Discovery BoxRomans 1:20-23 
Context1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people 1 are without excuse. 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts 2 were darkened. 1:22 Although they claimed 3 to be wise, they became fools 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings 4 or birds or four-footed animals 5 or reptiles.
1 tn Grk “they”; the referent (people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Grk “heart.”
3 tn The participle φάσκοντες (faskonte") is used concessively here.
4 tn Grk “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God in likeness of an image of corruptible man.” Here there is a wordplay on the Greek terms ἄφθαρτος (afqarto", “immortal, imperishable, incorruptible”) and φθαρτός (fqarto", “mortal, corruptible, subject to decay”).
5 sn Possibly an allusion to Ps 106:19-20.
