Romans 1:23

Romans 1:23

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

a. NLT: And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

b. NIV: and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of fowls, and of quadrupeds, and of reptiles.

d. Amplified Bible: And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.

e. Worrell Translation: And changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and of quadrupeds, and reptiles.

f. Wuest Translation: And exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for a likeness of an  image of corruptible manand of birds and of quadrupeds of of snakes.

1. “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. changed [Strong: 236 allasso,  al-las'-so; to make different:--change.] [Thayer: to change, to exchange one thing for another, to transform.]

1). According to the definition for the word ‘changed’, they exchanged the glory of God into something other than what it was. Romans 1:25 says they changed the truth of God into a lie. The signs of the Zodiac told the future in that the signs revealed what God was going to do to implement his plan to redeem man. What these people did was take the signs and make an idolatrous religion out of it.

c. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. glory [Strong: 1391 doxa, dox'-ah from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.] [Vines: in Romans 1:23 His evelasting power and Divinity are spoken of as His glory, i.e., His attributes and power as revealed through Creation.]

1). This is the glory that the heavens had been declaring in Psalms 19:1-6. It was the plan of redemption revealed in the signs of the Zodiac.

a). Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

19:5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

2). E. W. Bullinger, Introduction Witness of the Stars: “For more than two thousand five hundred years the world was without a written revelation from God. The question is, Did God leave Himself without a witness? The question is answered very positively by the written Word that He did not. In Romans 1:19 it is declared that, "that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 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." But how was God known? How were His "invisible things," i.e., His plans, His purposes, and His counsels, known since the creation of the world? We are told by the Holy Spirit in Romans 10:18. Having stated in v. 17 that "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word (the thing spoken, sayings) of God," He asks, "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily." And we may ask, How have they heard? The answer follows--"Their sound went into all the earth and their words (their teaching, message, instruction) unto the ends of the world." What words? What instruction? Whose message? Whose teaching? There is only one answer, and that is, THE HEAVENS! This is settled by the fact that the passage is quoted from Psalm 19, [one] part of which is occupied with the Revelation of God written in the Heavens, and the part with the Revelation of God written in the Word.”

e. of the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

f. uncorruptible [Strong: 862 aphthartos af'-thar-tos from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 5351; undecaying (in essence or continuance):--not (in-, un-)corruptible, immortal.]

g. God [2316 * theos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

h. into [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

i. an image [1504 eikon i-kone' from 1503; a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance:--image.   [Zodhiates: A representation, an image, as of a man,…it always assumes a prototype, that which it not merely resembles but from which it is drawn.]

2. “…made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

a. made like to [Strong: 3667 homoioma hom-oy'-o-mah from 3666; a form; abstractly, resemblance:--made like to, likeness, shape, similitude.]

b. corruptible [Strong: 5349 phthartos fthar-tos';  decayed, i.e. (by implication) perishable:--corruptible.] [Thayer: corruptible, perishing.]

c. man [Strong: 444 anthropos anth'-ro-pos from 435 and ops (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.]

1). Images of corruptible man: Bootes, Ophiuchus, Perseus, Virgo, Coma, Cepheus.

d. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

e. to birds [Strong: 4071 peteinon pet-i-non' neuter of a derivative of 4072; a flying animal, i.e. bird:--bird, fowl.]

1). Images of birds: Corvus (raven), Aquila (eagle), Cygnus (swan).

f. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. fourfooted beasts [5074 tetrapous tet-rap'-ooce from 5064 and 4228; a quadruped:--fourfooted beast.]

1). Images of fourfooted beasts: Leo, Ursa Major, Canis Major.

h. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

i. . creeping things [Strong: 2062 herpeton her-pet-on' neuter of a derivative of herpo (to creep); a reptile, i.e. (by Hebraism (compare 7431)) a small animal:--creeping thing, serpent.]

1). Images of creeping things: Cancer (crab), Scorpio, Hydra, Draco.