Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Romans 1:21 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 1:21	Strong Concordance	Because [1360] that, when they knew [1097] God [2316], they glorified [1392] him not [3756] as [5613] God [2316], neither [2228] were thankful [2168]; but [235] became vain [3154] in [1722] their [846] imaginations [1261], and [2532] their [846] foolish [801] heart [2588] was darkened [4654].
	King James	Because 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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Because that, when they knew God--that is, while still retaining some real knowledge of Him, and ere they sank down into the state next to be described. they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful--neither yielded the adoration due to Himself, nor rendered the gratitude which His beneficence demanded. but became vain--(compare Jer 2:5). in their imaginations--thoughts, notions, speculations, regarding God; compare Mat 15:19; Luk 2:35; Co1 3:20, Greek. and their foolish--"senseless," "stupid." heart--that is, their whole inner man. was darkened--How instructively is the downward progress of the human soul here traced!

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Because that, when they knew God--that is, while still retaining some real knowledge of Him, and ere they sank down into the state next to be described.

they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful--neither yielded the adoration due to Himself, nor rendered the gratitude which His beneficence demanded.

but became vain--(compare Jer 2:5).

in their imaginations--thoughts, notions, speculations, regarding God; compare Mat 15:19; Luk 2:35; Co1 3:20, Greek.

and their foolish--"senseless," "stupid."

heart--that is, their whole inner man.

was darkened--How instructively is the downward progress of the human soul here traced!

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Because that - The apostle here is showing that it was right to condemn people for their sins. To do this it was needful to show them that they had the knowledge of God, and the means of knowing what was right; and that the true source of their sins and idolatries was a corrupt and evil heart. When they knew God - Greek, "knowing God." That is, they had an acquaintance with the existence and many of the perfections of one God. That many of the philosophers of Greece and Rome had a knowledge of one God, there can be no doubt. This was undoubtedly the case with Pythagoras, who had traveled extensively in Egypt, and even in Palestine; and also with Plato and his disciples. This point is clearly shown by Cudworth in his Intellectual System, and by Dr. Warburton in the Divine Legation of Moses. Yet the knowledge of this great truth was not communicated to the people. It was confined to the philosophers; and not improbably one design of the mysteries celebrated throughout Greece was to keep up the knowledge of the one true God. Gibbon has remarked that "the philosophers regarded all the popular superstitions as equally false: the common people as equally true; and the politicians as equally useful." This was probably a correct account of the prevalent feelings among the ancients. A single extract from "Cicero" (de Natura Deorum, lib. ii. c. 6) will show that they had the knowledge of one God. "There is something in the nature of things, which the mind of man, which reason, which human power cannot effect; and certainly what produces this must be better than man. What can this be called but "God?" Again (c. 2), "What can be so plain and manifest, when we look at heaven, and contemplate heavenly things, as that there is some divinity of most excellent mind, by which these things are governed?" They glorified him not as God - They did not "honor" him as God. This was the true source of their abominations. To glorify him "as God" is to regard with proper reverence all his perfections and laws; to venerate his name, his power, his holiness, and presence, etc. As they were not inclined to do this, so they were given over to their own vain and wicked desires. Sinners are not willing to give honor to God, as God. They are not pleased with his perfections; and therefore the mind becomes fixed on other objects, and the heart gives free indulgence to its own sinful desires. A willingness to honor God as God - to reverence, love, and obey him, would effectually restrain people from sin. Neither were thankful - The obligation to be "thankful" to God for his mercies, for the goodness which we experience, is plain and obvious. Thus, we judge of favors received of our fellow-men. the apostle here clearly regards this unwillingness to render gratitude to God for his mercies as one of the causes of their subsequent corruption and idolatry. The reasons of this are the following. (1) the effect of ingratitude is to render the heart hard and insensible. (2) people seek to forget the Being to whom they are unwilling to exercise gratitude. (3) to do this, they fix their affections on other things; and hence, the pagan expressed their gratitude not to God, but to the sun, and moon, and stars, etc., the mediums by which God bestows his favors upon people. And we may here learn that an unwillingness to thank God for his mercies is one of the most certain causes of alienation and hardness of heart. But became vain - To "become vain," with us, means to be elated, or to be self-conceited, or to seek praise from others. The meaning here seems to be, they became foolish, frivolous in their thoughts and reasonings. They acted foolishly; they employed themselves in useless and frivolous questions, the effect of which was to lead the mind further and further from the truth respecting God. Imaginations - This word means properly "thoughts," then "reasonings," and also "disputations." Perhaps our word, "speculations," would convey its meaning here. It implies that they were unwilling to honor God, and being unwilling to honor him, they commenced those speculations which resulted in all their vain and foolish opinions about idols, and the various rites of idolatrous worship. Many of the speculations and inquiries of the ancients were among the most vain and senseless which the mind can conceive. And their foolish heart - The word "heart" is not infrequently used to denote the mind, or the understanding. We apply it to denote the affections. But such was not its common use, among the Hebrews. We speak of the head when we refer to the understanding, but this was not the case with the Hebrews. They spoke of the heart in this manner, and in this sense it is clearly used in this place; see Eph 1:18; Rom 2:15; Co2 4:6; Pe2 1:19. The word "foolish" means literally what is without "understanding;" Mat 15:16. Was darkened - Was rendered obscure, so that they did not perceive and comprehend the truth. The process which is stated in this verse is, (1) That people had the knowledge of God. (2) that they refused to honor him when they knew him, and were opposed to his character and government. (3) that they were ungrateful. (4) that they then began to doubt, to reason, to speculate, and wandered far into darkness. This is substantially the process by which people wander away from God now. They have the knowledge of God, but they do not love him; and being dissatisfied with his character and government, they begin to speculate, fall into error, and then "find no end in wandering mazes lost," and sink into the depths of heresy and of sin.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Because that - The apostle here is showing that it was right to condemn people for their sins. To do this it was needful to show them that they had the knowledge of God, and the means of knowing what was right; and that the true source of their sins and idolatries was a corrupt and evil heart.

When they knew God - Greek, "knowing God." That is, they had an acquaintance with the existence and many of the perfections of one God. That many of the philosophers of Greece and Rome had a knowledge of one God, there can be no doubt. This was undoubtedly the case with Pythagoras, who had traveled extensively in Egypt, and even in Palestine; and also with Plato and his disciples. This point is clearly shown by Cudworth in his Intellectual System, and by Dr. Warburton in the Divine Legation of Moses. Yet the knowledge of this great truth was not communicated to the people. It was confined to the philosophers; and not improbably one design of the mysteries celebrated throughout Greece was to keep up the knowledge of the one true God. Gibbon has remarked that "the philosophers regarded all the popular superstitions as equally false: the common people as equally true; and the politicians as equally useful." This was probably a correct account of the prevalent feelings among the ancients. A single extract from "Cicero" (de Natura Deorum, lib. ii. c. 6) will show that they had the knowledge of one God. "There is something in the nature of things, which the mind of man, which reason, which human power cannot effect; and certainly what produces this must be better than man. What can this be called but "God?" Again (c. 2), "What can be so plain and manifest, when we look at heaven, and contemplate heavenly things, as that there is some divinity of most excellent mind, by which these things are governed?"

They glorified him not as God - They did not "honor" him as God. This was the true source of their abominations. To glorify him "as God" is to regard with proper reverence all his perfections and laws; to venerate his name, his power, his holiness, and presence, etc. As they were not inclined to do this, so they were given over to their own vain and wicked desires. Sinners are not willing to give honor to God, as God. They are not pleased with his perfections; and therefore the mind becomes fixed on other objects, and the heart gives free indulgence to its own sinful desires. A willingness to honor God as God - to reverence, love, and obey him, would effectually restrain people from sin.

Neither were thankful - The obligation to be "thankful" to God for his mercies, for the goodness which we experience, is plain and obvious. Thus, we judge of favors received of our fellow-men. the apostle here clearly regards this unwillingness to render gratitude to God for his mercies as one of the causes of their subsequent corruption and idolatry. The reasons of this are the following.

(1) the effect of ingratitude is to render the heart hard and insensible.

(2) people seek to forget the Being to whom they are unwilling to exercise gratitude.

(3) to do this, they fix their affections on other things; and hence, the pagan expressed their gratitude not to God, but to the sun, and moon, and stars, etc., the mediums by which God bestows his favors upon people. And we may here learn that an unwillingness to thank God for his mercies is one of the most certain causes of alienation and hardness of heart.

But became vain - To "become vain," with us, means to be elated, or to be self-conceited, or to seek praise from others. The meaning here seems to be, they became foolish, frivolous in their thoughts and reasonings. They acted foolishly; they employed themselves in useless and frivolous questions, the effect of which was to lead the mind further and further from the truth respecting God.

Imaginations - This word means properly "thoughts," then "reasonings," and also "disputations." Perhaps our word, "speculations," would convey its meaning here. It implies that they were unwilling to honor God, and being unwilling to honor him, they commenced those speculations which resulted in all their vain and foolish opinions about idols, and the various rites of idolatrous worship. Many of the speculations and inquiries of the ancients were among the most vain and senseless which the mind can conceive.

And their foolish heart - The word "heart" is not infrequently used to denote the mind, or the understanding. We apply it to denote the affections. But such was not its common use, among the Hebrews. We speak of the head when we refer to the understanding, but this was not the case with the Hebrews. They spoke of the heart in this manner, and in this sense it is clearly used in this place; see Eph 1:18; Rom 2:15; Co2 4:6; Pe2 1:19. The word "foolish" means literally what is without "understanding;" Mat 15:16.

Was darkened - Was rendered obscure, so that they did not perceive and comprehend the truth. The process which is stated in this verse is,

(1) That people had the knowledge of God.

(2) that they refused to honor him when they knew him, and were opposed to his character and government.

(3) that they were ungrateful.

(4) that they then began to doubt, to reason, to speculate, and wandered far into darkness.

This is substantially the process by which people wander away from God now. They have the knowledge of God, but they do not love him; and being dissatisfied with his character and government, they begin to speculate, fall into error, and then "find no end in wandering mazes lost," and sink into the depths of heresy and of sin.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Knowing - glorified not "I think it may be proved from facts that any given people, down to the lowest savages, has at any period of its life known far more than it has done: known quite enough to have enabled it to have got on comfortably, thriven and developed, if it had only done what no man does, all that it knew it ought to do and could do" (Charles Kingsley, "The Roman and the Teuton"). Became vain (ἐματαιώθησαν) Vain things (μάταια) was the Jews' name for idols. Compare Act 4:15. Their ideas and conceptions of God had no intrinsic value corresponding with the truth. "The understanding was reduced to work in vacuo. It rendered itself in a way futile" (Godet). Imaginations (διαλογισμοῖς) Rev., better, reasonings. See on Mat 15:19; see on Mar 7:21; see on Jam 2:4. Foolish (ἀσύνετος) See on συνετός prudent, Mat 11:25, and the kindred word σύνεσις understanding, see on Mar 12:33; see on Luk 2:47. They did not combine the facts which were patent to their observation. Heart (καρδία) The heart is, first, the physical organ, the center of the circulation of the blood. Hence, the seat and center of physical life. In the former sense it does not occur in the New Testament. As denoting the vigor and sense of physical life, see Act 14:17; Jam 5:5; Luk 21:34. It is used fifty-two times by Paul. Never used like ψυχή, soul, to denote the individual subject of personal life, so that it can be exchanged with the personal pronoun (Act 2:43; Act 3:23; Rom 13:1); nor like πνεῦμα spirit, to denote the divinely-given principle of life. It is the central seat and organ of the personal life (ψυχή) of man regarded in and by himself. Hence it is commonly accompanied with the possessive pronouns, my, his, thy, etc. Like our heart it denotes the seat of feeling as contrasted with intelligence. Co2 2:4; Rom 9:2; Rom 10:1; Co2 6:11; Phi 1:7. But it is not limited to this. It is also the seat of mental action, feeling, thinking, willing. It is used - 1. Of intelligence, Rom 1:21; Co2 3:15; Co2 4:6; Eph 1:18. 2. Of moral choice, Co1 7:37; Co2 9:7. 3. As giving impulse and character to action, Rom 6:17; Eph 6:5; Col 3:22; Ti1 1:5; Ti2 2:22. The work of the law is written on the heart, Rom 2:15. The Corinthian Church is inscribed as Christ's epistle on hearts of flesh, Co2 3:2-3. 4. Specially, it is the seat of the divine Spirit, Gal 4:6; Rom 5:5; Co2 1:22. It is the sphere of His various operations, directing, comforting, establishing, etc., Phi 4:7; Col 3:15; Th1 3:13; Th2 2:17; Th2 3:5. It is the seat of faith, and the organ of spiritual praise, Rom 10:9; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16. It is equivalent to the inner man, Eph 3:16, Eph 3:17. Its characteristic is being hidden, Rom 2:28, Rom 2:29; Rom 8:27; Co1 4:5; Co1 14:25. It is contrasted with the face, Th1 2:17; Co2 5:12; and with the mouth, Rom 10:8.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Because, knowing God - For the wiser heathens did know that there was one supreme God; yet from low and base considerations they conformed to the idolatry of the vulgar. They did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful - They neither thanked him for his benefits, nor glorified him for his divine perfection. But became vain - Like the idols they worshipped. In their reasonings - Various, uncertain, foolish. What a terrible instance have we of this in the writings of Lucretius! What vain reasonings, and how dark a heart, amidst so pompous professions of wisdom!

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Because that when they knew God - When they thus acquired a general knowledge of the unity and perfections of the Divine nature, they glorified him not as God - they did not proclaim him to the people, but shut up his glory (as Bishop Warburton expresses it) in their mysteries, and gave the people, in exchange for an incorruptible God, an image made like to corruptible man. Wherefore God, in punishment for their sins, thus turning his truth into a lie, suffered even their mysteries, which they had erected for a school of virtue, to degenerate into an odious sink of vice and immorality; giving them up unto all uncleanness and vile affections. They glorified him not - They did not give him that worship which his perfections required. Neither were thankful - They manifested no gratitude for the blessings they received from his providence, but became vain in their imaginations, διαλογισμοις, in their reasonings. This certainly refers to the foolish manner in which even the wisest of their philosophers discoursed about the Divine nature, not excepting Socrates, Plato, or Seneca. Who can read their works without being struck with the vanity of their reasonings, as well as with the stupidity of their nonsense, when speaking about God? I might crowd my page with proofs of this; but it is not necessary to those who are acquainted with their writings, and to others it would not be useful. In short, their foolish, darkened minds sought God no where but in the place in which he is never to be found; viz. the vile, corrupted, and corrupting passions of their own hearts. As they did not discover him there, they scarcely sought him any where else.

Top

²⁰ And [2532] again [3825], The Lord [2962] knoweth [1097] the thoughts [1261] of the wise [4680], that [3754] they are [1526] vain [3152].

³⁵ (Yea [1161], a sword [4501] shall pierce through [1330] thy [4675] own [846] soul [5590] also [2532],) that [3704] the thoughts [1261] of [1537] many [4183] hearts [2588] [302] may be revealed [601].

¹⁹ For [1063] out of [1537] the heart [2588] proceed [1831] evil [4190] thoughts [1261], murders [5408], adulteries [3430], fornications [4202], thefts [2829], false witness [5577], blasphemies [988]:

⁵ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], What iniquity [05766] have your fathers [01] found [04672] in me, that they are gone far [07368] from me, and have walked [03212] after [0310] vanity [01892], and are become vain [01891]?

¹⁶ And [1161] Jesus [2424] said [2036], Are [2075] ye [5210] also [2532] yet [188] without understanding [801]?

¹⁹ We have [2192] also [2532] a more sure [949] word [3056] of prophecy [4397]; whereunto [3739] ye do [4160] well [2573] that ye take heed [4337], as [5613] unto a light [3088] that shineth [5316] in [1722] a dark [850] place [5117], until [2193] [3739] the day [2250] dawn [1306], and [2532] the day star [5459] arise [393] in [1722] your [5216] hearts [2588]:

⁶ For [3754] God [2316], who [3588] commanded [2036] the light [5457] to shine [2989] out of [1537] darkness [4655], [3739] hath shined [2989] in [1722] our [2257] hearts [2588], to [4314] give the light [5462] of the knowledge [1108] of the glory [1391] of God [2316] in [1722] the face [4383] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

¹⁵ Which [3748] shew [1731] the work [2041] of the law [3551] written [1123] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588], their [846] conscience [4893] also bearing witness [4828], and [2532] their thoughts [3053] the mean while accusing [2723] or [2228] else [2532] excusing [626] one another [3342] [240];)

¹⁸ The eyes [3788] of your [5216] understanding [1271] being enlightened [5461]; that [1519] ye [5209] may know [1492] what [5101] is [2076] the hope [1680] of his [846] calling [2821], and [2532] what [5101] the riches [4149] of the glory [1391] of his [846] inheritance [2817] in [1722] the saints [40],

⁸ But [235] what [5101] saith it [3004]? The word [4487] is [2076] nigh [1451] thee [4675], even in [1722] thy [4675] mouth [4750], and [2532] in [1722] thy [4675] heart [2588]: that is [5123], the word [4487] of faith [4102], which [3739] we preach [2784];

¹² For [1063] we commend [4921] not [3756] ourselves [1438] again [3825] unto you [5213], but [235] give [1325] you [5213] occasion [874] to glory [2745] on [5228] our [2257] behalf [5228], that [2443] ye may have [2192] somewhat to [4314] answer them which glory [2744] in [1722] appearance [4383], and [2532] not [3756] in heart [2588].

¹⁷ But [1161] we [2249], brethren [80], being taken [642] from [575] you [5216] for [4314] a short [5610] time [2540] in presence [4383], not [3756] in heart [2588], endeavoured [4704] the more abundantly [4056] to see [1492] your [5216] face [4383] with [1722] great [4183] desire [1939].

²⁵ And [2532] thus [3779] are [1096] the secrets [2927] of his [846] heart [2588] made [1096] manifest [5318]; and [2532] so [3779] falling down [4098] on [1909] his face [4383] he will worship [4352] God [2316], and report [518] that [3754] God [2316] is [2076] in [1722] you [5213] of a truth [3689].

⁵ Therefore [5620] judge [2919] nothing [3361] [5100] before [4253] the time [2540], until [2193] [302] the Lord [2962] come [2064], who [3739] both [2532] will bring to light [5461] the hidden things [2927] of darkness [4655], and [2532] will make manifest [5319] the counsels [1012] of the hearts [2588]: and [2532] then [5119] shall every man [1538] have [1096] praise [1868] of [575] God [2316].

²⁷ And [1161] he that searcheth [2045] the hearts [2588] knoweth [1492] what [5101] is the mind [5427] of the Spirit [4151], because [3754] he maketh intercession [1793] for [5228] the saints [40] according [2596] to the will of God [2316].

²⁹ But [235] he is a Jew [2453], which is one inwardly [1722] [2927]; and [2532] circumcision [4061] is that of the heart [2588], in [1722] the spirit [4151], and not [3756] in the letter [1121]; whose [3739] praise [1868] is not [3756] of [1537] men [444], but [235] of [1537] God [2316].

²⁸ For [1063] he is [2076] not [3756] a Jew [2453], which is one outwardly [1722] [5318]; neither [3761] is that circumcision [4061], which is outward [1722] [5318] in [1722] the flesh [4561]:

¹⁷ That Christ [5547] may dwell [2730] in [1722] your [5216] hearts [2588] by [1223] faith [4102]; that [2443] ye, being rooted [4492] and [2532] grounded [2311] in [1722] love [26],

¹⁶ That [2443] he would grant [1325] you [5213], according to [2596] the riches [4149] of his [846] glory [1391], to be strengthened [2901] with might [1411] by [1223] his [846] Spirit [4151] in [1519] the inner [2080] man [444];

¹⁶ Let [1774] the word [3056] of Christ [5547] dwell [1774] in [1722] you [5213] richly [4146] in [1722] all [3956] wisdom [4678]; teaching [1321] and [2532] admonishing [3560] one another [1438] in psalms [5568] and [2532] hymns [5215] and [2532] spiritual [4152] songs [5603], singing [103] with [1722] grace [5485] in [1722] your [5216] hearts [2588] to the Lord [2962].

¹⁹ Speaking [2980] to yourselves [1438] in psalms [5568] and [2532] hymns [5215] and [2532] spiritual [4152] songs [5603], singing [103] and [2532] making melody [5567] in [1722] your [5216] heart [2588] to the Lord [2962];

⁹ That [3754] if [1437] thou shalt confess [3670] with [1722] thy [4675] mouth [4750] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], and [2532] shalt believe [4100] in [1722] thine [4675] heart [2588] that [3754] God [2316] hath raised [1453] him [846] from [1537] the dead [3498], thou shalt be saved [4982].

⁵ And [1161] the Lord [2962] direct [2720] your [5216] hearts [2588] into [1519] the love [26] of God [2316], and [2532] into [1519] the patient waiting [5281] for Christ [5547].

¹⁷ Comfort [3870] your [5216] hearts [2588], and [2532] stablish [4741] you [5209] in [1722] every [3956] good [18] word [3056] and [2532] work [2041].

¹³ To the end [1519] he may stablish [4741] your [5216] hearts [2588] unblameable [273] in [1722] holiness [42] before [1715] God [2316], even [2532] our [2257] Father [3962], at [1722] the coming [3952] of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] with [3326] all [3956] his [846] saints [40].

¹⁵ And [2532] let [1018] the peace [1515] of God [2316] rule [1018] in [1722] your [5216] hearts [2588], to [1519] the which [3739] also [2532] ye are called [2564] in [1722] one [1520] body [4983]; and [2532] be ye [1096] thankful [2170].

⁷ And [2532] the peace [1515] of God [2316], which [3588] passeth [5242] all [3956] understanding [3563], shall keep [5432] your [5216] hearts [2588] and [2532] minds [5216] [3540] through [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].

²² Who [3588] hath [4972] also [2532] sealed [4972] us [2248], and [2532] given [1325] the earnest [728] of the Spirit [4151] in [1722] our [2257] hearts [2588].

⁵ And [1161] hope [1680] maketh [2617] not [3756] ashamed [2617]; because [3754] the love [26] of God [2316] is shed abroad [1632] in [1722] our [2257] hearts [2588] by [1223] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] which [3588] is given [1325] unto us [2254].

⁶ And [1161] because [3754] ye are [2075] sons [5207], God [2316] hath sent forth [1821] the Spirit [4151] of his [846] Son [5207] into [1519] your [5216] hearts [2588], crying [2896], Abba [5], Father [3962].

² Ye [5210] are [2075] our [2257] epistle [1992] written [1449] in [1722] our [2257] hearts [2588], known [1097] and [2532] read [314] of [5259] all [3956] men [444]:
³ Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared [5319] to [3754] be [2075] the epistle [1992] of Christ [5547] ministered [1247] by [5259] us [2257], written [1449] not [3756] with ink [3188], but [235] with the Spirit [4151] of the living [2198] God [2316]; not [3756] in [1722] tables [4109] of stone [3035], but [235] in [1722] fleshy [4560] tables [4109] of the heart [2588].

²² Flee [5343] also [1161] youthful [3512] lusts [1939]: but [1161] follow [1377] righteousness [1343], faith [4102], charity [26], peace [1515], with [3326] them that call on [1941] the Lord [2962] out of [1537] a pure [2513] heart [2588].

⁵ Now [1161] the end [5056] of the commandment [3852] is [2076] charity [26] out of [1537] a pure [2513] heart [2588], and [2532] of a good [18] conscience [4893], and [2532] of faith [4102] unfeigned [505]:

²² Servants [1401], obey [5219] in [2596] all things [3956] your masters [2962] according [2596] to the flesh [4561]; not [3361] with [1722] eyeservice [3787], as [5613] menpleasers [441]; but [235] in [1722] singleness [572] of heart [2588], fearing [5399] God [2316]:

⁵ Servants [1401], be obedient [5219] to them that are your masters [2962] according to [2596] the flesh [4561], with [3326] fear [5401] and [2532] trembling [5156], in [1722] singleness [572] of your [5216] heart [2588], as [5613] unto Christ [5547];

¹⁷ But [1161] God [2316] be thanked [5485], that [3754] ye were [2258] the servants [1401] of sin [266], but [1161] ye have obeyed [5219] from [1537] the heart [2588] that form [5179] of doctrine [1322] which [1519] [3739] was delivered you [3860].

⁷ Every man [1538] according as [2531] he purposeth [4255] in his heart [2588], so let him give; not [3361] grudgingly [1537] [3077], or [2228] of [1537] necessity [318]: for [1063] God [2316] loveth [25] a cheerful [2431] giver [1395].

³⁷ Nevertheless [1161] he [3739] that standeth [2476] stedfast [1476] in [1722] his heart [2588], having [2192] no [3361] necessity [318], but [1161] hath [2192] power [1849] over [4012] his own [2398] will [2307], and [2532] hath [2919] so [5124] decreed [2919] in [1722] his [846] heart [2588] that he will keep [5083] his [1438] virgin [3933], doeth [4160] well [2573].

¹⁵ But [235] even [2193] unto this day [4594], when [2259] Moses [3475] is read [314], the vail [2571] is upon [2749] [1909] their [846] heart [2588].

²¹ Because [1360] that, when they knew [1097] God [2316], they glorified [1392] him not [3756] as [5613] God [2316], neither [2228] were thankful [2168]; but [235] became vain [3154] in [1722] their [846] imaginations [1261], and [2532] their [846] foolish [801] heart [2588] was darkened [4654].

⁷ Even as [2531] it is [2076] meet [1342] for me [1698] to think [5426] this [5124] of [5228] you [5216] all [3956], because [1223] I have [2192] you [5209] in [1722] my [3165] heart [2588]; inasmuch as both [5037] in [1722] my [3450] bonds [1199], and [2532] in the defence [627] and [2532] confirmation [951] of the gospel [2098], ye [5209] all [3956] are [5607] partakers [4791] of my [3450] grace [5485].

¹¹ O ye Corinthians [2881], our [2257] mouth [4750] is open [455] unto [4314] you [5209], our [2257] heart [2588] is enlarged [4115].

¹ Brethren [80], my [1699] heart's [2588] desire [2107] and [2532] prayer [1162] to [4314] God [2316] for [5228] Israel [2474] is [2076], that [3303] [1519] they might be saved [4991].

² That [3754] I [3427] have [2076] great [3173] heaviness [3077] and [2532] continual [88] sorrow in [3601] my [3450] heart [2588].

⁴ For [1063] out of [1537] much [4183] affliction [2347] and [2532] anguish [4928] of heart [2588] I wrote [1125] unto you [5213] with [1223] many [4183] tears [1144]; not [3756] that [2443] ye should be grieved [3076], but [235] that [2443] ye might know [1097] the love [26] which [3739] I have [2192] more abundantly [4056] unto [1519] you [5209].

¹ Let every [3956] soul [5590] be subject [5293] unto the higher [5242] powers [1849]. For [1063] there is [2076] no [3756] power [1849] but [1508] of [575] God [2316]: [1161] the powers [1849] that be [5607] are [1526] ordained [5021] of [5259] God [2316].

²³ And [1161] it shall come to pass [2071], that every [3956] soul [5590], which [3748] [302] will [191] not [3361] hear [191] that [1565] prophet [4396], shall be destroyed [1842] from among [1537] the people [2992].

⁴³ And [1161] fear [5401] came upon [1096] every [3956] soul [5590]: and [5037] many [4183] wonders [5059] and [2532] signs [4592] were done [1096] by [1223] the apostles [652].

³⁴ And [1161] take heed [4337] to yourselves [1438], lest at any time [3379] your [5216] hearts [2588] be overcharged [925] with [1722] surfeiting [2897], and [2532] drunkenness [3178], and [2532] cares [3308] of this life [982], and [2532] so that [1565] day [2250] come [2186] upon [1909] you [5209] unawares [160].

⁵ Ye have lived in pleasure [5171] on [1909] the earth [1093], and [2532] been wanton [4684]; ye have nourished [5142] your [5216] hearts [2588], as [5613] in [1722] a day [2250] of slaughter [4967].

¹⁷ Nevertheless [2544] [2532] he left [863] not [3756] himself [1438] without witness [267], in that he did good [15], and gave [1325] us [2254] rain [5205] from heaven [3771], and [2532] fruitful [2593] seasons [2540], filling [1705] our [2257] hearts [2588] with food [5160] and [2532] gladness [2167].

⁴⁷ And [1161] all [3956] that heard [191] him [846] were astonished [1839] at [1909] his [846] understanding [4907] and [2532] answers [612].

³³ And [2532] to love [25] him [846] with [1537] all [3650] the heart [2588], and [2532] with [1537] all [3650] the understanding [4907], and [2532] with [1537] all [3650] the soul [5590], and [2532] with [1537] all [3650] the strength [2479], and [2532] to love [25] his neighbour [4139] as [5613] himself [1438], is [2076] more [4119] than all [3956] whole burnt offerings [3646] and [2532] sacrifices [2378].

²⁵ At [1722] that [1565] time [2540] Jesus [2424] answered [611] and said [2036], I thank [1843] thee [4671], O Father [3962], Lord [2962] of heaven [3772] and [2532] earth [1093], because [3754] thou hast hid [613] these things [5023] from [575] the wise [4680] and [2532] prudent [4908], and [2532] hast revealed [601] them [846] unto babes [3516].

⁴ Are ye [1252] not [3756] then [2532] partial [1252] in [1722] yourselves [1438], and [2532] are become [1096] judges [2923] of evil [4190] thoughts [1261]?

²¹ For [1063] from within [2081], out of [1537] the heart [2588] of men [444], proceed [1607] evil [2556] thoughts [1261], adulteries [3430], fornications [4202], murders [5408],

¹⁵ But [1161] when they had commanded [2753] them [846] to go aside [565] out of [1854] the council [4892], they conferred [4820] among [4314] themselves [240],