What does Romans 1:21 mean? (2024)

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ESVFor although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

NIVFor although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

NASBFor even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

CSBFor though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

NLTYes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

KJVBecause that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

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This section began with Paul's declaration that God's wrath is revealed against human unrighteousness. In particular, this wrath comes because God has made Himself plain enough to mankind that nobody has an excuse for ignoring Him. We may choose not to seek Him (Matthew 7:7–8), but we cannot pretend that we did not have enough evidence (Romans 1:18–20). The rest of the section will explain why that is and what God is prepared to do about it.

"Why" humanity is able to deny a God who is so obvious starts with the fact that human beings refuse to see who God is. We make a willful choice to ignore His hallmarks in the creation that surrounds us every day. In other words, we reject Him first as Creator.

Now we see that rejecting God as creator leads to a refusal to honor or give thanks to God. After all, why honor a God who did not make the world? And if God is not the creator, why would we assume that He is the provider of all we need? Why give thanks to God for what we believe we have developed and acquired for ourselves?

If we do not understand God as the creator and provider who must be worshiped, we cannot arrive at a right understanding of how the universe works. Our thinking about everything is futile, worthless from the square one. Futile thinking leads to wrong conclusions and, eventually, to darkened hearts. Everything we end up believing is based on wrong assumptions about the universe and our place in it.

For example, many will decide that a universe which God did not create and does not sustain is without meaning or purpose. That conclusion often leads to hopelessness and nihilism: the belief that life is meaningless.

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The passage you've shared delves into the rejection of God by humanity despite the evident signs of His existence. It touches upon the concept of God as the Creator and Provider, emphasizing how denying Him in these roles leads to futile thinking, erroneous conclusions, and ultimately, darkened hearts. The verses cited are from various translations of the Bible—ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, and NLT—showing nuances in their phrasing while conveying a similar message.

Regarding the concepts and references within the passage:

Creation and Creator: The passage speaks about recognizing God as the Creator, highlighting that denying this foundational aspect leads to the refusal to honor or give thanks to Him.
Provider: It touches upon acknowledging God as the Provider, indicating that if God isn't recognized as the creator, why would one feel compelled to give thanks for what they believe they've obtained themselves?
Futile Thinking: Rejecting God as the Creator and Provider results in futile, worthless thinking from the outset. This leads to incorrect assumptions about the universe and life, causing a lack of meaning or purpose, which can lead to nihilism.

These concepts echo themes found throughout the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament books like Genesis (Creation), Psalms (Acknowledgment of God as Creator and Provider), and Proverbs (Wisdom and Understanding).

Understanding and acknowledging God's role as the Creator and Provider form the basis for a worldview that acknowledges meaning, purpose, and a sense of reverence towards God. The passage underscores the significance of recognizing God's presence and authority in our lives.

The translations used (ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT) might differ slightly in their wording, but they all convey the essence of humanity's denial of God despite the evident signs of His existence, resulting in futile thinking and darkened hearts.

This passage aligns with the broader theme found across the Bible: the importance of recognizing God's role in creation, acknowledging Him as the Provider, and the consequences of denying or ignoring these foundational aspects.

If you're interested in exploring more about these themes or delving deeper into specific verses or passages related to creation, purpose, and acknowledging God's role, I'd be happy to assist further!