28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, (A)God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are (B)gossips, 30slanderers, (C)haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, (D)disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, untrustworthy, (E)unloving, unmerciful; 32and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of (F)death, they not only do the same, but also (G)give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Picking up in verse 30...
- Slanderers - Comes from the Greek Word Katalalos which is an "open slanderer." Means against, to speak. To speak evil of, slander with whatever words come to ones mouth without giving thought to them. Insult. This is one who openly (and with great hostility) insults and attacks another with their speech. Dictionary Definition of Slander: A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another.
- Haters of God - Simple that. No explanation needed. Man hated God. They were vehemently opposed to Him and held Him in contempt.
- Insolent - Comes from Greek Word hubristes which means insolent wrongdoer to others for the pleasure which the affliction of the wrong imparts. Dictionary Definition: boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting
- Arrogant - Comes from the Greek word huperephanos which means proud; one who shows himself above his fellow men in honor preferring himself. Dictionary Definition: making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights; overbearingly assuming; insolently proud
- Boastful - Comes from the Greek word Alazon which means boaster in words; vaunting on those things which one does not possess. In other words, one who speaks big but has nothing with which to back it up. Even if his claims are to be true his boasting is done with a focus on self and a contempt for others. It comes from an attitude that thinks they are superior to others and therefore entitled to better treatment. Dictionary definition: To speak of with excessive pride.
- Inventors of Evil - This goes beyond merely falling into or being caught by surprise by sin. This is intentional, contemplative, planned out sin. This is evil (Unrighteousness, iniquity, wickedness, dishonest, worldly, sin,wrong, wrongdoing as defined by God's character and law) that is intentional and thought out. I can almost picture groups of men sitting around thinking of new ways to do evil, sinful things.
- Disobedient to Parents - Disobedient comes from the Greek word, Apeithes which comes from the negative, a, without and peitho, to persuade. This word means unbelieving, disobedient, not letting oneself be persuaded, hard, stubborn. In other words, they are without persuasion to obey and submit to their parents. They are without obedience to their God-given authority in their life. It is interesting to me that being disobedient to parents in lumped in here with all of these other incredibly horrible sins. It shows the severity of how God views it.
- Without Understanding - Man failed, still fails, to understand the truth of God's word. They may have knowledge, but they fail to comprehend or understand it. It eludes them and they make no effort to discern or understand it. They ignorant and happily so.
- Untrustworthy - Comes from Greek word, asunthetos, which is written in the passive sense of not put together or not made up of several parts but Paul uses it with an active sense referring to those who being in a covenant and treaty with others, refuses to abide by the covenants and treaties. In other words, these people cannot be relied upon to follow through on their word. They cannot be depended upon because they will fail to come through even when they have promised to do so. They are not reliable, dependable, or faithful. Dictionary Definition: not worthy of trust or belief; "an untrustworthy person
- Unloving - Comes from Greek word, Astorgos, which means without family love. Even their own families do not love them. They do not love their famililies but are lovers of self. In return, they do not receive love from their families.
- Unmerciful - Comes from Greek word, aneleemon, which means without mercy; not compassionate. They feel so sympathy or empathy. They do not show compassion or concern for the needs or desires of others.
And so ends the list. The remainder of this passage and some final thoughts tomorrow.
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