Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 1:30

"backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents," — Romans 1:30 (ASV)

Backbiters. Those who calumniate, slander, or speak ill of those who are absent. Whisperers declare secretly, and with great reserve, the supposed faults of others. Backbiters proclaim them publicly and avowedly.

Haters of God. There is no charge that can be brought against men more severe than this. It is the highest possible crime; yet it is a charge that the conduct of men will abundantly justify, and all those who are brought to see their true character experience its truth.

To an awakened sinner, there is often nothing more plain and painful than that he is a hater of God. His heart rises up against Him, His law, and His plan of saving men; and he deeply feels that nothing can subdue this but the mighty power of the Holy One.

This is a charge that is often brought against men in the Bible (see John 7:7, 18, 24, 25; John 3:19–20). Surely, if this is the native character of man, then he is "far gone from original righteousness."

No more striking proof of depravity could be given; and in no creed or confession of faith is there a more painful and humiliating representation given of human wickedness than in this declaration of an inspired apostle: that men are by nature HATERS OF GOD.

Despiteful. This word denotes those who abuse, or treat with unkindness or disdain, those who are present. Whisperers and backbiters are those who calumniate those who are absent.

Proud. Pride is well understood. It is an inordinate self-esteem, an unreasonable conceit of one's superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, etc. Webster.

There is abundant proof of its existence everywhere, and it was particularly striking among the ancients. The sect of the Stoics was distinguished for it, and this was the general character of their philosophers.

Men will be proud when they suppose no one is superior. It is only the religion that reveals a great and infinite God—and teaches that all blessings are his gift, and that He has given us the station we occupy—that will produce true humility.

We may add that the system of heathenism did not disclose the wickedness of the heart, and this was a main reason why they were elevated in self-esteem.

Boasters. Those who arrogate to themselves what they do not possess, and glory in it. This is closely connected with pride. A man who has an inordinate self-conceit will not be slow to proclaim his own merits to those around him.

Inventors of evil things. This undoubtedly refers to their seeking to find out new arts or plans to practise evil: new devices to gratify their lusts and passions, new forms of luxury and vice, etc. So intent were they on practising evil, so resolved to gratify their passions, that the mind was excited to discover new modes of gratification.

In cities of luxury and vice, this has always been done. Vices change their form, men become satiated, and they are obliged to resort to some new form. The passions cease to be gratified with old forms of indulgence, and consequently men are obliged to resort to new devices to pamper their appetites and to rekindle their dying passions to a flame.

This was eminently true of ancient Rome, a place where all the arts of luxury, all the devices of passion, all the designs of splendid gratification, were called forth to excite and pamper the evil passions of men. Their splendid entertainments, their games, their theatres, their sports—cruel and bloody—were little else than new and ever-varying inventions of evil things to gratify the desires of lust and of pride.

Disobedient to parents. This expresses the idea that they did not show to parents the honour, respect, and attention that was due. This has been a crime of paganism in every age; and though among the Romans the duty of honouring parents was enjoined by the laws, it is not improbable that the duty was often violated, and that parents were treated with great neglect and even contempt.

"Disobedience to parents was punished by the Jewish law with death; and with the Hindus it is attended with the loss of the child's inheritance. The ancient Greeks considered the neglect of it to be extremely impious, and attended with the most certain effects of Divine vengeance. Solon ordered all persons who refused to make due provision for their parents to be punished with infamy, and the same penalty was incurred for personal violence towards them." (Kent's Commentaries on American Law, Vol. II, p. 207). Compare Virgil, Aeneid 9.283.

The feelings of pride and haughtiness would lead to disregard of parents. It might also be felt that to provide for them when aged and infirm was a burden. Consequently, disregard for their wants would arise, and probably open opposition to their wishes, as being the demands of petulance and age.

It has been one characteristic of heathenism everywhere that it leaves children to treat their parents with neglect. Among the Sandwich Islanders, it was customary, when a parent was old, infirm, and sick beyond the hope of recovery, for his own children to bury him alive; and it has been the common custom in India for children to leave their aged parents to perish on the banks of the Ganges.