Romans 1:24,25 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Wherefore God gave them up As a punishment of this most unreasonable and scandalous idolatry, God withdrew his restraining grace from them as he did from the antediluvians, Genesis 6:3; the consequence of which was, that their lusts excited them to commit every sort of uncleanness. The truth is, a contempt of religion is the source of all wickedness. And ungodliness and uncleanness particularly are frequently united, 1 Thessalonians 4:5, as are the knowledge of God and purity. Observe, reader, one punishment of sin is from the very nature of it, as Romans 1:27; another, as here, is from vindictive justice. Who changed the truth of God Those true conceptions which they had of him by nature; into a lie False opinions of him, and the worship of idols. And they represented his true essence, his incorruptible and immortal nature, by images of men and brute creatures, which are fitly called a lie, as being most false representations of the Deity, who does not resemble them in any respect whatever. Hence idols are called lying vanities, Psalms 31:6. And every image of an idol is termed a teacher of lies, Habakkuk 2:18. And worshipped and served the creature And not only God's creatures, but their own creatures, the images which their own hands had made. The former expression, εσεβασθησαν, signifies inward veneration, reverence, esteem, and such like qualities felt in the mind. The latter word, εγατρευσαν, denotes the paying outward worship and service to beings thought to be gods. The heathen gave both to their idols, reverencing and respecting them inwardly, and performing various acts of outward worship to them, in token thereof. More than the Creator, who is blessed for ever Who is eternally glorious, and to whom alone all honour and praise everlastingly belong. Amen It is an undoubted truth, and to him let it be ascribed accordingly.