Romans 1:21-23

1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts ¹  were darkened. 1:22 Although they claimed ²  to be wise, they became fools 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings ³  or birds or four-footed animals ⁴  or reptiles.

[1:21]  ¹ tn Grk “heart.”

[1:22]  ² tn The participle φάσκοντες (faskonte") is used concessively here.

[1:23]  ³ 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 (afqarto", “immortal, imperishable, incorruptible”) and φθαρτός (fqarto", “mortal, corruptible, subject to decay”).

[1:23]  ⁴ sn Possibly an allusion to Ps 106:19-20.