Saturday, April 17, 2021

Romans 1 SERIES: Vs.21

 Commentary of Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke & Matthew Henry
 
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.
Vs.21 

Because that when they knew God - When they thus acquired a general knowledge of the unity and perfections of the Divine nature, they glorified Him not as God - they did not proclaim him to the people, but shut up His glory in their mysteries, and gave the people, in exchange for an incorruptible God, an image made like to corruptible man. 
---Wherefore God, in punishment for their sins, thus turning his truth into a lie, suffered even their mysteries, which they had erected for a school of virtue, to degenerate into an odious sink of vice and immorality; giving them up unto all uncleanness and vile affections.
 
Neither were thankful - They manifested no gratitude for the
blessings they received from His providence, but became vain in their imaginations, διαλογισμοις, in their reasonings. 
---This certainly refers to the foolish manner in which even the wisest of their philosophers discoursed about the Divine nature,.....Who can read their works without being struck with the vanity of their reasonings, as well as with the stupidity of their nonsense, when speaking about God?
 
But they became vain in their imaginations - en tois dialogismoisin their reasonings, in their practical inferences. 
---The several opinions and hypotheses of the various sects of philosophers concerning these things were so many vain imaginations. 
 
 In short, their foolish, darkened minds sought God no where but in the place in which He is never to be found; the vile, corrupted, and corrupting passions of their own hearts.