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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Romans 1:22 - 1:22
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Professing themselves to be wise (phaskontes einai sophoi). Sophoi is predicate nominative with einai in indirect discourse agreeing with phaskontes (old verb, from phēmi, to say, rare in N.T.) in case and number according to regular Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1038).
Became vain (emataiōthēsan). Ingressive first aorist passive indicative of mataioō from mataios (empty). Empty reasonings as often today.
Became fools (emōranthēsan). Ingressive first aorist passive of mōrainō, to be a fool, old word from mōros, a fool. An oxymoron or sharp saying, true and one that cuts to the bone.
For the likeness of an image (en homoiōmati eikonos). Both words, “a likeness which consists in an image or copy” (Lightfoot). See note on Phi 2:7 for “likeness of men” and Col 1:15 for “image of God.” Paul shows indignant contempt for these grotesque efforts to present pictures of a deity that had been lost (Denney). Why is it that heathen images of gods in the form of men and beasts are so horrible to look upon?