Roma 1:20-23

1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people ¹  are without excuse. 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts ²  were darkened. 1:22 Although they claimed ³  to be wise, they became fools 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings ⁴  or birds or four-footed animals ⁵  or reptiles.

[1:20]  ¹ tn Grk “they”; the referent (people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:21]  ² tn Grk “heart.”

[1:22]  ³ tn The participle φάσκοντες (faskonte") is used concessively here.

[1:23]  ⁴ tn Grk “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God in likeness of an image of corruptible man.” Here there is a wordplay on the Greek terms ἄφθαρτος (afqarto", “immortal, imperishable, incorruptible”) and φθαρτός (fqarto", “mortal, corruptible, subject to decay”).

[1:23]  ⁵ sn Possibly an allusion to Ps 106:19-20.