Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 1:28

"And even as they refused to have God in [their] knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;" — Romans 1:28 (ASV)

Even as.—Rightly translated in the Authorized Version: “as” is not here equivalent to “because,” but means rather, just in like proportion as. The degree of God’s punishment corresponded exactly to the degree of humanity’s deflection from God.

Did not like.—There is a play on words here with “reprobate” in the following clause that cannot be retained in English. “As they reprobated the knowledge of God, so He gave them up to a reprobate mind.” As they would have nothing to do with Him, so He would have nothing to do with them. “Reprobate” properly means tried and found wanting, and therefore cast away as worthless.

To retain God in their knowledge.—The word for knowledge here means “exact,” “advanced,” or “thorough knowledge.” They refused to hold the true idea of God so as to grow and increase in the knowledge of it.

Those things which are not convenient.—That which is unbecoming, disgraceful.

Fornication.—This word is missing from the best manuscripts and should be omitted, as should also the word “implacable” in Romans 1:31.

Wickedness, ... maliciousness.—These two words appear to be related, so that the latter rather expresses the vicious disposition—vicious in the special sense, the disposition to do hurt to others—while the former expresses its active exercise. Similar catalogues of sins are given in St. Paul’s other Epistles, for example, 2 Corinthians 12:30; Galatians 5:19 and following; Ephesians 5:3–4; 1 Timothy 1:9–10; 2 Timothy 3:2 and following.

Murder, debate.—By “full of murder” the Apostle means “full of murderous thoughts.” “Debate” is the spirit of strife and contention generally, not, as the English word might seem to imply, especially verbal contention.