Passage
Romans 1.21-23
Book: Romans · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT
Immediate context (±2 verses)
ASV (ASV)
19. because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. 20. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:
21. because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
- Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: 25. for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:19-25, ASV)
WEB (WEB)
19. because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
21. Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23. and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
- Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, 25. who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:19-25, WEB)
KJV (KJV)
19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. in them: or, to them 20. 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: so: or, that they may be
21. 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. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23. 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: 25. 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. more: or, rather (Romans 1:19-25, KJV)
YLT (YLT)
19. Because that which is known of God is manifest among them, for God did manifest [it] to them, 20. for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, by the things made being understood, are plainly seen, both His eternal power and Godhead, to their being inexcusable;
21. because, having known God they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor gave thanks, but were made vain in their reasonings, and their unintelligent heart was darkened, 22. professing to be wise, they were made fools, 23. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of fowls, and of quadrupeds, and of reptiles.
- Wherefore also God did give them up, in the desires of their hearts, to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies among themselves; 25. who did change the truth of God into a falsehood, and did honour and serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed to the ages. Amen. (Romans 1:19-25, YLT)
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Setting
- Speaker: Paul the Apostle
- Audience: Christian believers in Rome (Jew + Gentile)
- Location: composed in Corinth; addressed to Rome
- Time period: composed c. AD 57
Theological reading
Key words
- G1097 - ginosko, ginosko (Strong's G1097). Also appears in: Matthew 1, Mark 4.11-12, Mark 6.
- G1391 - doxa, doxa (Strong's G1391). Also appears in: Matthew 6.25-34, Matthew 16.27, Matthew 19.
- G1504 - eikon, eikon (Strong's G1504). Also appears in: Mark 12, Romans 1, Romans 8.29.
- G2316 - theos, theos (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: Matthew 1.23, Matthew 3.16, Matthew 5.9.
- G2588 - kardia, kardia (Strong's G2588). Also appears in: Matthew 5.28, Matthew 6.21, Matthew 9.4.
- G3667 - homoioma, homoioma (Strong's G3667). Also appears in: Romans 1, Romans 5, Romans 6.5.
Why these four translations
ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.
The four:
- ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.
See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.
Quoted in
Arguments and defeaters:
- 100 Questions for Evolutionists, via Romans 1.18-21
- Anthropology Defeats Christianity Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Anthropology vs Epistemology Priority Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Aquinas Five Ways, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from Awe and Wonder, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from Conscience, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from Reason, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from Science as Faith-Based (Guillen), via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-23
- Argument from the Addressee of Gratitude, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.21
- Argument from the Continuance of Being, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from the Demand to Be Witnessed, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from the Observer-Demand Convergence, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from the Reliability of Reason, via Romans 1.18-21
- Argument from the Universal Worship Convergence, via Romans 1.18-25, Romans 1.21
- Atheism as Religion, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-25, Romans 1.21-25
- Atheism is a Belief, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-22
- Atheism Moral Neutrality Failure, via Romans 1.18-21
- Atheism Promotes Hatred Lies and Self-Idolatry, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-32
- Atheism Targets the Vulnerable (Recruitment-Dynamic Defeater), via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-22, Romans 1.21, Romans 1.22
- Belief-Choice Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Biblical Sexual Ethics Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-32
- Build the Cosmological Argument, via Romans 1.18-21
- Cosmic Dictator Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-25
- Divine Hiddenness Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-23
- Epistemology Defeats Christianity Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Evolution and Empathy Ground Morality (Defeater), via Romans 1.18-21
- Faith is Belief Without Evidence Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Fifth Way - Teleology, via Romans 1.18-21
- First Way - Motion, via Romans 1.18-21
- Fitness Beats Truth Argument, via Romans 1.18-21
- Hand of God Argument, via Romans 1.18-21
- Intersubjective Morality Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Kantian Critique of Natural Theology Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Moral Anti-Realism Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Moral Argument, via Romans 1.18-21
- OT vs NT God Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-32
- Performative Self-Refutation of Atheist Denial, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.21-22
- Stealing from God Argument, via Romans 1.18-21
- Subjective Morality Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
- Transcendental Argument for God, via Romans 1.18-21
- Why Doesnt God Stop Satan Objection Defeater, via Romans 1.18-21
Concepts:
- Agnosticism, via Romans 1.18-21
- Animism, via Romans 1.18-21
- Apologetics, via Romans 1.18-21
- Atheism, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-32
- Belief-Choice Objection, via Romans 1.18-21
- Biblical Sexual Ethics Objection, via Romans 1.18-32
- Christianity, via Romans 1.18-21
- Cognitive Science of Religion, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.19-21
- Confirmation Bias, via Romans 1.18-23
- Diagnostic Doorways
- Divine Hiddenness, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-23
- Evangelism, via Romans 1.19-21
- Faith and Reason, via Romans 1.18-21
- Faith is Belief Without Evidence Objection, via Romans 1.18-21
- General Revelation, via Romans 1.18-21
- Hell and Eternal Punishment, via Romans 1.18-21
- Idolatry, via Romans 1.22-25
- Is Atheism a Religion, via Romans 1.18-23
- Justified True Belief, via Romans 1.18-21
- Lesson 3.5, The Transcendental Argument, via Romans 1.18-21
- Lesson 4.2, Divine Hiddenness, via Romans 1.18-21
- Listening Tools, via Romans 1.19-21
- Mathematical Intelligibility of Nature, via Romans 1.18-21
- Meaning-Centered Evangelism, via Romans 1.21-22
- Methodological Naturalism, via Romans 1.18-21
- Moral Arguments, via Romans 1.18-21
- Morality, via Romans 1.18-21
- Multiverse, via Romans 1.18-21
- Origins and Cosmology, via Romans 1.18-21
- OT vs NT God Objection, via Romans 1.18-32
- Polytheism, via Romans 1.18-21
- Presuppositionalism, via Romans 1.18-21
- Psychology of Lowered Defenses, via Romans 1.21
- Quick Objection Responses, via Romans 1.20-21
- Reformed Epistemology, via Romans 1.18-21
- Salvation Exclusivity, via Romans 1.18-21
- Salvation of the Unevangelized, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-32
- Sensus Divinitatis, via Romans 1.18-21
- Soul and Spirit, Origin and Awareness, via Romans 1.18-21
- Suppression of God Thesis, via Romans 1.18-21
- Teleological Arguments, via Romans 1.18-21
People:
- David Hume, via Romans 1.18-21
- Greg Bahnsen, via Romans 1.18-21
- Jesus, via Romans 1.18-21
- Justin Barrett, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.19-21
- Paul the Apostle, via Romans 1.18-21
- Sye Ten Bruggencate, via Romans 1.18-21
Lexicon:
- G1391 - doxa, via Romans 1.23
- G1504 - eikon, via Romans 1.23
- G2305 - theiotes, via Romans 1.18-21, Romans 1.18-23, Romans 1.18-32
- G2588 - kardia, via Romans 1.21
- G2722 - katecho, via Romans 1.18-21
- G5218 - hypakoe, via Romans 1.18-21
- G627 - apologia, via Romans 1.18-21
- H3045 - yada, via Romans 1.18-21
Guides: