Romans 1:21-23, The Foolish Heart

Romans 1:21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

In the English language, a fool is one who acts unwisely or impudently, a silly person. The Bible however uses many terms to measure foolishness in a person both in the Hebrew Old Testament and in the Greek New Testament.

There are four words in the New Testament to describe the fool. Aphrõn – a term of reproach to describe those are morally and spiritually corrupt like the Pharisees whom Jesus designated as fools who were hypocritical and self-righteous. Anoêtos – irrational and mindless, unable to govern lusts. [Swindoll] Asynetos (v21) – without understanding, unable to reason. Mõros (v22) – morally worthless in heart and character. The fool described in the Bible is censured and condemned by God not because they are intellectually deficient but that they are in the state of rebellion against God.

The person described in verse 21 as having a “foolish heart” lacks spiritual sight. He wilfully ignores God. He is an ungodly person who turned his back on God and revealed the state of his lawless heart (v22). The greatest fool of all, therefore, is a person with the greatest intelligence who disobeys God. Paul uses the Greek word “moros” from which we receive the English “moron”. There is a stubborn streak in the person described here.

In the Old Testament there are three Hebrew words used to denote a fool. They are kesil, ewil, nabal. Kesil – He is a dull and obstinate person, who does not recognise or acknowledge his foolishness. Ewil  – He is one degree worse than the kesil. He moves beyond simple foolish stubbornness by living an immoral life. He hates godly wisdom and morality and walks in folly. Nabal – He is foolish and senseless, adamant, and shuts his ears against any good advice. Yet, he loudly insists in public that he is right. A fourth word is Luz, not directly translated as “fool” in English but He is described as perverse. One incorrigibly and wilfully rebellious against God (Prov. 2:15; 3:32; 14:2).

This is the kind of hearts in unregenerate men. Only the gospel has the power to free such from their bondage. Paul delved deep to help us see the foolishness of man’s heart. Alas, as he wrote in  1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

We were in that state of foolishness before God opened our spiritual eyes. Thank God for His mercy towards us. May the Lord help us to enjoy His wisdom and presence with us this day. Amen.