And as they did not like ουκ εδοκιμασαν, they did not approve, to retain God in their knowledge Or rather, as εχειν εν επιγνωσει more properly signifies, to retain him with acknowledgment. For it is proved above that they were not wholly without the knowledge of God in the world: but they did not acknowledge him as they ought; did not use or improve the knowledge they had of him to the purposes for which it had been vouch-safed. Or, as Dr. Macknight interprets it, They “did not approve of holding God as the object of the people's acknowledgment and worship, but approved of the worship of false gods and of images, as more proper for the vulgar; and on that account substituted idolatry in place of the pure, spiritual worship of the one true God, and established it by law.” Therefore God gave them over to a reprobate mind αδοκιμον νουν, an undiscerning, or injudicious mind; a mind not perceiving or approving what is good, either in principle or practice; a mind void of all proper knowledge and relish of what is excellent, treated of Romans 1:32. Men of this stamp are said, Ephesians 4:19, to be απηλγηκοτες, without feeling. To do things not convenient Even the vilest abominations, treated of Romans 1:29-31. Being filled with all unrighteousness Or injustice. This stands in the first place, unmercifulness in the last. Fornication includes here every species of uncleanness; wickedness πονηρια, a word which implies a disposition to injure others by craft. Hence the devil is called ο πονηρος, the wicked one, by way of eminence; covetousness Πλεονεξια, an inordinate desire to have more than God sees proper for us, which, the apostle says, is idolatry, Colossians 3:5; maliciousness κακια, a disposition to injure others from ill-will to them, or which delights in hurting another, even without any advantage to one's self; full of envy Grieving at another's welfare, or rejoicing at his hurt; debate
Εριδος, strife, contention, quarrelling; deceit Or guile, fraud; malignity Κακοηθειας, a bad disposition, or evil habit; a disposition, according to Aristotle, to take every thing in the worst sense; but, according to Estius, the word denotes asperity of manners, rudeness; whisperers
Such as secretly defame others; backbiters Καταλαλους, revilers, such as openly speak against others in their absence; haters of God Especially considered as holy and just, as a lawgiver and judge; persons under the power of that carnal mind which is enmity against him; enemies in their minds, says the apostle, by wicked works; deniers of his providence, or accusers of his justice in their adversities; despiteful Υβριστας, violent, or overbearing in their behaviour to each other; or persons who commit injuries with violence, or who oppress others by force; proud Persons who value themselves above their just worth; or who are elated on account of their fortune, or station, or office, or endowments, natural or acquired; boasters Αλαζονας, persons who assume to themselves the reputation of qualities which they do not possess; inventors of evil things Of new pleasures, new ways of gain, new arts of hurting, particularly in war; disobedient to parents Either natural or political, not willingly subject to lawful authority; a sin here ranked with the greatest crimes. Without understanding Who act like men void of reason; covenant-breakers False to their promises, oaths, and engagements. It is well known, the Romans, as a nation, from the very beginning of their commonwealth, never made any scruple of vacating altogether the most solemn engagement, if they did not like it, though made by their supreme magistrate, in the name of the whole people. They only gave up the general who had made it, and then supposed themselves to be at full liberty! Without natural affection The custom of exposing their own new-born children to perish by cold, hunger, or wild beasts, which so generally prevailed in the heathen world, particularly among the Greeks and Romans, was an amazing instance of this; as is also that of killing their aged and helpless parents, now common among the American heathen. Implacable Persons who, being once offended, will never be reconciled. The original word ασπονδους, from σπονδη, a libation, “is used to signify irreconcilable, because, when the heathen made their solemn covenants, by which they bound themselves to lay aside their enmities, they ratified them by a sacrifice, on which they poured a libation, after drinking a part of it themselves.” Unmerciful Unfeeling, unforgiving, or pursuing their schemes of cruelty and revenge, whenever they got any new opportunity of doing it.