Romans 1:30

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Backbiters {G2637}, haters of God {G2319}, despiteful {G5197}, proud {G5244}, boasters {G213}, inventors {G2182} of evil things {G2556}, disobedient {G545} to parents {G1118},

slanderers, haters of God; they are insolent, arrogant and boastful; they plan evil schemes; they disobey their parents;

slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.

backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Commentary on Romans 1:30 (KJV)

"Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,"

Context

This verse is part of a longer list (Romans 1:29-31) where the Apostle Paul describes the moral degradation of humanity that has rejected the knowledge of God. Having exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25), people are given over to various forms of sin and depravity, illustrating the consequences of suppressing the truth. This list serves to highlight the universal need for the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ, which Paul introduces later in the chapter.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Alienation from God: The phrase "haters of God" is a stark descriptor, indicating not just indifference but active opposition to the divine being.
  • Breakdown of Relationships: The list includes sins that damage social harmony ("backbiters," "despiteful," "proud," "boasters") and even fundamental family order ("disobedient to parents").
  • Active Pursuit of Sin: The term "inventors of evil things" suggests not merely falling into sin but actively devising new ways to transgress or cause harm, highlighting a perverted creativity.
  • Progression of Sin: While not strictly sequential, the list demonstrates how a rejection of God leads to a wide array of harmful behaviors, affecting one's inner disposition (pride, boasting), outward actions (backbiting, spite), relationship with God, and relationships with others, including the most basic familial bonds.

Linguistic Insights

  • Backbiters: The Greek word is katalaloi, meaning those who speak evil against others, slanderers.
  • Haters of God: The Greek is theostygeis. This can mean "hated by God" or "haters of God." Given the context of human rebellion against God, the latter interpretation is widely accepted.
  • Despiteful: The Greek is hybristas, referring to someone who is insolent, abusive, or violent, often out of arrogance or contempt for others.
  • Inventors of evil things: The Greek phrase epheuretas kakon describes those who devise or discover new forms of wickedness or mischief.
  • Disobedient to parents: The Greek apeitheis goneusin specifically points to a rebellion against parental authority, a sin that violates one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12) and fundamental natural law.

Practical Application

This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts and behaviors. The sins listed, from subtle ones like backbiting and boasting to overt rebellion like hating God or being disobedient to parents, are symptoms of a heart not fully surrendered to God. Recognizing these traits in ourselves should lead us to repentance and reliance on the grace of God offered through Christ, which alone can transform us from being characterized by such things to reflecting God's righteousness and love. It also serves as a reminder of the pervasive nature of sin in the world and the ongoing need for the gospel.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Timothy 3:2

    For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

  • Jude 1:16

    These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

  • 2 Peter 2:18

    For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

  • James 4:16

    But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

  • Titus 3:3

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

  • James 3:5

    Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

  • Romans 8:7

    Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
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