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Text -- Romans 1:31 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
1:31 senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Wicked | Rome | Romans, Epistle to the | Malice | JUSTIFICATION | Gentiles | GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE | Fall of man | Crime | Character | CRIME; CRIMES | Blindness | Affections | ATHEISM | AFFECT; AFFECTION | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Rom 1:31 - -- Without understanding ( asunetous ). Same word in Rom 1:21.

Without understanding ( asunetous ).

Same word in Rom 1:21.

Robertson: Rom 1:31 - -- Covenant-breakers ( asunthetous ). Another paronomasia or pun. A privative and verbal sunthetos from suntithēmi , to put together. Old word, co...

Covenant-breakers ( asunthetous ).

Another paronomasia or pun. A privative and verbal sunthetos from suntithēmi , to put together. Old word, common in lxx (Jer 3:7), men "false to their engagements"(Sanday and Headlam), who treat covenants as "a scrap of paper."

Robertson: Rom 1:31 - -- Without natural affection ( astorgous ). Late word, a privative and storgē , love of kindred. In N.T. only here and 2Ti 3:3.

Without natural affection ( astorgous ).

Late word, a privative and storgē , love of kindred. In N.T. only here and 2Ti 3:3.

Robertson: Rom 1:31 - -- Unmerciful ( aneleēmonas ). From a privative and eleēmōn , merciful. Late word, only here in N.T. Some MSS. add aspondous , implacable, from ...

Unmerciful ( aneleēmonas ).

From a privative and eleēmōn , merciful. Late word, only here in N.T. Some MSS. add aspondous , implacable, from 2Ti 3:3. It is a terrible picture of the effects of sin on the lives of men and women. The late Dr. R. H. Graves of Canton, China, said that a Chinaman who got hold of this chapter declared that Paul could not have written it, but only a modern missionary who had been to China. It is drawn to the life because Paul knew Pagan Graeco-Roman civilization.

Vincent: Rom 1:31 - -- Without understanding, covenant-breakers ( ἀσυνέτους ἀσυνθέτους ) Another paronomasia: asynetous , asynthetous . Thi...

Without understanding, covenant-breakers ( ἀσυνέτους ἀσυνθέτους )

Another paronomasia: asynetous , asynthetous . This feature of style is largely due to the pleasure which all people, and especially Orientals, derive from the assonance of a sentence. Archdeacon Farrar gives a number of illustrations: the Arabic Abel and Kabel (Abel and Cain); Dalut and G'ialut (David and Goliath). A Hindoo constantly adds meaningless rhymes, even to English words, as button-bitten ; kettley-bittley . Compare the Prayer-book, holy and wholly ; giving and forgiving ; changes and chances . Shakespeare, sorted and consorted ; in every breath a death . He goes on to argue that these alliterations, in the earliest stages of language, are partly due to a vague belief in the inherent affinities of words (" Language and Languages," 227).

Wesley: Rom 1:31 - -- breakers - It is well known, the Romans, as a nation, from the very beginning of their commonwealth, never made any scruple of vacating altogether the...

breakers - It is well known, the Romans, as a nation, from the very beginning of their commonwealth, never made any scruple of vacating altogether the most solemn engagement, if they did not like it, though made by their supreme magistrate, in the name of the whole people. They only gave up the general who had made it, and then supposed themselves to be at full liberty.

Wesley: Rom 1:31 - -- The custom of exposing their own new - born children to perish by cold, hunger, or wild beasts, which so generally prevailed in the heathen world, par...

The custom of exposing their own new - born children to perish by cold, hunger, or wild beasts, which so generally prevailed in the heathen world, particularly among the Greeks and Romans, was an amazing instance of this; as is also that of killing their aged and helpless parents, now common among the American heathens.

JFB: Rom 1:28-31 - -- Or "up" (see on Rom 1:24).

Or "up" (see on Rom 1:24).

JFB: Rom 1:28-31 - -- In the old sense of that word, that is, "not becoming," "indecorous," "shameful."

In the old sense of that word, that is, "not becoming," "indecorous," "shameful."

Clarke: Rom 1:31 - -- Without understanding - Ασυνετους, from α, negative, and συνετος, knowing; persons incapable of comprehending what was spoken; d...

Without understanding - Ασυνετους, from α, negative, and συνετος, knowing; persons incapable of comprehending what was spoken; destitute of capacity for spiritual things

Clarke: Rom 1:31 - -- Covenant-breakers - Ασυνθετους, from α, negative, and συντιθημυι, to make an agreement; persons who could be bound by no oat...

Covenant-breakers - Ασυνθετους, from α, negative, and συντιθημυι, to make an agreement; persons who could be bound by no oath, because, properly speaking, they had no God to witness or avenge their misconduct. As every covenant, or agreement, is made as in the presence of God, so he that opposes the being and doctrine of God is incapable of being bound by any covenant; he can give no pledge for his conduct

Clarke: Rom 1:31 - -- Without natural affection - Αστοργους ; without that attachment which nature teaches the young of all animals to have to their mothers, an...

Without natural affection - Αστοργους ; without that attachment which nature teaches the young of all animals to have to their mothers, and the mothers to have for their young. The heathens, in general, have made no scruple to expose the children they did not think proper to bring up, and to despatch their parents when they were grown old or past labor

Clarke: Rom 1:31 - -- Implacable - Ασπονδους, from α, negative; and σπονδη, A Libation. It was customary among all nations to pour out wine as a libati...

Implacable - Ασπονδους, from α, negative; and σπονδη, A Libation. It was customary among all nations to pour out wine as a libation to their gods, when making a treaty. This was done to appease the angry gods, and reconcile them to the contracting parties. The word here shows a deadly enmity; the highest pitch of an unforgiving spirit; in a word, persons who would not make reconciliation either to God or man

Clarke: Rom 1:31 - -- Unmerciful - Ανελεημονας ; those who were incapable, through the deep-rooted wickedness of their own nature, of showing mercy to an enem...

Unmerciful - Ανελεημονας ; those who were incapable, through the deep-rooted wickedness of their own nature, of showing mercy to an enemy when brought under their power, or doing any thing for the necessitous, from the principle of benevolence or commiseration.

Calvin: Rom 1:31 - -- 31.Without the feelings of humanity are they who have put off the first affections of nature towards their own relations. As he mentions the want of ...

31.Without the feelings of humanity are they who have put off the first affections of nature towards their own relations. As he mentions the want of mercy as an evidence of human nature being depraved, [Augustine], in arguing against the Stoics, concludes, that mercy is a Christian virtue.

TSK: Rom 1:31 - -- Without understanding : Rom 1:20,Rom 1:21, Rom 3:11; Pro 18:2; Isa 27:11; Jer 4:22; Mat 15:16 covenantbreakers : 2Kings 18:14-37; Isa 33:8; 2Ti 3:3 wi...

Without understanding : Rom 1:20,Rom 1:21, Rom 3:11; Pro 18:2; Isa 27:11; Jer 4:22; Mat 15:16

covenantbreakers : 2Kings 18:14-37; Isa 33:8; 2Ti 3:3

without natural affection : or, unsociable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Rom 1:31 - -- Without understanding - Inconsiderate, or foolish; see Rom 1:21-22. Covenant breakers - Perfidious; false to their contracts. Withou...

Without understanding - Inconsiderate, or foolish; see Rom 1:21-22.

Covenant breakers - Perfidious; false to their contracts.

Without natural affections - This expression denotes the lack of affectionate regard toward their children. The attachment of parents to children is one of the strongest in nature, and nothing can overcome it but the most confirmed and established wickedness. And yet the apostle charges on the pagan generally the lack of this affection. He doubtless refers here to the practice so common among pagans of exposing their children, or putting them to death. This crime, so abhorrent to all the feelings of humanity, was common among the pagan, and is still. The Canaanites, we are told Psa 106:37-38, "sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan."Manasseh among the Jews imitated their example, and introduced the horrid custom of sacrificing children to Moloch, and set the example by offering his own; 2Ch 33:6.

Among the ancient Persians it was a common custom to bury children alive. In most of the Grecian states, infanticide was not merely permitted, but actually enforced by law. The Spartan lawgiver expressly ordained that every child that was born should be examined by the ancient men of the tribe, and that if found weak or deformed, should be thrown into a deep cavern at the foot of Mount Taygetus. Aristotle, in his work on government, enjoins the exposure of children that are naturally feeble and deformed, in order to prevent an excess of population. But among all the nations of antiquity, the Romans were the most unrelenting in their treatment of infants. Romulus obliged the citizens to bring up all their male children, and the oldest of the females, proof that the others were to be destroyed. The Roman father had an absolute right over the life of his child, and we have abundant proof that that right was often exercised.

Romulus expressly authorized the destruction of all children that were deformed, only requiring the parents to exhibit them to their five nearest neighbors, and to obtain their consent to their death. The law of the Twelve Tables enacted in the 301st year of Rome, sanctioned the same barbarous practice. Minucius Felix thus describes the barbarity of the Romans in this respect: "I see you exposing your infants to wild beasts and birds, or strangling them after the most miserable manner."(chapter xxx.) Pliny the older defends the right of parents to destroy their children, upon the ground of its being necessary in order to preserve the population within proper bounds. Tertullian, in his apology, expresses himself boldly on this subject. "How many of you (addressing himself to the Roman people, and to the governors of cities and provinces) might I deservedly charge with infant murder; and not only so, but among the different kinds of death, for choosing some of the cruelest for their own children, such as drowning, or starving with cold or hunger, or exposing to the mercy of dogs; dying by the sword being too sweet a death for children."

Nor was this practice arrested in the Roman government until the time of Constantine, the first Christian prince. The Phoenicians and Carthaginians were in the habit of sacrificing infants to the gods. It may be added that the crime is no less common among modern pagan nations. No less than 9000 children are exposed in Pekin in China annually. Persons are employed by the police to go through the city with carts every morning to pick up all the children that may have been thrown out during the night. The bodies are carried to a common pit without the walls of the city, into which all, whether dead or living, are promiscuously thrown. (Barrow’ s Travels in China, p. 113, Amos ed.) Among the Hindus the practice is perhaps still more common. In the provinces of Cutch and Guzerat alone the number of infantile murders amounted, according to the lowest calculation in 1807, to 3,000 annually; according to another calculation, to 30,000.

Females are almost the only victims. (Buchanan’ s Researches in Asia, Eng. ed. p. 49. Ward’ s View of the Hindus.) In Otaheite, previously to the conversion of the people to Christianity. it was estimated that at least two-thirds of the children were destroyed. (Turnbull’ s Voyage round the World in 1800, 2, 3, and 4.) The natives of New South Wales were in the habit of burying the child with its mother, if she should happen to die. (Collins’ Account of the Colony of New South Wales, p. 124, 125.) Among the Hottentots, infanticide is a common crime. "The altars of the Mexicans were continually drenched in the blood of infants."In Peru, no less than two hundred infants were sacrificed on occasion of the coronation of the Inca. The authority for these melancholy statements may be seen in Beck’ s Medical Jurisprudence, vol. i. 18-197, ed. 1823; see also Robertson’ s History of America, p. 221, ed. 1821. This is a specimen of the views and feelings of the pagan world; and the painful narrative might be continued to almost any length. After this statement, it cannot surely be deemed a groundless charge when the apostle accused them of being destitute of natural affection.

Implacable - This word properly denotes those who will not be reconciled where there is a quarrel; or who pursue the offender with unyielding revenge. It denotes an unforgiving temper; and was doubtless common among the ancients, as it is among all pagan people. The aborigines of America have given the most striking manifestation of this that the world has known. It is well known that among them, neither time nor distance will obliterate the memory of an offence; and that the avenger will pursue the offender over hills and streams, and through heat or snow, happy if he may at last, though at the expiration of years, bury the tomahawk in the head of his victim, though it may be at the expense of his own life. See Robertson’ s America, book iv. Section lxxiii. - lxxxi.

Unmerciful - Destitute of compassion. As a proof of this, we may remark that no provisions for the poor or the infirm were made among the pagan. The sick and the infirm were cast out, and doomed to depend on the stinted charity of individuals. Pure religion, only, opens the heart to the appeals of want; and nothing but Christianity has yet expanded the hearts of people to make public provisions for the poor, the ignorant, and the afflicted.

Poole: Rom 1:31 - -- Without understanding or, without conscience; sunesiv , or snueidhsiv , being much the same. Without natural affection this evil also reigned among...

Without understanding or, without conscience; sunesiv , or snueidhsiv , being much the same.

Without natural affection this evil also reigned amongst the Gentiles, who sacrificed their very children to their idols, and otherwise exposed them to ruin: see 2Ti 3:3 .

Implacable or, irreconcilable and vindictive.

Haydock: Rom 1:31 - -- Dissolute, rude [6] in their manners, and behaviour. Some, from the Greek, understand breakers of their word; but this would be the same as without...

Dissolute, rude [6] in their manners, and behaviour. Some, from the Greek, understand breakers of their word; but this would be the same as without fidelity, which we find afterwards in the same verse. (Witham)

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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

Greek: asunthetous. See 2 Timothy iii. 3. Greek: aspondous, sine fœdere.

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Gill: Rom 1:31 - -- Without understanding,.... Of God, of his nature and worship, of things divine and even moral, being given up to a reprobate mind: covenant breaker...

Without understanding,.... Of God, of his nature and worship, of things divine and even moral, being given up to a reprobate mind:

covenant breakers; had no regard to private or public contracts:

without natural affection; to their parents, children, relations and friends:

implacable; when once offended there was no reconciling of them:

unmerciful; had no pity and compassion to persons in distress.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Rom 1:31 Or “promise-breakers.”

Geneva Bible: Rom 1:31 Without understanding, ( n ) covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ( n ) Not caring if they keep their covenants and b...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Rom 1:1-32 - --1 Paul commends his calling to the Romans;9 and his desire to come to them.16 What his gospel is.18 God is angry with sin.21 What were the sins of the...

MHCC: Rom 1:26-32 - --In the horrid depravity of the heathen, the truth of our Lord's words was shown: " Light was come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than l...

Matthew Henry: Rom 1:19-32 - -- In this last part of the chapter the apostle applies what he had said particularly to the Gentile world, in which we may observe, I. The means and h...

Barclay: Rom 1:28-32 - --There is hardly any passage which so clearly shows what happens to a man when he leaves God out of the reckoning. It is not so much that God sends a ...

Constable: Rom 1:18--3:21 - --II. THE NEED FOR GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS 1:18--3:20 Paul began his explanation of the gospel by demonstrating that t...

Constable: Rom 1:18-32 - --A. The need of all people 1:18-32 Perhaps Paul began by showing all people's need for God's righteousnes...

Constable: Rom 1:28-32 - --3. The wickedness of mankind 1:28-32 The second key word in verse 18, "unrighteousness" (v. 29),...

College: Rom 1:1-32 - --1:1-17 - PROLOGUE Jump to: New Testament Introduction Jump to: Book Introduction I. 1:1-7 - EPISTOLARY GREETING In the Greek this section is one l...

McGarvey: Rom 1:31 - --without understanding [those who have so long seared their consciences as to be unable to determine between right and wrong even in plain cases. The l...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Romans (Book Introduction) The Epistle to the Romans Spring of a.d. 57 By Way of Introduction Integrity of the Epistle The genuineness of the Epistle is so generally adm...

JFB: Romans (Book Introduction) THE GENUINENESS of the Epistle to the Romans has never been questioned. It has the unbroken testimony of all antiquity, up to CLEMENT OF ROME, the apo...

JFB: Romans (Outline) INTRODUCTION. (Rom. 1:1-17) THE JEW UNDER LIKE CONDEMNATION WITH THE GENTILE. (Rom. 2:1-29) JEWISH OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. (Rom 3:1-8) THAT THE JEW IS S...

TSK: Romans (Book Introduction) The Epistle to the Romans is " a writing," says Dr. Macknight, " which, for sublimity and truth of sentiment, for brevity and strength of expression,...

TSK: Romans 1 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Rom 1:1, Paul commends his calling to the Romans; Rom 1:9, and his desire to come to them; Rom 1:16, What his gospel is; Rom 1:18, God is...

Poole: Romans 1 (Chapter Introduction) ARGUMENT The penman of this Epistle, viz. Paul, was so called (as some think) because he was little or low of stature. Others suppose he had th...

MHCC: Romans (Book Introduction) The scope or design of the apostle in writing to the Romans appears to have been, to answer the unbelieving, and to teach the believing Jew; to confir...

MHCC: Romans 1 (Chapter Introduction) (Rom 1:1-7) The apostle's commission. (Rom 1:8-15) Prays for the saints at Rome, and expresses his desire to see them. (Rom 1:16, Rom 1:17) The gosp...

Matthew Henry: Romans (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans If we may compare scripture with scripture, and take the opinion ...

Matthew Henry: Romans 1 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we may observe, I. The preface and introduction to the whole epistle, to Rom 1:16. II. A description of the deplorable condition ...

Barclay: Romans (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: Romans 1 (Chapter Introduction) A Call, A Gospel And A Task (Rom_1:1-7) The Courtesy Of Greatness (Rom_1:8-15) Good News Of Which To Be Proud (Rom_1:16-17) The Wrath Of God (Ro...

Constable: Romans (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Throughout the history of the church, from postapos...

Constable: Romans (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-17 A. Salutation 1:1-7 1. The writer 1:1 ...

Constable: Romans Romans Bibliography Alford, Henry. The Greek Testament. 4 vols. New ed. Cambridge: Rivingtons, 1881. ...

Haydock: Romans (Book Introduction) THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE ROMANS. INTRODUCTION. After the Gospels, which contain the history of Christ, and the Acts of...

Gill: Romans (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS Though this epistle is in order placed the first of the epistles, yet it was not first written: there were several epistles ...

Gill: Romans 1 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 1 This chapter contains the inscription of the epistle, and salutation, the preface to it, and the grand proposition of just...

College: Romans (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION I. ROMANS: ITS INFLUENCE AND IMPORTANCE God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Ps 119:105), and no part of it shine...

College: Romans (Outline) VIII. OUTLINE PROLOGUE - 1:1-17 I. EPISTOLARY GREETING - 1:1-7 A. The Author Introduces Himself - 1:1 1. A Slave of Christ Jesus 2. Call...

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