Romans 1:21 (GNV)

Passage

Because that when they knewe God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their thoughtes, and their foolish heart was full of darkenesse.

Nearby Context

Romans 1:19 Forasmuch as that, which may be knowe of God, is manifest in them: for God hath shewed it vnto them.

Romans 1:20 For the inuisible things of him, that is, his eternal power and Godhead, are seene by ye creation of the worlde, being considered in his workes, to the intent that they should be without excuse:

Romans 1:21 Because that when they knewe God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their thoughtes, and their foolish heart was full of darkenesse.

Romans 1:22 When they professed themselues to be wise, they became fooles.

Romans 1:23 For they turned the glorie of the incorruptible God to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, and of birdes, and foure footed beastes, and of creeping things.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "glorified", "knewe", "neither", "thankefull", "became", "vaine", "thoughtes", and "foolish". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "glorified" and "knewe", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "For the inuisible things of him that..." into verse 22's "When they professed themselues to be wise...", so "glorified" and "knewe" 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 "glorified" and "knewe" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.