to God's laws and a warning to sound the trumpet.
The Person of Christ the Great Representative of God and His Will
By John Owen0The Nature of GodChrist as Our MediatorEXO 33:18JHN 1:18JHN 5:23JHN 14:9ROM 1:20ROM 1:232CO 4:6COL 1:15TIT 1:16HEB 1:3John Owen emphasizes that the person of Christ serves as the ultimate representation of God and His will, highlighting that while God's essence is incomprehensible to humanity, Christ embodies the divine nature and properties. He argues that all knowledge of God is mediated through Christ, who reveals the Father and fulfills the need for a tangible representation of the divine. Owen asserts that true understanding and worship of God can only be achieved through faith in Christ, as all other attempts to comprehend God lead to idolatry and misrepresentation. The sermon underscores the necessity of Christ's incarnation for humanity to grasp the divine attributes and the importance of recognizing Him as the image of the invisible God. Ultimately, Owen calls believers to seek a deeper relationship with God through the revelation of Christ.
The Supreme Importance of the Incorruptible
By A.T. Robertson0ISA 48:10ACT 2:27ROM 1:231CO 3:131CO 9:251CO 15:532TI 1:81PE 1:18A.T. Robertson preaches about the importance of living a life focused on intrinsic, eternal values rather than superficial or comparative ones. He emphasizes that the essence of the gospel is to bring to light life and incorruption through Jesus Christ, who abolished death. Robertson explains that incorruption is the standard measure of heaven and should be applied to every aspect of believers' lives, including their knowledge, Christian work, and personal growth. He challenges listeners to evaluate their lives based on the incorruptible nature of their actions, teachings, and emotions, emphasizing that God values depth, solidity, and intensity in building eternal value.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
And changed--or "exchanged." the glory of the uncorruptible God into--or "for" an image . . . like to corruptible man--The allusion here is doubtless to the Greek worship, and the apostle may have had in his mind those exquisite chisellings of the human form which lay so profusely beneath and around him as he stood on Mars' Hill; and "beheld their devotions." (See on Act 17:29). But as if that had not been a deep enough degradation of the living God, there was found "a lower deep" still. and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and to creeping things--referring now to the Egyptian and Oriental worship. In the face of these plain declarations of the descent of man's religious belief from loftier to ever lower and more debasing conceptions of the Supreme Being, there are expositors of this very Epistle (as REICHE and JOWETT), who, believing neither in any fall from primeval innocence, nor in the noble traces of that innocence which lingered even after the fall and were only by degrees obliterated by wilful violence to the dictates of conscience, maintain that man's religious history has been all along a struggle to rise, from the lowest forms of nature worship, suited to the childhood of our race, into that which is more rational and spiritual.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God,.... God is incorruptible and immortal in his nature, and so is opposed to all corruptible creatures and things: he has a glory which is essential to him, and a manifestative one in the creatures, and which is relative, and of right belongs to him: his absolute essential glory cannot be changed, cannot be taken away from him, nor given to another; but his relative glory may be said to be changed, when another is worshipped in his stead, and called by his name. So Philo the Jew (g) speaks of "some, who, leaving the true God, make to themselves false ones, and impose the name of the eternal and incorruptible upon created and corruptible beings.'' Into an image made like to corruptible man; which was worshipped in different forms by the several nations of the world: and to birds; as the dove by the Samaritans, the hawk, the ibis, and others by the Egyptians: and fourfooted beasts; as the ox, and other creatures: and creeping things; such as beetles, serpents, and others, by the same. (g) De Vita Mosis, l. 3. p. 678, 679.