Paragraph 1:21–23

1:21a

For: This word introduces an explanation for why people are without excuse.

although they knew God: The word although introduces something that is true and contrasts it with something else. Here the clause they knew God is contrasted with what Paul said in 1:21b. For example:

they knew God, but…

they knew God: This clause refers to what people can know about God by looking at the world. It does not refer to full knowledge of God. It refers to the same thing as “what may be known about God” in 1:19a. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

They knew about God (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they know that God exists

1:21b

they neither glorified Him as God: This clause indicates that people did not praise God or show respect to him because he is God and the Creator. They did not say things like “You are God” to him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they did not praise him saying, “You are God”
-or-
they did not honor him as is proper for God
-or-
they knew that He is worthy to be honored, but they didn’t honor Him

nor gave thanks to Him: In some languages it is more natural to use “said” instead of gave. People should be thankful to God, because he has given them life and all good things.

1:21c

but: The Greek word indicates contrast but both 1:21b and 1:21c are bad things, so some languages would not indicate contrast here. For example:

Their thoughts… (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and

they became futile in their thinking: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as became futile means “do and think things that are worth nothing.” Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Their thinking became useless (New Century Version)
-or-
their thinking became foolish

1:21d

and darkened in their foolish hearts: This is a metaphor that means “they became unable to understand.” These people were not able to understand moral, ethical, or spiritual truth. This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as something other than a passive clause. For example:

⌊God/he⌋ filled their foolish minds with darkness
-or-

⌊God⌋ made their foolish hearts unable to understand
-or-
their foolish minds became full of darkness
-or-
their foolish hearts became unable to understand

their foolish hearts: In some languages the word foolish cannot connect directly to hearts. If that is true in your language, translate naturally. For example:

their hearts are foolish
-or-
they are foolish and their hearts were darkened

foolish: The Greek word here refers to not being able to understand things well. It implies that such a person does things that do not make much sense. Here are other ways to translate this word:

senseless (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
stupid (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
which is without wisdom/understanding

hearts: In Greek, the word hearts refers figuratively to the inner person, which includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. In some languages, another body part is used to describe this. For example:

liver
-or-
stomach
-or-
throat

If a literal translation of hearts (or another body part) would not refer to the inner person, you should translate the meaning directly. For example:

insides
-or-
minds

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