Homilies on Romans — Homily 5

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Rom. I. 28

Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

Lest he should seem to be hinting at them by delaying in his discourse so long over the unnatural sin, he next passes on to other kinds of sins also, and for this cause he carries on the whole of his discourse as of other persons. And as he always does when discoursing with believers about sins, and wishing to show that they are to be avoided, he brings the Gentiles in, and says, Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the other Gentiles which know not God. [[1 Thessalonians 4.5]] And again: sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [[1 Thessalonians 4.13]] And so here too he shows that it was to them the sins belonged, and deprives them of all excuse. For he says, that their daring deeds came not of ignorance, but of practice. And this is why he did not say, and as they knew not God; but as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge; as much as to say, that the sin was one of a perverted determination of obstinacy, more than of a sudden ravishment, and shows that it was not the flesh (as some heretics say) but the mind, to the wicked lust whereof the sins belonged, and that it was thence the fount of the evils flowed. For since the mind has become undistinguishing, all else is then dragged out of course and overturned, when he is corrupted that held the reins! (Plat. Phaedr. 246 A. B.)

Ver. 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness.

See how everything here is intensitive. For he says, being filled, and with all, and having named maliciousness in general, he also further pursues the particulars, and these too in excess, saying, Full of envy, murder, for the latter of these comes from the former, as was shown in Abel's case and Joseph's, and then after saying, debate, deceit, malignity;

Ver. 30. Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, and classing things which to many seem indifferent among his charges, he further strengthens his accusation, going up to the stronghold of their wickednesses, and styles them boasters. For even worse than sinning is it, even though sinning to be haughty-minded. Wherefore also he charges the Corinthians with it, saying, You are puffed up. [[1 Corinthians 5.2]] For if in a good action he that puffs himself up loses all, if any one do so among his sins, what vengeance is there of which he is not worthy, since such an one cannot repent any more? Next, he says, inventors of evil things; showing that they were not content with those already existing, but even invented others. And this again is like men that are full purposed and in earnest, not those that are hurried away and forced out of their course; and after mentioning the several kinds of maliciousness, and showing that here too they stood against nature itself (for he says, disobedient to parents ), he then goes on to the root of the great pe