Romans 1:23 (ASV)

Passage

and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

Nearby Context

Romans 1:21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:

Romans 1:25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "changed", "glory", "incorruptible", "likeness", "image", "birds", and "four-footed". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "changed" and "glory", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Professing themselves to be wise they became..." into verse 24's "Wherefore God gave them up in the...", so "changed" and "glory" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "changed" and "glory" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.