What does "depraved mind" mean in the context of Romans 1:28? Setting the Scene Romans 1 traces humanity’s downward spiral when people suppress the truth God has plainly revealed. Paul climaxes his argument with v. 28: “Furthermore, just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” The Greek Term Behind “Depraved” • Word: adokimos—literally “not approved,” “rejected after testing,” “worthless.” • The idea: a mind that, having refused God’s standard, is itself declared unfit. It no longer functions as God designed it to discern right from wrong. How Does a Mind Become Depraved? 1. Suppression of revealed truth (Romans 1:18). 2. Refusal to glorify or thank God (v. 21). 3. Exchange of God’s glory for idols (v. 23). 4. Exchange of truth for a lie (v. 25). 5. God’s judicial act: “He gave them over” (vv. 24, 26, 28). This is not mere permission but a sentencing—God hands people over to the consequences they insist upon. Features of a Depraved Mind • Morally upside-down—calls evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). • Spiritually blind—“The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). • Hardened and darkened—“They are darkened in their understanding… because of the hardness of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18–19). • Incapable of passing God’s test—like counterfeit money exposed as worthless (2 Corinthians 13:5 where adokimos appears again). • Active in wicked deeds—Romans 1:29-31 lists 21 behaviors flowing from this mindset. Linked Scriptures That Echo the Theme • 2 Timothy 3:8—men “rejected in regard to the faith” (adokimos). • Titus 1:15-16—“their minds and consciences are defiled… unfit for any good work.” • Proverbs 14:12—“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Consequences of a Depraved Mind • Social chaos: broken relationships, injustice, violence (Romans 1:29-31). • Divine wrath now (“the wrath of God is revealed” v. 18) and final judgment later (Romans 2:5-8). • Seared conscience—progressively less sensitivity to sin (1 Timothy 4:2). The Only Cure • Regeneration—God must give a new heart and mind (Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:3). • Renewal—“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). • Redemption in Christ—“For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). A depraved mind is powerless to save itself, but the gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). In Romans 1:28, then, a “depraved mind” is a mind declared unfit by God because it has persistently rejected Him. It is both the result of human rebellion and a form of divine judgment, producing a life that moves ever farther from God’s good design until Christ’s saving grace intervenes. |
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