Romans 1:32

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.

a. ASV: Who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

   

b. YLT: Who the righteous judgment of God having known -- that those practising such things are worthy of death -- not only do them, but also have delight with those practising them. [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

 

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “Who knowing the judgment of God…”

 

a. Who [Strong: 3748  hóstis, hos'-tis; from G3739 and G5100; which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same:—X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever).]

b. knowing [Strong: 1921 epiginṓskō, ep-ig-in-oce'-ko; from G1909 and G1097; to know upon some mark, i.e. recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge:—(ac-, have, take)know(-ledge, well), perceive.] [Thayer: to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly to know accurately, know well.]

 

c. the [Strong: 3588. [to] ὁ 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.] [Thayer: [to] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé  hē, hai, tas.]

d. judgment [Strong: 1345. dikaioma dik-ah'-yo-mah from 1344; an equitable deed; by implication, a statute or decision:--judgment, justification, ordinance, righteousness.] [Thayer: that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law, what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance, a judicial decision, sentence, of God, either the favourable judgment by which he acquits man and declares them acceptable to Him, unfavourable: sentence of condemnation, of a righteous act or deed.]

e. [of] God [Strong: 2316 theós, theh'-os; of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:—X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

 

1). The opinion of some scholars is that this passage, Romans 1:18-32, is a description of the descent of humanity from the flood into heathendom.  What is amazing is the fact they know the judgment of God. I believe we can apply the same circumstances to our own culture.

 

2. “…that they which commit such things are worthy of death…”

a. that [Strong: 3754 hot'-ee; neuter of G3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:—as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

 

b. [they which] commit [Strong: 4238 prássō, pras'-so; a primary verb; to "practise", i.e. perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication, to execute, accomplish, etc.; specially, to collect (dues), fare (personally):—commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.]

 

c. [Strong: 3588. [ta] ὁ 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.] [Thayer: [ta] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé  hē, hai, tas.]

d. [such] things [Strong: 5108  toioûtos, toy-oo'-tos; (including the other inflections); from G5104 and G3778; truly this, i.e. of this sort (to denote character or individuality):—like, such (an one).]

 

e. are [Strong: 1526 eisí, i-see'; 3rd person plural present indicative of G1510; they are:—agree, are, be, dure, × is, were.]

   

g. worthy [Strong: 514 áxios, ax'-ee-os; probably from G71; deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise):—due reward, meet, (un-)worthy.]

 

h. [of] death [Strong: 2288 thánatos, than'-at-os; from G2348; (properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively):—X deadly, (be…) death.]

 1). The level of knowledge is they know that they who commit these sins are worthy of death. There is no ignorance here.

 

3. “…not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

 

a. not [Strong: 3756 ou, oo; a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not:—+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

b. only [Strong: 3440  mónon, mon'-on; neuter of G3441 as adverb; merely:—alone, but, only.]

c. do [Strong: 4160 poiéō, poy-eh'-o; apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):—abide, + agree, appoint, × avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, × journeying, keep, + lay wait, +lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, × secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.]

d. [the] same [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. but [Strong: 235 allá, al-lah'; neuter plural of G243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):—and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

f. [Strong: 2532 kaí, 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. have pleasure [Strong: 4909 syneudokéō, soon-yoo-dok-eh'-o; from G4862 and G2106; to think well of in common, i.e. assent to, feel gratified with:—allow, assent, be pleased, have pleasure.] [syneudokeo; sun-together; eudokeo-to think well.] [Thayer: to be pleased together with, to approve together (with others) to be pleased at the same time with, consent, agree to, to applaud.]

 

1). Hosea 7:1-3 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.

7:2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

7:3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

 

2). As I said, there are applications of this in our culture, in the church and in my own life, although I am repenting and in the process of growing in this repentance. We as Covenant people are to hate sin and we deplore how our culture is sinking further and further away from God and yet we will have pleasure in those who do them. How? We will listen to music, watch TV or movies that celebrate the offences. I believe that music, cinema and TV can deal with sin in a way that does not celebrate or make it enjoyable to view. But that is not the case with the majority of music, TV, or cinema. What used to be controversy is now acceptable, we are descending further and further downward and examples abound. I know of people [God forbid there would be Christians included in this], who are disgusted at the real life behavior of certain TV actors and actresses and yet they will watch their shows and movies doing the same thing and enjoy it. How about friends or a family member who are fornicators or partiers and we lament at the hurt inflicted on friends and family members yet we watch enjoyably shows that depict the same things. We criticize Israel for not standing up to Goliath and we cheer David who did, yet we watch shows that mock Christianity and the standards of the Scripture. We “…have pleasure in them that do them.”