Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 1:22

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," — Romans 1:22 (ASV)

Professing themselves to be wise. This was the common boast of the philosophers of antiquity. The very word by which they chose to be called, philosophers, means literally lovers of wisdom. That it was their boast that they were wise is well known (1 Corinthians 1:19–22, 3:19; 2 Corinthians 11:19).

They became fools . They became truly foolish in their opinions and conduct. There is something particularly pungent and cutting in this remark, and as true as it is pungent. In what way they demonstrated their folly, Paul proceeds immediately to state.

Sinners of all kinds are frequently spoken of as fools in the Scriptures. In the sense in which it is so used, the word is applied to them as lacking understanding or moral sense; as idolaters, and as wicked (Psalms 14:1; Proverbs 26:4, 1:7, 22, 14:8-9).

The senses in which this word is applied here to the heathen are:

1. That their speculations and doctrines were senseless.
2. That their conduct was corrupt.