ROMANS COMMENTARY, CHAPTER 1

Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Albert Barnes continued: From this it appears that he desired to be among them to exercise the office of the ministry, to establish them in the gospel and to confirm their hopes. He expected that the preaching of the gospel would be the means of confirming them in the faith; and he desired to be the means of doing it. It was a wish of benevolence, and accords with what he says respecting his intended visit in Romans 15:29, “And I am sure that when I come, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” To make known to them more fully the blessings of the gospel, and thus to impart spiritual gifts, was the design he had in view.

Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: “Have some fruit among you” – The edification of saints, and the fruitfulness of believers in grace and works.

Paul was the one who had introduced to the world, and had broken-down a list for us, of what sorts of good “Fruits” there are in the Kingdom of God:

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Though Jesus was the one who even first mentioned about those Fruits within a New Testament environment, but without so naming them:

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Indicating that there were also “bad” Fruits, just as certain as there are “good” Fruits. And, so there are! For, just before Paul’s list of “good” Fruits, he had given us a list of “bad” Fruits. Or, that is, and as the King James Version expresses it for us, the “workings” of the flesh:

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

However, and even though it did not call them the “Fruits” of the flesh, the thought, nevertheless, was intended; for, the Greek definitions of Paul’s actual words declare it to be such:

“Works,” Ergon [from Galatians 5:19], G2041, from Strong's Greek Dictionary: From ergō (a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: - deed, doing, labour, work.

“Fruits,” Karpos [from Galatians 5:22], G2590, from Strong's Greek Dictionary: Probably from the base of G726; fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively: - fruit.

The base word, apparently, for Karpos (fruit) is Harpazō:

Harpazō, G726, from Strong's Greek Dictionary: From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

Which, in and of itself, “plucking” fruit is a work; because, one is reaching for, plucking, pulling, or even taking by force, this fruit. But, even if we don’t want to consider the base word (again, Harpazō) in our current investigation, Karpos (Paul’s original word for Fruit) said itself that it can certainly mean the Fruit when it’s being actually “plucked” – the “action” and not only the Fruit itself. In other words, the “work” of being plucked; the workings of the flesh . . . But, even so, what does that have to do with our current thought on verse 13? Paul wanted to have some fruit among them when he got there to Rome. Surely, we shouldn’t imagine this to have been from the “bad” tree, of knowledge of good and evil, (as is seen in Genesis 2:9) but of the “good” Fruits from the Tree of Life (also in Genesis 2:9) – i.e. the “divine nature” of Christ being bestowed upon him from those folks, from their comforting, during all those trying times of those particular days of persecutions (see Romans 5:3; 2nd Thessalonians 1:4-5; Ephesians 3:13; and, etc.). Or, as John Gill had expressed it (which I had listed just above): “The edification of saints, and the fruitfulness of believers in grace and works.”

Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

As we’ve already covered just above, this small list probably included Greeks, Romans and Jews.

Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

That is, imparting unto them some spiritual gift(s).

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for IT is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

If this is really so (that is, that it’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ being this power of God unto salvation), then we’d best learn of what the true Gospel really is! And, Paul had already been covering it up until this point anyway – even as I had myself have already expressed – which is to be found amongst the “good” Fruits of the Spirit; which, in turn, hangs from that wonderful Tree of Life – of what was first seen in the Paradise/Garden of God way back in Genesis. Of which Tree, by the way, was still going strong and thriving for those Christians in the early church age (“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:7b), just as well as it still survives for us today! The Tree of whose Fruits alone we should devour. A Tree, that is, which Paul was actually speaking of during the first 15 verses of this letter when mentioning the “spiritual gift,” and of the “fruits” . . . When it all boils down to the surface of the matter, what we are seeing is true, Agape Godly Love, one toward another, being this very Gospel of Christ. And, though that simplistic meaning will not satisfy everybody, a deep investigation into the scriptures will reveal, at the end of the day, that that’s what God truly desires from us (an obtaining of this divine nature – 2nd Peter 1:4); which will, in turn, help us to gain eternal life . . . How? . . . It’s as John the Apostle/Revelator had simply put it – of which declaration is stronger than what most folks may even realize:

1 John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

In a dissecting of these two very important verses, in 1st John, it should reveal to the reader that we are staring right in the face of both the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and of its effect upon the one who observes this rule in complete submission to it . . . So, let’s break it down . . . Passing from death unto life, as one should know (and, as was seen on the very first line of verse 14 in John’s first letter) is an actual, though spiritual, resurrection. Yes, I am speaking of an actual resurrection here. For, what else is a resurrection if not a passing from death unto life? And, even though one may think me overzealous in overanalyzing this verse (in them thinking that this is just a poetical expression which simply means that we’re living in the life of God if we observe this rule), then I ask the reader to consider other areas of scripture that paints such a picture for us, too; and, in also calling this “rule” the actual New Law of life; a law after Christ – rather than the Old Law after Moses from the Old Testament:

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens [Love one another], and so fulfil the law of Christ.

This is not the same law that Moses had presented to the people during the Old Testament; for, the law had actually changed:

Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed [From Aaron and Levi unto Melchisedec], there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

And, this New Law, as opposed to the Old Law, is based upon, and is designed for an entirely new creature – rather than an old, fleshly creature. That is, instead of being a law designed for an Old, Outer Man – such as the Law of Moses was so designed – this New Law is for a New Man, a new creature:

Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God AFTER THE INWARD MAN.

And, in order for us to even obtain to such a Law, of such a higher status, then all things must become new – including ourselves.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Which means, basically, that we have to experience an inner resurrection, and pass from what we once were into what God intends, now, for us to become – a new creation in Christ! But, the key to it all, and as I’ve been saying, is living in and practicing this New Law, which says now to love one another, instead of saying an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, etc.

Romans 13:8b-10 …love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the [old] law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And, if that wasn’t enough, then Paul slips into his “metaphorical language” to try and describe, much deeper, what he’s meaning – right in the very next verse:

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep [this inner resurrection, that is; or, rather, having had been asleep to deep, Godly truths – and, not literally taking a nap; nor even of being actually dead in a graveyard]: for now is our salvation nearer than when we [first] believed.

As I pointed-out during that last quote, we must realize that this “awakening out of sleep” is another description of this spiritual resurrection – from an Old Man unto a New Man – a creation that’s birthed by God and not from our natural parents; a creation that’s no mere philosophy, but is an actual Being who looks like and acts like its Father. Again, not our natural dad, but our spiritual Dad, who lives in the heavenly Abode . . . This topic, on the Inward-Man – that I’m certainly not through dealing with herein – I am but simply introducing to my readers here in chapter one. Even though I went thoroughly over this New Creature (as an actual Being) in my Gospel of John Commentary, I will certainly do so again in here, for it’s a very important subject – especially (and, as I had mentioned just a few moments ago) we will see this investigated pointedly in Romans chapter 8; so, stay tuned! . . . In the meantime, let’s let settle what I’ve just expressed; and, I’ll reveal, step by step, the entire topic of our inner resurrection, unto this actual spiritual Being, as we plod along here in Romans . . . But, before we continue on with verse 17 (our very next verse to explore here in Romans chapter one), allow me to quickly repeat verse 16 again first:

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for IT [and, nothing else] is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith [from an old faith – as was so described in the Old World, the Old Testament – unto a new faith, within the confines of New Testament grace]: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Faith is another topic that we’ll delve into here, for it can take upon the face of a couple of aspects. Of which, one, can be a person’s doctrinal outlook upon the scriptures; and, indeed, upon life itself; but, can certainly, also, take upon a person’s blind obedience to God’s Word, in trying to live everyday life for Him without questioning God’s wisdom and purpose. In fact, we’ll learn that faith in God is so important, that without it, we can’t even please our Lord:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

And, we’ll even be convicted of sin by not embracing it:

Romans 14:23b …for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

However, the expression that Paul had used here in verse 17, “from faith to faith,” is quite plain in my opinion – and, of which, he speaks similarly on (again, in my opinion) in 2nd Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass [a mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Of which complete and full topic (of what 2nd Corinthians is really talking about) I do want to save for my investigations into that other letter by Paul; but, I’ll presently say that I’m seeing a similar subject there as I am seeing here in Romans, verses 16-17, in that in going from faith to faith (as also from glory to glory), that they are both speaking about (ultimately, that is!) going from being an Old-Man (whose heyday, really, was during the Old Testament, under that Old Law – though, in our modern times, it can also reflect us being in a base and carnal man-made religion – as I’ll also get into during this letter) unto being a New-Man (whose heyday now is during a New Testament Kingdom, under the New Law) . . . Besides, such a thought ties-in perfectly with what I’ve already been talking about anyway – being a continuation of the cause and effect of loving one another, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ:

Romans 1:16-17a For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ [loving one another]: for it is the power of God unto salvation [from death unto life] to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For THEREIN [in this Gospel of Love] is the righteousness of God revealed from [an old] faith to [a new] faith…

Again, from an old faith unto a new faith; from an Old creature’s naturalistic worship unto a New creature’s spiritual worship – which is yet another topic (on the worship habits of these two creatures) that we’ll get into much deeper during chapter 3 here in Romans. But, too (and, I certainly have to point this out – because, I’ll be revisiting this thought even more in this present letter), that just because the “ways” of the Old Testament have supposedly disappeared (for, we are now in a New Testament World), much of mankind still embraces the old worship styles (ritualistically, and naturalistically, that is) in their modern worship routines – which, in turn, is very reminiscent to the ways of the Old Testament World, in worshipping God in formality and lies instead of in Spirit and truth (again, I will get into much greater detail of what I’m meaning in our lesson for Romans chapter 3) . . . But, then, in the last part of verse 17’s message, Paul reveals to us that this is the lifestyle that we are to now live-in:

Romans 1:17b …as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

And, though I may be giving a different slant onto this verse’s meaning (other than what one may have already heard), it really should come as no surprise that this is exactly what God wants for us to do – to live a lifestyle as a new creation, allowing the ways of the old creation to pass.

Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

But, even so, what sort of “faith” is this, then? For, if I am correct in what I’m saying here, then, surely, we’ve gone way-beyond mere “belief” in God’s Word and Ways, right? Well, not really; for, if we “believe” in God, and that He is, then we’ll want to embrace His ways and His Word with all of our might. And, that word tells us to become a new creature in Christ Jesus. And, if we believe that, then we’ll do our part in trying to obtain this. That is, in drawing near to God (and, His ways), so that He, in turn, will draw near unto us (James 4:8); and, then, after that initial drawing, He will then help us with what we’re lacking to obtain all of this.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things [that is, everything that we actually need – both in our natural lives, and in our spiritual lives, too] shall be added unto you.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh [i.e. the “ways” of the Old Man]: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh [only naturalistically, though not on deeper spiritual levels as we should have], yet now henceforth know we him no more [of He just being a natural man who visited earth (only in the “history”); but, to embrace Him, instead, spiritually (now knowing Him in the “mystery”!)]. Therefore [and, if we practice this correctly] if any man be in Christ, he [too] is a new creature: old things are passed away [including the Old Man’s ways]; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

Now, with this verse, we are beginning a new thought – and, yet, it’s still on the same path that we’ve already been traveling herein; but, is going to be speaking exclusively on the ways of the Old Man, instead of the better ways of the New Man. But, within this new route of Paul’s thinking, I want to point-out that the “regular” ungodly folks are NOT being addressed here by Paul – as I’ll explain why as we plod along – of which topic will now dominate the rest of chapter 1 of Romans; and, indeed, will slightly extend-on into chapter 2 – our next lesson. For, though Paul actually says the word “ungodliness,” I am not contradicting him in saying that he’s not addressing the regular ungodly folks with his harsh words – which he’ll continue to speak-on (as I’ve said) with the rest of chapter 1’s dialog. But, instead, I am seeing such folks who WERE Godly, but then had turned their backs on God in a very vile way. Terrible, terrible ways, in fact! And, by doing so, it had placed them not only back into the realm of being ungodly once again, but had even gone beyond that into becoming “wicked” ungodly; for, just because a person is ungodly, it doesn’t automatically make them evil. They are just without God in their lives . . . You know, ungodly! . . . But, anyways, the very next verse gives us our first hint in that these folks, at least at one time in their lives, actually knew God:

Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

God doesn’t reveal Himself to regular ungodly people – not unless He brings them on unto His Kingdom for various purposes. Folks who have an actual knowledge of Him, and are ungodly now, did have some experience with Him in their past – else, they would know nothing about Him at all – other than, that is, of what they heard in hearsay, or on television somewhere. And, no, I am not talking about general people having a hole in their heart to where only God can fill it to make them complete – which I really do believe mankind in general does have – but, certainly, that’s another topic for another time! However, and as verse 19 boldly declared, God had showed them, at one time, what may be known about Him.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Had they not known, they would have had an excuse; but, they have no excuse, because God did reveal the truth to them at one time. Paul, I believe, is pointedly describing folks who were given a chance to completely win the battle over their Old Man – a chance given to them by God – but, who had eventually rejected the truth (i.e. “holding the truth in unrighteousness,” as Romans 1:18 had just said), and as the very next verse continues to point out:

Romans 1:21a Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful…

Again, they knew God, not just knew of God, but actually knew Him. And, when they knew Him, and the power of His Godhead, they not only didn’t glorify Him as God…

Romans 1:21b …but [they] became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Here is another reveal – not just of what kind of folks we’re dealing with, but is now showing us that there wasn’t some “personal” evil Being, named satan or the devil, who was pushing them into doing such things that they were evilly doing. For, had it been some subterranean creature who was pushing them, then they certainly would have had an excuse; such as: “The devil made me do it!” But, as Paul said, in verse 20: “They are without excuse.” However, Paul continued to say, instead, that they had become vain in their own imaginations (in their own minds), and that it was their own foolish hearts that were darkened (verse 21b) . . . Though one may be tempted to come back on this and say that it was the devil or satan who was influencing their minds (inwardly – as in some telepathic manner), then I’d say that such a thought actually contradicts what Jesus Himself had taught:

Mark 7:18-23 (and Matthew 15:17-19) And he [Jesus] saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without [outside] entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man [from within his own Being], that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men [and, not the devil], proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within [again, not from the devil], and defile the man.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: But into the belly; it is taken in at the mouth, goes down the throat, and is received into the stomach, and from thence it passes through the bowels: and goeth into the draught; "the private house", as the Jews call it, without going into the heart at all: purging all meats; that which it leaves behind, is pure and nourishing; and whatever is gross and impure, is carried with it into the draught, so that nothing remains in the man that is defiling.

But, even so the case, Jesus' ultimate goal with this saying was to teach about a greater matter, and not to give some scientific lesson about people's natural bodies. Plain and simple, all true evilness comes from within a person's own heart, without having any outside influence on that person to cause them to become evil in the first place. Many folks believe (and, admittedly, it's a very popular belief) that if it hadn't been for an outside influence, that person wouldn't have had any evil in them to begin with. However, and as Jesus contended here, in our quoted verses from the Gospel of Mark, that the only outside influence that can truly affect a person (and, I mean to absolutely blindside them into doing something that wasn't in themselves to begin with) is a good storage of natural food – for, it certainly effects a natural stomach into doing some serious purging. Whereas, beforehand, there was no food in them to affect them in such a way. Therefore, it takes a supply of food to affect a person's stomach into discharging meats. But, as far as any outside evilness is concerned, it cannot affect a person in their own minds – unless the evilness was already in them to begin with. Any evil influence, therefore (which is all around us in this world) simply pushes the right buttons within, and can then cause us to give-in to these temptations. But, again, it simply awoke the evilness that was already there.

James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of HIS OWN lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James doesn’t even mention the devil or satan here. In fact, it’s not even until chapter 4 that James does so:

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

And, this could have just as easily meant a person’s own evilness within themselves as many others contend that it’s an actual Being – especially since James did not say, in 1:14-15, that the devil is tempting anyone – but, did say, assuredly, that it’s man’s own lust that tempts them into sin . . . Also, all this confirms what Jeremiah had said:

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart [of man] is deceitful above ALL things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to HIS ways [not the devil’s ways], and according to the FRUIT of HIS doings [again, not the devil’s doings; i.e. either by the works/fruits of the flesh, or the Fruits of the Spirit; Galatians 5:19-23].

Romans 1:22-23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 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 some instances of scripture (or, rather, in Paul’s letters – which are New Testament scripture), Paul jumps onto (seemingly, that is) natural “zoology.” But, of course, he’s not; but is, again, speaking in his metaphorical approach to the Word of God – which he and the other apostles had actually adapted from Jesus’ own teaching style…

Matthew 13:34-35 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

…and, is meaning something quite different than what it first appears to be. Again, it’s not natural zoology that he’s trying to illustrate here – no more than he was doing the same in 1st Corinthians when speaking of the resurrection; for, in there, and in the midst of a very spiritual matter, he, again, begins to speak of natural animals:

1 Corinthians 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

What he’s actually doing is continuing an Old Testament tradition of comparing certain kinds of “spirit” of mankind to beastly animals; for, though there are “technically” only two kinds of spirits (that of God and that of mankind in general), man’s own spirit can take on different aspects, and different kinds of “personalities,” so that one man will differ from another in their spiritual and personality disposition. Because, assuredly, the Bible is no stranger at recognizing man as beastly animals:

Habakkuk 1:14a And [God] makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things…

Matthew 23:33 (Jesus speaking directly to the Scribes and Pharisees, and not to the devil; see verse 29) Ye [you!] serpents, ye [you!] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men [sons of Adam], that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Psalms 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Also, see Psalms 140:1-3; Micah 7:15-17; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 12:34; Psalms 73:22; Titus 1:12; and 2nd Peter 2:10-12; etc. Of which type of scriptures are no mere coincidence, but are metaphoric portrayals of the spirits of man; and, of which metaphorical comparisons Paul similarly adopts, both here in Romans and in 1st Corinthians, by simply saying (though allegorically) that it’s man himself who has been comparing God to the crazy, fleshly, and carnal personalities of mankind, instead of respecting Him for who and what He actually is.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.

No; Paul did not say that God Himself had caused them to do such terrible sins; but, that He allowed them to wallow in the filth that their own filthy imaginations had thought-up. For, as we’ll see in Romans 1:30, it’s men themselves who are the “inventors of evil things.” And, not only, but as we’ve already seen, a bit earlier, James confirms to us that God does NOT tempt mankind with evil, but every man is tempted when he’s drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:13-14).

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The Creature? You mean, the devil? Again, no; we are simply not dealing with any subterranean, evil creature in these passages. First of all, the original Greek word used here, “ktisis” (meaning, according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, a “creation,” or a “formed thing” – and, translated as “creature” in the King James Bible) does not denote anything spiritual nor supernatural in its rendering; and is, in fact, used in other area of scripture to, once more, describe mankind themselves. For instance:

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature [ktisis].

Common sense should tell us, here, that creature is mankind itself (that is, the “created” man); for, why would the disciples/apostles preach to turtles, rabbits, or even unto demons? Animals don’t understand man’s language, and demons don’t need the Gospel, only expulsions.

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature [ktisis] which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.

This is simply speaking of the “old” creation, that of first man Adam; and who, in turn, is the complete opposite to the “new” creation, that of God:

2 Corinthians 5:17a Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature [ktisis]…

Creature simply meaning a created Being. And, though this “Ktisis” can either be an “old” creation, or even a “new” creation, there’s no proof, whatsoever, in Paul’s reference in verse 25, to indicate anything having to do with the literal devil of church tradition.

Romans 1:26a For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections…

Again, God did not tell them what to do in their evilness, but He simply gave them on-over to their own lusts.

Romans 1:26b-28 …for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And 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.

Surprisingly, these three verses have been given-over to much debate – ignoring, for obvious carnal reasons, their true intended thought; for, that which mankind succumbs to today (of which lifestyle is being embraced more and more), was the same of which the Early Church Christians had to deal with – both in and out of their own assemblies. As Solomon had declared many years ago, there’s nothing new under the sun; for, that which had been will be again (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10) . . . However, and seeing that so many folks give themselves on-over to much heated hatred over plain interpretation, then what need have I to really go-over this myself herein? Either you understand plain speech, or you don’t! It’s literally that simple; you either accept the truth of the matter, or you don’t! It’s literally that simple . . . Enough said! . . . However, in Paul’s continuing dialog – in describing the different personalities of man’s animalistic natures, he does not stick to this one subject alone, but surely includes ALL the afflictions in man’s carnal repertoire:

Romans 1:29-32 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.