John Calvin Commentary Romans 1:30

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

The Greek word θεοστυγεῖς means, undoubtedly, haters of God; for there is no reason to interpret it in a passive sense (as "hated by God"), since Paul here proves people to be guilty through clear vices. Therefore, those designated are people who hate God, whose justice they seem to resist by doing wrong.

Whisperers (Latin: susurrones) and slanderers (Latin: obtrectatores) are to be distinguished as follows: the former, by secret accusations, break off the friendships of good people, inflame their minds with anger, defame the innocent, and sow discord; the latter, through an innate wickedness, spare no one's reputation and, as if driven by a frenzy of slander, revile the deserving and undeserving alike.

We have translated the Greek word ὑβριστὰς as villainous (Latin: maleficos); because Latin authors are accustomed to call significant injuries 'villainies,' such as plundering, thefts, arsons, and sorceries. These were the vices Paul meant to point out here.

I have translated the word ὑπερήφανους, used by Paul, as insolent (Latin: contumeliosos); for this is the meaning of the Greek word. The reason for this term is that such people, being raised, so to speak, on high, look down with contempt on those who are, as it were, beneath them, and they cannot bear to look upon their equals.

Haughty are those who are puffed up with the empty wind of arrogance.

Unsociable are those who, by their iniquities, loosen the bonds of society, or those who lack sincerity or steadfastness in their commitments, who may be called truce-breakers.