Romans 1:23 (GNV)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

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.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore also God gaue them vp to their hearts lusts, vnto vncleannesse, to defile their owne bodies betweene themselues:

Romans 1:25 Which turned the trueth of God vnto a lie, and worshipped and serued the creature, forsaking the Creator, which is blessed for euer, Amen.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "turned", "glorie", "incorruptible", "similitude", "image", "birdes", and "foure". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "turned" and "glorie", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "When they professed themselues to be wise..." into verse 24's "Wherefore also God gaue them vp to...", so "turned" and "glorie" 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 "turned" and "glorie" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.