Romans 1:22

Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

a. NLT: Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.

b. NIV: Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

c. Young’s Literal Translation: professing to be wise, they were made fools,

d. Amplified Bible: Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].

1. “Professing themselves to be wise…”

a. professing [5335 * phasko][Strong: to assert:--affirm, profess, say.][Thayer: to affirm, allege, portend or profess.]

b. wise [4680 * Sophos][Strong: wise (in a most general application):--wise.][Thayer: wise, skilled, expert, skilled in letters, cultivated, learned.]

2. “…they became fools.”

a. [3471 * moraine][Strong: to become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively, act) as a simpleton:--become fool, make foolish, lose savour.][English: moron.]

1). They made themselves fools, they brought a judgment upon themselves. All of the similarities between heathen mythologies and the truth of God’s word is a result of the revelations given to this generation and then perverted by them. We must not forget that up until this time they KNEW GOD (Romans 1:21, because God SHEWED HIMSELF TO THEM (Romans 1:19).

2). In 1 Corinthians 1:21 it says, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

a). The phrase “the world by wisdom knew not God.” is interesting. It is amazing that man can actually go through the process of unknowing or know not God through wisdom. Surely evolutionary science, agnostic and atheistic philosophy fit here.  The Scriptures speak of “the wisdom of the wise”, “the wisdom of this world”, and the wisdom “of the princes of this world” all of which will be destroyed and come to nought. The wisdom they professed to have actually brought a curse of spiritual darkness upon them that continues to this day.