Romans 1:32 (WEB)

Passage

who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Nearby Context

Romans 1:30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Romans 1:31 without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;

Romans 1:32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "knowing", "ordinance", "practice", "such", "things", "worthy", "death", and "only". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "knowing" and "ordinance", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "without understanding covenant breakers without natural affection...", giving immediate footing for "knowing" and "ordinance". 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 "knowing" and "ordinance" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.