Lessons #45 and 46
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+ 1. It is best to use this note after you have listened to the lessons because there are +
+ comments given in the actual delivery not in the note. +
+ 2. The Bible abbreviations are as follows: CEV =Contemporary English version, +
+ CEB = Common English Bible, ESV= English Standard Version, +
+ GW = God’s Word, ISV = International Standard Version, +
+ NAB=New American Bible, NASB= New American Standard Bible, +
+ NEB= New English Bible, NET = New English Translation, +
+ NLT = New Living Translations NJB = New Jerusalem Bible, +
+ NJV = New Jewish Bible, TEV = Today’s English Version. +
+AMP = Amplified Bible, UBS = United Bible Society +
+ HCSB = Holman Christian Standard Bible +
+ 3. Notes have not been edited for grammatical errors. +
+ 4. Text is based on 1984 edition of the NIV +
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Punishment of handing over idolaters to all kinds of sinful conducts (Rom 1:28-32)
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
We have previously asserted that Romans 1:24-32 is concerned with Apostle Paul’s exposition of God’s punishment towards idolaters. We also have indicated that there is a progression to these punishments directed towards idolaters in that each punishment is more severe than the one preceding it. The first punishment is the handing over idolaters to immorality stated in verses 24 and 25 that we have expounded. The second is the handing over idolaters to sexual perversions presented in verses 26 and 27 that we have also expounded. So, we proceed to the third that is more severe and broader in nature than the first two.
The third punishment is God handing over of idolaters to all kinds of sinful conducts the apostle discoursed in verse 28 through verse 32. The apostle provided additional reason for God’s punishment on idolaters in the first sentence of verse 28. This was followed beginning with the second sentence of verse 28 to verse 31 with descriptions of the punishment God handed over the idolaters. The apostle then ends with further descriptions of the idolaters in verse 32. Based on this summary of the apostle’s exposition of the third punishment God handed over the idolaters, we derived a message you should bear in mind about the section we are about to consider. The message is: God punishes idolaters who although know the consequence of rejecting His righteous requirements reject them anyway, by handing them over to all kinds of sinful conducts.
We stated that the apostle provided additional reason for God’s punishment to idolaters. This we assert for two reasons. A first reason is the first Greek word that begins verse 28 that is translated “furthermore” in the NIV. The word “furthermore” of the NIV is translated from a Greek word (kai) that is often translated “and” in our English versions as a marker of connection between single words or clauses, but the conjunction has several usages. It may be used as a marker of introduction of a result that comes from what precedes and so may be translate “and then, and so.” It may be used to emphasize a fact as surprising or unexpected or noteworthy, leading to the translation “and yet, and in spite of that, nevertheless.” It may be used as a marker of emphasis where there is a stress on what is said hence means “indeed, certainly.” It may be used as a marker to indicate an additive relation that is not of equal rank and significance to another clause, in which case, it means “also, likewise.” Still the word may be used as a marker of contrast with the meaning “but.” In our verse, it is used as a marker of continuation of the reasons for God’s punishment on idolaters so that it may be translated “and” as done in majority of our English versions. Of course, when the Greek word is used to indicate continuation in the thought of a writer, it could be left untranslated as reflect in the TEV, among others. That aside, the use of the word “and” or “further” of the NIV is a reason to recognize that the apostle provided an additional reason for God’s punishment on idolaters.
A second reason we stated that the apostle provided additional reason for God’s punishment on idolaters is because of the second Greek word the apostle used that is translated “since” in the 1984 edition of the NIV or “just as” in the 2011 edition of the NIV. The word “since” or the phrase “just as” is translated from a Greek word (kathōs) that may be used “as a marker of cause or reason, often with the implication of some implied comparison,” hence the meaning “in as much as, because, since.” The word may also mean “as” to describe degree or extent of something. It may be used as “a marker of similarity in events and states” in which case it means “just as, even as.” In our verse, it is subject to two primary possible interpretations. It could be used as a marker of reason with the meaning “since, because” or it is used as a marker of similarity in events or of a correlative relation and so means “just as.” The meaning “just as” is indeed a literal meaning of the Greek word, but it seems that the apostle used the word here to provide additional reason for the punishment of idolaters and so it should probably be translated “since” or “because” to reflect additional reason for God’s punishment. This interpretation is in keeping with the first two punishments the apostle had expounded. The first reason is conveyed using a Greek word (dio) translated “therefore” that we indicated is used as a marker of first reason of God’s punishment of idolaters as described in Romans 1:24:
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
The second reason for God’s punishment on idolaters is introduced with a Greek word (dia) that because of the Greek syntax involved is translated “because” which is a marker of the second reason as we read in Romans 1:26:
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
Therefore, in keeping with the pattern the apostle had followed in stating the first two reasons, it is fitting to take the Greek word used in verse 28 that literally means “just as” to mean “because” or “since” as that is one of the meanings of the Greek word used. The point is that although it is permissible to translate the Greek word the apostle used in verse 28 as “just as”, the apostle meant for us to take the meaning “since” or “because” to introduce the third reason for God’s punishment of idolaters. The apostle used the Greek word in verse 28 probably because although the word may be used as a marker of reason but there is an implied comparison in the word. Thus, the apostle wants the reader to recognize that although he provides the third reason, he wanted the reader to realize that the third reason is comparable to the first two.
We have given two reasons for stating that the apostle provided additional reason for God’s punishment on idolaters, but it is what the apostle wrote about the idolaters that we are certain verse 28 is concerned with the third reason for God’s punishment on idolaters. This third reason is that the idolaters did not see any need to recognize God for who He is. It is this reason that is given in the sentence of Romans 1:28 they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God.
The idolaters did not see it commendable to recognize God for who He is. You see, the expression “think worthwhile” is translated from a Greek word (dokimazō) that may mean to make a critical examination of something to determine its genuineness and so means “to put to the test, examine.” It is in the sense of “to examine oneself” that the word is used in the challenge of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians to check if they are living as Christians should in 2 Corinthians 13:5:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
The word may mean to draw a conclusion about the worth of something or someone on the basis of testing, where the focus is on the result of a procedure or examination, hence means “to prove, to approve.” It is in the sense of “to approve, accept as proved” that Apostle Paul used the word to describe a believer he was sending to the Corinthians that he considered to have been proven although he did not say how in 2 Corinthians 8:22:
In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.
It is in the sense of “prove by testing” that the word is used by Apostle Peter to provide an explanation for the trials believers undergo as stated in 1 Peter 1:7:
These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
In our passage of Romans 1:28, the word is used in sense of “to approve,” that is, “to judge to be right or commendable or think well of.”
The sentence of Romans 1:28 they did not think it worthwhile gives the impression of something that happened only in the past. Although the Greek tense (aorist) used here is often translated with past tense in the English, but such translation is not an accurate way of understanding the Greek tense the apostle used here since it does not fully convey what the apostle intended to communicate. There is no doubt that the idolaters of the time of the apostle did what he described but what he wrote is meant to communicate what is always true of idolaters at any time or in any period of human history. Every idolater would be guilty of the charge the apostle levied here on idolaters of the time he wrote. By the way, the apostle was emphatic as he stated this reason or the charge he levied against idolaters. This is because of the word not is translated from a negative Greek particle (ou) that is an objective negative, denying the reality of alleged fact fully and absolutely in contrast to another Greek negative (mē) that is a subjective negative, implying a conditional and hypothetical negation. Thus, the apostle states strongly and absolutely that idolaters of any period of human history do not judge right or think commendable to do something about God the apostle stated.
The thing idolaters absolutely do not consider commendable or judge to be right is given in the verbal phrase of the NIV of Romans 1:28 to retain the knowledge of God. Literally, the Greek reads to have God in knowledge. The word “retain” is translated from a Greek word (echō) that certainly means “to have” in the sense of “to possess” but the word can also mean “to hold” as one of the characteristics of one appointed a deacon as it pertains to faithfully adhering to the Christian doctrines as we read in 1 Timothy 3:9:
They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
In our passage of Romans 1:28, the word has the sense of “to keep” in mind. Thus, the verbal phrase to retain the knowledge of God may be translated to keep God in knowledge.
What does the apostle mean in the literal verbal phrase to have God in knowledge? The translators of the NIV interpreted it to mean that the idolaters did not retain the knowledge of God, which is certainly a fact, but the apostle meant more than this. You see, the word “knowledge” is translated from a Greek word (epignōsis) that means “precise and correct knowledge.” So, if we use the meaning “to keep” as we indicated is probably a better meaning of the Greek word that means “to have” translated “retained” in the NIV, the literal verbal phrase could be translated to keep God in precise and correct knowledge. This would mean that idolaters in their knowledge of the existence of a creator did not recognize or acknowledge God precisely and correctly in spite of God having revealed Himself in creation. There is a sense that this third reason sums up all the reasons for God’s punishment on idolaters. Creation was God’s clear revelation of Himself but idolaters instead of acknowledging or recognizing the God of creation did not praise and thank God. Their reasoning about God and about creation was wrong, and they made creatures to represent God. All these speak to failure to recognize or acknowledge God for who He is, the creator. Hence, this third reason is the best summary of the state of idolaters. The point is that the verbal phrase of Romans 1:28 to retain the knowledge of God means that idolaters refuse to recognize or acknowledge God the creator for who He is and so their punishment is described next.
We indicated that the third punishment is God handing over of idolaters to all kinds of sinful conducts. Actually, their sinful conducts that we will get to shortly are results of what the apostle stated as the third punishment of the idolaters. God handed over the idolaters to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts. It is this punishment that is described in the next sentence of Romans 1:28 he gave them over to a depraved mind.
The word “gave” is translated from the same Greek word (paradidōmi) that the apostle used to introduce the first and second punishments in verses 24 and 26 of this first chapter of Romans. The word may mean “to give up” as it is used to describe the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus for us as stated in Ephesians 5:2:
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
However, as we argued in Romans 1:24, the sense of the word both in verses 24 and 26 as well as our present verse 28 is that of “to deliver” or “hand over” to punishment. The recipients of the action associated with our Greek word are those who are in idolatry since the pronoun them in verse 26 refers to idolaters first introduced beginning in verse 18 although some take the view that it is a reference to all humans. Nonetheless, we contend that because of the descriptions that begin in verse 18 that the focus of the apostle is on idolaters. Hence, the pronoun them in verse 28 should be understood as a reference to idolaters.
The thing the idolaters are handed over as punishment is described in the phrase of Romans 1:28 a depraved mind. The word “depraved” of the NIV is translated from a Greek adjective (adokimos) that may mean “disqualified” or ‘unqualified” as Apostle Paul used it to describe what he does not want to happen to him after he had labored for Christ as stated in 1 Corinthians 9:27:
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
The word may mean “not to stand the test” or “to fail a test” as Apostle Paul used it in the instruction to the Corinthians to check themselves to determine if they are living as Christians should, as we read in a passage we cited previously, that is, 2 Corinthians 13:5:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
The word may mean “rejected” as it is used to describe the two men that opposed Moses as we read in 2 Timothy 3:8:
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.
In our passage of Romans 1:28, the word means “worthless” or “despicable,” that is, “morally reprehensible.” Thus, it is not surprising that some of our English versions use such adjectives as “debased” or “corrupted” or “useless,” among others, to translate our Greek word.
The Greek adjective is used to describe the word “mind” that is translated from a Greek noun (nous) that may refer to the faculty of intellectual perception so that it may mean “understanding, mind as a faculty of thinking” as the apostle used the word to describe what peace of God will do in the believer in Philippians 4:7:
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The word may mean “way of thinking, mind, attitude.” It is in the sense of way of thinking that our Greek word is used in describing unbelievers in Ephesians 4:17:
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
It is in this sense of way of thinking or mind that the word is used in our passage of Romans 1:28 so that the apostle meant that God handed over the idolaters to way of thinking or thoughts that are despicable or morally reprehensible.
The despicable or morally reprehensible way of thinking or thoughts of the idolaters has a purpose or produces a result that is corrupt or reprehensible. We use the word “purpose” or “result” because of the last verbal phrase of Romans 1:28 to do what ought not to be done. Literally, the Greek reads to do the (things) not being proper. This is because of the Greek words used. The word “do” is translated from a Greek word (poieō) that may mean “to do, make” with various nuances. For example, the word may mean “to produce” as it is used in the command of John the Baptist to those who came to him for baptism to show evidence of repentance in Luke 3:8:
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
The word may mean “to practice” as it is used by the men that stirred up trouble for Apostle Paul that landed him and Silas in jail in Philippi; by asserting, they were advocating customs that the Romans should not participate in as we read in Acts 16:21:
by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
The word may mean “to undertake or do something that brings about a state or condition” so that it is used with the meaning “to make” to describe the peace the death of Christ established between Jews and Gentiles as stated in Ephesians 2:15:
by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.
In our passage of Romans 1:28, the word means “to do” in the sense of “to carry out or perform an action.” The apostle used an infinitive (verbal noun) in the Greek. The infinitive he used could be interpreted as providing the purpose of God handing over the idolaters to despicable way of thinking or reprehensible thoughts. Or it may be interpreted as stating the result of God handing over the idolaters to despicable way of thinking or reprehensible thoughts. It is often difficult to differentiate purpose from results. This is even evident in that whereas the 1984 edition of the NIV reads to do what ought not to be done the 2011 reads so that they do what ought not to be done. The expression “so that” of the 2011 edition of NIV could be interpreted as expressing purpose or result. This notwithstanding, in our verse although the purpose and result probably merge, we contend that the handing over the idolaters to despicable way of thinking or reprehensible thoughts results in what follows. In other words, it is our assertion that primary in the apostle’s mind as he wrote the verbal phrase to do what ought not to be done we are considering is “result.” The reason for this interpretation is that in the first two punishments of handing over idolaters to something, the result was either immorality or sexual perversion. Thus, in keeping with that pattern, it is fitting to take what is said about idolaters that are given next in the passage of our study as results of God having handed them over to a despicable way of thinking or reprehensible thoughts.
The result of despicable way of thinking or reprehensible thoughts is summarized as being involved with things that are improper given in the verbal phrase of Romans 1:28 what ought not to be done or literally the (things) not being proper. This is because the expression “ought…be done” of the NIV is translated from a Greek verb (kathēkō) that is used only twice in the Greek NT; it means “to be proper or fitting” as the word is used by a Jewish crowd in demanding the death of Apostle Paul as narrated in Acts 22:22:
The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
In its other usage in the NT in our passage of Romans 1:28, the word is used as a participle and so as an adjective means “things that ought to be,” or “proper things.” Of course, because of the use of the negative associated with our word, the literal Greek translation not being proper may be translated “improper.”
Be that as it may, the apostle began describing the results of the punishment of the idolaters being handed over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts with the first sentence of Romans 1:29 They have become filled with. Literally, the Greek reads having been filled. This is because we do not have a finite verb in the Greek but a participle and so will affect how it is to be interpreted in the English. Meanwhile, we should recognize that the word “filled” is translated from a Greek word (plēroō) that may mean “to make full, to fill, fill up” so that it is used of things being full or filled up in a literal sense as it is used of the sound that filled the house where the disciples were on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:2:
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
The meaning “to fill” can be used of “filling a person with qualities or power.” Thus, Jesus is filled with wisdom in Luke 2:40:
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
The word is used to convey that Satan filled the heart of Ananias with lies in Acts 5:3:
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
It is used for some disciples being filled with joy and of the Holy Spirit in Acts 13:52:
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The word is used for the filling of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:18:
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit or better to be filled of the Holy Spirit means for a person to be full of the Spirit in the sense the person’s inner being is full of the Holy Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit is in full control of the person’s inner being so that the individual’s thoughts and actions are fully directed or controlled by the Holy Spirit. This explanation will be useful in understanding the sentence of Romans 1:29. That aside, in our passage of Romans 1:29, our Greek word means “to be full,” that is, “to contain as much as possible.” Because our Greek word is used for the filling of the Spirit as we explained, the sense here is that the results given are things that control the idolaters or things that fill their lives.
We stated that the apostle did not use a finite verb as reflected in the NIV They have become filled but a participle as in the literal translation having been filled. The use of a Greek participle in our verse is subject to two possible interpretations. It could be understood as providing the means by which God handed over the idolaters to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts. The implication being that the list that follows consists of means of God's action. Another interpretation of the participle is providing results of God handing the idolaters to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts. While the interpretation of means is possible but the context of what is stated in verses 24 and 26 supports the interpretation of results. Thus, the list that follows gives the results of God having handed idolaters over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts. The Greek used a perfect participle to indicate an action that occurred at some point in the past with its result continuing. This means that what results takes place at the time God hands over an idolater to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts but the results continue until the idolater repents. Of course, it is God that acted so as to produce the results on the idolaters described in our passage. These results are vices that some commentators attempt to categorize. It is not certain that the apostle had in mind any such categorization of the vices he listed since some of the vices he stated appear in his other epistles. We will not categorize the vices as such but simply list them in the order we have them in our text using the word “controlled” or “characterize” as we consider twenty-one things apostle listed that consist of vices and evil persons. Admittedly, our use of the words “controlled” and “characterize” imply a form of categorizing but that is not the same as those who categorize the vices as belonging to specific identified group of vices.
In any case, the first result of God handing idolaters over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts is described as all sorts of unrighteousness as given in the phrase of Romans 1:29 every kind of wickedness. The phrase every kind of is translated from a Greek word (pas) that may mean “all” or “every” or “any.” The word may pertain to a high degree of completeness or wholeness and so it means “entire” as Apostle Paul used it to describe the whole law in Galatians 5:14:
The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In our passage of Romans 1:29, the word is used in sense of “everything belonging, in kind, to the class designated by the noun” and hence means “every kind of, all sorts of.” The class our word described is given in the NIV of our verse with the word “wickedness.” The word “wickedness” is translated from a Greek word (adikia) that may mean “an act that violates standards of right conduct,” that is, “wrong, wrongdoing” as the apostle used it sarcastically with the Corinthians to state he preached the gospel and taught the truth at no cost to them in 2 Corinthians 12:13:
How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
The word may mean “harm” as it is used by Apostle Peter to, in effect, apply the spiritual law of sowing and reaping to false teachers as we read in 2 Peter 2:13:
They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
The word may mean “unrighteousness” as that which the believer is cleansed from upon confession of sin as we read in 1 John 1:9:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
In our passage of Romans 1:29, the word refers to “the quality of injustice” and so means “unrighteousness,” that is, “failure to adhere to moral principles, commands, or laws.” Thus, a result of God handing over the idolaters to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts is being controlled by all sorts of unrighteousness.
The second thing the apostle mentioned that controls the idolaters that God handed over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts is in the word of the NIV “evil” that is translated from a Greek word (ponēria) that refers to state or condition of a lack of moral or social values and so may mean “wickedness, maliciousness” as the word is used by Apostle Paul to encourage believers about what they should avoid in 1 Corinthians 5:8:
Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
In our passage of Romans 1:29, it means “depravity” or “perversion,” that is, “the perverting of virtue and moral principles from their purposes to evil ends.” Hence, a second result of God handing over the idolaters to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts is being controlled by perversion of virtue and moral principles from their purposes to evil ends. A good illustration of this kind of perversion of virtue and moral principles from their purpose to evil end was demonstrated by Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. The Scripture forbids blaspheming God or cursing the ruler of Israel as recorded in Exodus 22:28:
“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
The punishment for blaspheming God is spelt out as death according to Leviticus 24:15–16:
15 Say to the Israelites: ‘If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
When Naboth refused to give his land to Ahab, his wife perverted the command against blaspheming God and cursing Israel’s ruler and associated punishment in that she used to her advantage the moral principle of putting to death anyone that indeed blasphemes God. She certainly did not care for the God of Israel since she was an idolater that worshipped Baal. However, she applied the correct principle given in the law to achieve what she wanted, which was the death of Naboth so that Ahab could take over his property. So, she misapplied God’s word as narrated in the letter she wrote recorded in 1 Kings 21:9–10:
9 In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
Naboth did not curse the king but merely refused to give his property to him, but Jezebel perverted God’s word to her evil ends that required the death of Naboth. Hence, she illustrated the second thing the apostle mentioned that controls the idolaters that God handed over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts described with the word of the NIV “evil” that we have indicated in the passage of Romans 1:29 refers to perversion of virtue and moral principles from their purposes to evil ends. This kind of thing shows itself in idolatry found in politics. Some Christians, for example, use the correct principle that God sets up leaders to justify hating those who do not support their favorite politician but fail to apply the same principle when the leader is one they do not like.
Let me comment briefly for the benefit of those who use the old KJV or the NKJV because the second thing given in it is either “fornication” or “sexual immorality” and not the word “evil” in the NIV and most of English versions. This is because the KJV is based on the Textus Receptus that relied on later Greek manuscripts that had a Greek word (porneia) that may be translated “fornication” or “sexual immorality” in them in addition to the word translated “evil” in contrast to earlier manuscripts that do not have the reading. Its inclusion is considered by the authorities as “accidentally or deliberately.” This is the reason that most English versions do not have the word “fornication” or “sexual immorality” as the second thing the apostle gave in verse 29. With this comment, let us continue.
The third thing Apostle Paul mentioned that controls the idolaters that God handed over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts is greed as given in Romans 1:29. The word “greed” is translated from a Greek word (pleonexia) that refers to the state of desiring to have more than one’s due. In effect, greed involves being consumed with having more and more of things so that the Greek word in practice means “consuming ambition.” It is a sinful disposition that may be subtle to recognize its nature so the Lord Jesus while on this planet clearly warned His disciples against it in Luke 12:15:
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Greed is a destructive sin that the Holy Spirit through the apostle equates it to idolatry in Colossians 3:5:
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
The possible reason the apostle equates greed to idolatry is because of the nature of idolatry which is to replace the worship of God with the worship of man’s creation. When a person is greedy or has a consuming ambition to succeed materially, there is the tendency for the person to be preoccupied with material things, especially money, that the person actually worships material things at the expense of worshipping God, the supreme creator. Such a person becomes devoted to making money or acquiring material things that the individual has no time for God. The person wants to seize any and every opportunity to make money even if it interferes with worship of God. In short, such a person is driven by ambition for acquisition of material things that God is not given any substantial consideration in the person’s life. Unbelievers are individuals who have no relationship with God so it does not matter that they do not think about Him but that should be different for believers. It is because believers can be tempted to have consuming ambition with respect to material things that the Lord warns against greed. The danger of greed is that it causes a believer to ignore the person’s relationship with the Lord and be captivated by materialism. It is because of greed that some who teach the word of God become false or negligent in that they are not willing to teach anything that may affect the offerings made by members of their congregations. This, in practice, means that if there is a besetting sin that will affect the wealthy contributors of a local church, for example, such teachers will ignore whatever that sin is in order not to make such individuals angry. Thus, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit through Apostle Peter tells us that greed causes false teachers to exploit believers in 2 Peter 2:3:
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
It is because greed can present problems to those who lead believers that the Holy Spirit through Apostle Peter encouraged church elders or pastors to avoid it as stated in 1 Peter 5:2:
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
It is not only in the NT that we find those who teach because of material benefit. Prophet Micah denounced those who taught for a price in Micah 3:11:
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
In any event, the third thing Apostle Paul mentioned that controls the idolaters that God handed over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts is greed. Because of what greed is, as we have previously alluded, there is the possibility that a believer may be involved in it, but we should recognize that such a sin is one that characterizes unbelievers hence, the command to believers to avoid it in Ephesians 5:3:
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
The Holy Spirit through the apostle indicates that believers should not be involved in greed. A believer involved in greed is indeed imitating unbelievers or those God had handed over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts. The instruction in Ephesians 5:3 requires believers not to be involved in greed as that is what belongs to those in idolatry or unbelievers. To apply the instruction not to be involved in greed, we should recognize that the apostle does not mean we should not desire things or want more things per say but the instruction is against being consumed with desire for things to the point that our spiritual devotion becomes secondary to our devotion to material things. In effect, the way you can tell if you are consumed with ambition for material things is to test if your desire for material things is such that you will place going to church or studying the word of God below endeavors to acquire material things. The point is that we should be able to differentiate between what is a normal desire to improve oneself and a consuming desire to have more things at the expense of one’s devotion to spiritual matters. Our focus at all times should be on our devotion to God as evident in our devotion to His word. In fact, we should offer the same kind of prayer of the psalmist recorded in Psalm 119:36:
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
Again, the third thing Apostle Paul mentioned that controls the idolaters that God handed over to despicable or morally reprehensible thoughts is greed as given in Romans 1:29. There is more to our study but we end today with a reminder of the message of the section we are considering which is: God punishes idolaters who although know the consequence of rejecting His righteous requirements reject them anyway, by handing them over to all kinds of sinful conducts.
09/06/24