Romans 1:22 (YLT)

Passage

professing to be wise, they were made fools,

Nearby Context

Romans 1:20 for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, by the things made being understood, are plainly seen, both His eternal power and Godhead--to their being inexcusable;

Romans 1:21 because, having known God they did not glorify <FI>Him<Fi> as God, nor gave thanks, but were made vain in their reasonings, and their unintelligent heart was darkened,

Romans 1:22 professing to be wise, they were made fools,

Romans 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of fowls, and of quadrupeds, and of reptiles.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore also God did give them up, in the desires of their hearts, to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies among themselves;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "professing", "wise", and "fools". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "professing" and "wise", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 21's "because having known God they did not..." into verse 23's "and changed the glory of the incorruptible...", so "professing" and "wise" 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 "professing" and "wise" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.