Romans 1:22-23
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
Romans 1:24
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:25
25 who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 1:26-27
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Romans 1:28a
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Romans 1:28b
…God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Guidelines I Use for Biblical Interpretation
1. Community
2. Context
3. Construction
4. Contradictions
5. Commentary
1. COMMUNITY
Romans 1:7
7 to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7
to ALL that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. CONTEXT
The Old Testament prohibited homosexual relations (Lev. 18:22, 20:13), and the Jewish sages provide the reason for this as being that the Hebrews were warned not to “follow the acts of the land of Egypt or the acts of the land of Canaan.” The sages explicitly state: “what did [the Egyptians and Canaanites] do? A man would marry a man and a woman [marry] a woman.”
Rabbi Joel Roth on Homosexuality 1992
1ST BAD TRADE
Romans 1:23a
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image…
Romans 1:23b
…into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
Romans 1:18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodlinessand unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 1:19
19 because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Romans 1:20 a,b
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:
Romans 1:20c
…even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 1:21a
21 because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
Romans 1:21b
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:22
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
GOD’S RESPONSE
Romans 1:24
24 Wherefore God alsogave them up…to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
2ND BAD TRADE
Romans 1:25a
25 who changed the truth of God into a lie…
Romans 1:25b
…and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
GOD’S RESPONSE
Romans 1:26a
26 For this cause God gave them up…unto vile affections:…
Romans 1:26b
…for even their WOMEN did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Romans 1:27a
and likewise also the MEN, leaving the natural use of the woman… burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly…
Romans 1:27b
…and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
And likewise also the males, having put aside the natural use of the females, burned themselves out in their lustful appetite toward one another. Males with males, carrying it to its ultimate conclusion that which is shameful, receiving in themselves that retribution which was a necessity in the nature of the case of the because of their deviation from the norm.
Kenneth Wuest
3rd Bad Trade
Romans 1:28a
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge…
GOD’S RESPONSE
Romans 1:28b
…God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Romans 1:29
being filled with all unrighteousness…
Romans 1:32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.