1:29-31 How are these sins defined?
1:29-31 How are these sins defined?
Unrighteousness means impropriety, iniquity, wickedness, wrongdoing, injustice (CP Lu 13:23-27; Ac 1:18; Ro 3:5; 6:13; 2Ti 2:19; He 8:12; 2Pe 2:9-15; 1Jn 5:17).
Fornication refers to any form of sexual immorality. It includes adultery, incest, homosexuality, prostitution etc (CP Mt 5:32 also 19:9; 1Cor 5:1; 6:13, 18; 7:2; 2Cor 12:21; Ga 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; 1Th 4:3-6; Rev 9:21).
Wickedness is used here in a moral sense. It means evil disposition, malice, active malevolence toward others; attributing to others and their actions the worst imaginable motives (CP Mt 22:15-21; Lu 11:39; Ac 3:26; 1Cor 5:8; Eph 6:12; 3Jn 10).
Covetousness means intense lust for gain, avarice, the incessant desire for more (CP Lu 12:15; 1 Cor 5:10; 2 Cor 9:5; Eph 4:19; 5:3-5; Col 3:5; 1Th 2:5; 2Pe 2:3, 14).
Maliciousness means wickedness as an evil habit of the mind; illwill, desire to injure; vicious disposition and desires; being inherently evil (CP 1Cor 5:8; 14:20; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8; Tit 3:3; Jas 1:21; 1Pe 2:1, 16).
Full of envy means pain felt and malignity conceived at the sight of excellence or happiness, jealousy (CP Mt 27:15-18, 20-23; Mk 15:9-14; Php 1:15-16; 1Ti 6:3-4; Tit 3:3; 1Pe 2:1).
Murder means premeditated and unlawful killing of another; slaughter, slaying or killing by any means. Murder also includes in its meaning hatred of another (CP Mt 15:19; Mk 15:7; Ac 9:1; He 11:37; 1Jn 3:15).
Debate means to cause strife and discord, contention, wrangling. In Ro 1:19 it means metaphorically love of strife (CP Ro 13:13; 1Cor 1:11; 3:3; 2Cor 12:20; 1Ti 6:4; Tit 3:9). It should be noted that debate is not the same as disputing for truth (CP Ac 9:29; 15:2, 7; 17:17; 19:8-9).
Deceit refers to lying, falsity, guile, craft, subtlety (CP Mt 26:4; Mk 14:1; Jn 1:47; Ac 13:8-10; 2Cor 12:14-18; 1Th 2:3-4; 1Pe 2:1, 21-22; 3:10; Rev 14:3-5).
Malignity means an evil disposition that ascribes to the best deeds, the worst motives. It puts the worst construction on everything, giving a malicious interpretation to the actions of others. It is used only in Ro 1:29.
Whisperers refers to those who slander others secretly; detractors and gossips who destroy men's reputations in secret (CP 1Cor 10:9-10; 2Cor 12:20).
Backbiters are those who speak evil of others; false accusers, slanderers of absent men (CP Jas 4:11; 1Pe 2:1).
Haters of God are those who despise and are scornful of God. Despiteful means to act with insolence and mistreat others for the pleasure of it (CP 1Ti 1:13).
Proud means arrogant, haughty, to glory in self. It is also associated with the rejection of God (CP Lu 1:51; 1Ti 6:3-4; 2Ti 3:2; Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5).
Boasters means self-assuming, vain, braggarts. They want to appear as someone higher or more important than what they are.
Inventors of evil things is self-explanatory, referring to those alienated from God who devise mischief and new forms of wickedness. Disobedient to parents means irreverent, rebellious to parental authority; indifferent to rule and order (CP Ac 26:19; 2Ti 3:2; Tit 1:16; 3:3).
Without understanding means undiscerning, without insight (CP Mt 15:15-20). But it also means to be ignorant and destitute of the capacity for spiritual things (CP Psa 14:1; Ro 1:21, 31).
Covenant breakers refers to those who do not keep their promises. They are perfidious, disloyal, treacherous and untrustworthy (CP Jer 3:7-11). Without natural affection means they yield only to their baser instincts, acting in total disregard of natural ties and the obligations that go with them (CP Ro 1:24-28; 2Pe 2:12-22).
Implacable means unforgiving, irreconcible, refusing to lay aside enmity or to listen to terms of reconciliation (CP 2Ti 3:3). Unmerciful means cruel, merciless, without pity or compassion (CP Jas 2:13).
Although the sins of Ro 1:28-31 are ascribed to those who blatantly rebel against God, Paul's last word in V32 sounds a warning to Christians who take enjoyment from these acts of immorality by watching them on television, movies, and video, and reading books that portray them (CP V32).
The portrayal of immorality dominates the entertainment media today, and a great many Christians tacitly approve of it by watching it. Even though they may not practice these sins themselves, Christians who derive pleasure from watching other people take part, bring themselves under the same judgment of God (CP 2Th 2:11-12).
See also comments on Ro 1:18, 1:24-29, 1Cor 6:9-10, Ga 5:19-21, and author's study Christian - Beware of Failing God's Grace and Forfeiting your Salvation in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).