ACC ~ Romans 1 v25

EXCHANGING THE TRUTH FOR A LIE. AMBROSIASTER: They changed the truth about God into a lie. They gave the name of the true God to these things, which are false gods. Ignoring what rocks and wood and other metals really are, they attriubuted to them something which does not belong to them. The truth of God is turned into a lie when a rock is called God. This fact drove out the God who is true, and since true and false shared a common name, it was easy for the true God to be regarded as false. This is what it means to change what is true into falsehood. For those things were not called rock or wood, but God. This is to worship the creature rather than the Creator, which is what they did. They did not deny God but worshiped a creature as God. In order to justify this, they gave these things the honor due to God, so that their worship rendered dishonor to God. For that reason he hastened to punish them, because although they knew God, they did not honor him “who is blessed for ever. Amen.” This is true! COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

WORSHIP OF DEVILS. ATHANASIUS: So far did their impiety go that they proceeded to worship devils and proclaimed them as gods, fulfilling their own lusts. ON THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD 11.

TREATING THE IDOL AS TRUTH. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: The truth about God is that he is the true God. But human beings have made idols and falsely called them gods. They have transferred the truth of God to idols. In other words, they have changed what could rightly be said and thought about God into a lie by applying it to idols instead. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

WORSHIPING THE CREATURE. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul lists out in detail things which were a matter for utter scorn, but the more serious things he dealt with in general terms. … Look how strong his condemnation is, for he does not say merely that they served the creature but that they did so more than the Creator, thereby giving fresh force to the charge against them and removing any plea for mitigation.

God is blessed for ever, for even if the heathen treated him insolently, he was not overwhelmed, nor was any harm done to his glory, for he remains forever blessed. It may happen that someone may become philosophical about the insults others heap upon him, yet he does not even feel them. How much less would the true God ignore them and not feel them? For God’s nature is imperishable and unalterable. His glory is neither changeable nor erratic. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 3.

SERVING THE CREATURE. AUGUSTINE: For by worshiping and serving the creature rather than the Creator they have not wished to be a temple of the one true God. By wishing to have him along with many other things, they have been more successful in not having him at all than in having him along with many false gods. LETTER 187.29.

PELAGIUS: They not only loved the creature but served it; indeed, anyone who is overwhelmed by a desire for some creature serves that creature. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

UNGODLINESS PRODUCES WICKEDNESS. THEODORET OF CYR: Ungodliness is the root of wickedness. These people were deprived of God’s grace for both of these things. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

SUBJECT TO CORRUPTION. JOHN OF DAMASCUS: Sun and moon are subject to change and variation, as is evident in an eclipse. This refutes the folly of those who worship the creature. Now, anything that is subject to change is not God, for by its very nature it is subject to corruption and change. ORTHODOX FAITH 2.13.

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