Romans 1:22

Letters to the Faithful - Romans 1:22

Berean Standard Bible

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

King James Bible

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

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To the saints scattered across every nation, to the faithful in Christ Jesus who have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light of God’s truth, to those who walk by faith and not by sight, grace and peace be multiplied to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I write to you today as a fellow servant of the gospel and a bondslave of Christ, compelled by the weight of the Word of God to exhort, to warn, and to stir up in you a holy vigilance and discernment in this present evil age. Let us turn our attention to the solemn and sobering words found in the epistle to the Romans, chapter 1, verse 22: “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”

Beloved, this one sentence carries within it the entire tragedy of mankind apart from the knowledge of God. Here is the distilled essence of what happens when truth is suppressed, when God is dismissed, when the Creator is exchanged for the created, and when the heart, once designed to worship, turns instead to self-exaltation and empty imagination. Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, exposes not merely the sins of an ancient pagan world, but the consistent pattern of fallen humanity in every generation. And if we are honest, we see the shadow of these words cast deeply into the days in which we now live.

It is not uncommon today, just as in Paul’s time, to see men and women extolling themselves as wise, enlightened, and progressive. They elevate their own understanding and dismiss the counsel of God. They redefine good and evil by the shifting standards of culture. They declare themselves to be masters of reason, judges of truth, and architects of meaning. But God, who sees the heart, calls this self-glorification for what it truly is—folly. What the world applauds as wisdom, God exposes as deception. And what man esteems as intellectual triumph, heaven grieves over as spiritual collapse.

This passage is not merely descriptive; it is diagnostic. It unmasks the root of a civilization in decline: the rejection of God as the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom does not begin in academic halls or scientific laboratories. True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. It begins in reverence, in humility, in submission to the One who created all things and who holds all things together by the word of His power. When this foundational posture is abandoned, confusion soon follows. What was once clear becomes muddied. What was once sacred becomes scorned. And those who once knew God, though imperfectly, begin to worship the works of their own hands and the inventions of their own hearts.

This is not a distant issue—it is near to us. This spirit of professed wisdom has infiltrated many corners of society, including our educational institutions, media, politics, and even religious spaces. There are many who bear the appearance of intellectual greatness, but in truth have been given over to vanity of mind. They pontificate on morality while ignoring the Author of righteousness. They claim enlightenment while walking in spiritual darkness. They speak of progress but move steadily backward into moral confusion and societal disintegration. And tragically, they do so while assuring the world that they are wise.

Church, this is not a time to be silent. Nor is it a time to become combative in the spirit of the world. It is a time to speak the truth in love, to hold fast to sound doctrine, to proclaim Christ as the wisdom of God and the power of God. We must understand that the battle we face is not simply intellectual, but spiritual. We are witnessing the fruit of hearts and minds that have refused to honor God. And we must be vigilant not to fall into the same trap. For Paul is not only describing “them”—he is warning us. The danger of professing wisdom while forsaking the Word is not only out there, but also among those who name the name of Christ.

Let us therefore examine our own hearts. Are we truly walking in the wisdom that comes from above, or are we subtly leaning on our own understanding? Do we seek the approval of men more than the approval of God? Are we shaping our worldview by the Scriptures, or by the trends of the age? Let us not assume that just because we speak in religious language or participate in church activities, we are immune from the corruption of prideful intellect. Knowledge, even of good things, puffs up when it is not anchored in love and humility before God.

The wisdom of God is foolishness to the world, and the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. The cross of Christ is the dividing line. To those who believe, it is the power and wisdom of God. But to those who perish, it is absurdity. And this is the test of every generation: will we embrace the humility of the gospel, or will we cling to the illusion of our own wisdom?

Practical application must begin here: let us be students of the Word, not merely readers but doers. Let the Scriptures be our lens for discerning what is true and what is false. Let us seek the mind of Christ, who though He was equal with God, made Himself of no reputation. Let us cultivate a life of prayer, for wisdom is not attained through intellect alone, but through intimacy with the One who gives it generously to those who ask. Let our homes be filled with the fear of the Lord, our churches be rooted in sound teaching, and our conversations seasoned with truth and grace.

Parents, teach your children not only to succeed in the eyes of the world, but to walk in the fear of the Lord, for that is the beginning of wisdom. Leaders, shepherd God’s people not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Saints, live in such a way that your life is a rebuke to the folly of this age and a light pointing others to the wisdom of the cross.

And when we encounter those who profess to be wise while rejecting the truth, let us not grow bitter, but broken. Let us weep over them as Christ wept over Jerusalem. Let us pray for them, reason with them, love them, and plead with them—not with arrogance but with urgency. For the same mercy that reached us when we were once foolish can reach them still. The grace of God is strong enough to break through the deepest pride and restore the darkest mind.

So take courage, beloved. Though the world may call us fools for following Christ, we know that in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Let us not be moved. Let us not be silent. Let us not be ashamed. For in the end, the wisdom of this world will pass away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.

To Him who is the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever. Amen.

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O Holy and Eternal God, fountain of all wisdom and truth, the One who dwells in unapproachable light, whose understanding is infinite and whose judgments are altogether righteous, we come before You today in reverence, humility, and trembling joy, acknowledging Your sovereign authority over all creation and Your mercy that reaches even to the lowest valley of our ignorance and rebellion. We fix our hearts and minds on the sobering words of Romans 1:22—“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” And we do not come to this verse as though we stand apart from it, but as those who tremble at the thought of such self-deception, and who plead with You for discernment in the days of deep confusion and multiplied voices.

O Lord, how tragic it is when the creature lifts itself above the Creator, when the work of man exalts itself over the Word of God, when wisdom is claimed while truth is rejected. You alone are the source of wisdom, for You created all things by Your Word, and in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Yet men, in every age, have turned their eyes from Your light and praised their own darkness. We see it now in every corner of our world—a culture that exalts human intellect and scorns divine revelation, that proclaims moral progress while sinking into moral ruin, that esteems philosophies built upon sand while rejecting the unshakable rock of Your Word.

And we confess, Lord, that we as Your people have not always been vigilant. We have allowed the wisdom of the world to shape our affections, to influence our thinking, to dull our sensitivity to Your voice. We have leaned on our own understanding. We have sought the approval of man more than the wisdom of God. We have grown comfortable with flattering speech and soft doctrine. We have, at times, measured success by worldly standards, rather than by the standard of faithfulness to Your truth. And for this, Lord, we repent.

Have mercy on us, Father. Cleanse us from the pride that masquerades as knowledge. Rescue us from the deceit of thinking we are wise when we have neglected the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Strip from us every thought and ideology that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ. Humble us beneath Your mighty hand. Remind us that true wisdom begins not with cleverness, but with contrition; not with credentials, but with the cross.

O Lord, we intercede now for a generation so easily swayed by smooth words and clever arguments, by entertainment cloaked as education, and by ideologies that dress themselves in virtue but lead to destruction. We cry out for those who have been led astray—those who boast of enlightenment while walking in darkness, those who scorn Your Word as outdated, and mock Your Son as irrelevant. Open their eyes, O God. Pierce through the veil of self-deception. Break the chains of pride that bind their hearts. Send forth Your Spirit to convict, to reveal, to awaken. For what can human wisdom accomplish if it does not lead to You? What value has reason, if it reasons away the truth?

We ask, too, for a revival of holy wisdom in Your Church. Raise up voices that do not echo the wisdom of this age, but proclaim the unchanging truth of God. Give us pastors and teachers who are not ashamed of the gospel, which the world calls foolishness, but which is the power of God unto salvation. Fill Your people with the Word of Christ, that we may walk in discernment and resist the seduction of human philosophies. Let our lives bear witness to a wisdom that is peaceable, pure, full of mercy and good fruit. May the Church be known again not for conformity to culture, but for clarity in conviction and Christlikeness in character.

We pray for our children, Lord—surrounded on every side by a flood of information, much of it falsely called wisdom. Guard their minds and hearts. Teach them to test everything by the Word of God. Give them courage to stand in truth, even when it costs them favor. Let them be as Daniel and his friends, filled with wisdom that comes from You, able to engage with the world without being defiled by it.

And for ourselves, Lord, we ask again: make us wise—not in our own eyes, but in Yours. Make us lovers of truth, seekers of Your presence, and students of Your Word. Keep us from being deceived by the sophistication of godless thought. Keep us rooted in the gospel, shaped by the Scriptures, and led by the Spirit. Let us not glory in intellect, but in the cross. Let us not boast in our understanding, but in knowing You, the living and true God.

We thank You, Father, that even when we were once foolish—disobedient, deceived, and slaves to various lusts—You in Your kindness and love appeared to us, not because of works of righteousness which we had done, but according to Your mercy. And if You rescued us then, You can rescue again. If You opened our eyes, You can open many more. So we do not pray in despair, but in confidence. You are still the God who gives wisdom to those who ask. You are still the One who makes wise the simple through Your Word. You are still able to turn the wisdom of the world into nothing and to glorify Your name through the humility of those who fear You.

So we lift up our eyes to You, from whom all true wisdom comes. Guide us, anchor us, transform us. Let us walk humbly before You and speak boldly for You. Let us think clearly, live righteously, and love unselfishly, bearing witness to the One who is the wisdom of God—Christ Jesus, crucified and risen. And when the world mocks, when the so-called wise of this age call us fools, may we rejoice to be counted among those who know the truth, who love the truth, and who have been set free by the truth.

We pray all this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Amen.