“slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents” (Romans 1:30 ESV).
The next attribute cited in this list from Romans 1:30 involves those who are boastful (CSB) or braggarts (Mounce). This term is derived from the word alazon in the original text of this passage, and it refers to one who is “an empty pretender.” (1) It describes those who are driven by a need to embellish their skills, abilities, assets, talents, or accomplishments. In other words, this characteristic defines those who boast of qualities they don’t actually possess.
The following commentator examines this word from a historical perspective…
“Alazon is a word with an interesting history… Xenophon said that the name belongs to those who pretend to be richer and braver than they are, and who promise to do what they are really unable to do in order to make some profit or gain. Again Theophrastus has a character study of such a man–the pretentious man, the snob. He is the kind of man who boasts of trade deals which exist only in his imagination, of connections with influential people which do not exist at all, of gifts to charities and public services which he never gave or rendered…
The braggart is out to impress others–and the world is still full of his like.” (2)
Many of us have probably encountered those who fit this description. Nevertheless, it should go without saying that this characteristic does not originate with God. Instead, the New Testament epistle of 1 John identifies the source of that character trait in 1 John 2:16: “…everything in the world -the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does- comes not from the Father but from the world” (NIV).
From the politician who boasts of fictional accomplishments, to the workplace acquaintance who embellishes his or her achievements, to the older adult whose self-assessment reflects a life that might have been, but never was, we can find examples of this character trait in every walk of life.
Such actions may conceal an underlying sense of insecurity that drives us to attempt to elevate ourselves in the sight of others. But whatever the underlying cause, the need for such boastfulness disappears for those who find their approval in Christ. That relationship brings humility (for we know we are unworthy of what Christ has done on our behalf) and security (for we can be secure in the knowledge that we are accepted in Him).
(1) G213 – alazon – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g213/kjv/tr/0-1/
(2) Barclay, William. “Commentary on Romans 1”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible“. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/romans-1.html. 1956-1959.
One common illustration of the truth behind that statement occurs whenever someone employs Jesus’ name as a profanity or an expletive. Another example occurs whenever we casually refer to God in a thoughtless, flippant, irreverent, or condescending manner. Some examples might include the term “ohmigod,” “OMG,” or other similar expressions.
This reference to strife is then followed by another ungodly attribute: deceit. “Deceit” involves an effort to manipulate or fool others in a dishonest manner. The type of deceit mentioned here refers to “a bait or contrivance for entrapping.” (2) Other descriptive terms that characterize this idea include guile, treachery, and cunning (in a bad way).
With these things in mind, we can say murder is a crime that violates the 
This progression exists because people generally act on what they believe unless something prevents them from doing so. If God elects to remove His restraints from those who choose to reject Him and subsequently delivers them over to “…the lusts of their own hearts” (Romans 1:24 KJV), then He no longer shields them from the impact of their choices. As we’ll see, that progression leads to an array of negative consequences once those restraints are removed.
This passage speaks of an exchange that takes place with those who choose to reject the existence of God. This concept should be familiar to virtually everyone, for we frequently engage in various types of exchanges each day. Perhaps the most common example is the person who is seeking to purchase an item from a merchant. To do so, the buyer must exchange money (or another commodity) in order to complete the sale.
What mental image does the word “fool” elicit? In the original language of this passage, the word “fool” is moros, and serves as the precursor to our contemporary term “moron.” This word typically describes someone who is lacking in wisdom, understanding, good judgment, or common sense. The Old Testament book of Psalms offers another definition of this word that relates to our text from Romans 1:22-23: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God…'” (Psalm 14:1).
We can illustrate this function of the celestial heavens with the image of a train that is traveling down a flat set of railroad tracks. The last car of our hypothetical train is moving because it is coupled to the car ahead of it. The same is true of every other railroad car in that sequence; the motion of each individual car is explained by the action of the car that precedes it.
For instance, the visible world is like a mirror that reflects the existence and power of its Creator. The natural world offers a means of verifying God’s reality and a way to understand some of His attributes. Anyone with the gift of sight may enter the theater of nature and observe the glory of God through creation. That theater encompasses the world we inhabit along with the observable universe.
We can always learn something about a person from the presence of his or her work. At a minimum, we can know that someone lived to create that work, even if he or she remains unseen. For instance, we might associate a high-quality piece of handiwork with the efforts of a skilled craftsman. In a similar manner, sculptures imply sculptors, paintings imply painters, and buildings imply builders.
This reality has led to many creative forms of suppression among those who are uncomfortable with the reality of God’s existence. For instance, the term “Mother Nature” is a common way of referring to creation in a manner that eliminates the idea of a Creator. We might also refer to “luck,” “fate,” “chance,” or “karma” in an effort to camouflage or dismiss any consideration of God and His sovereignty over the affairs of life.
The word “suppress” refers to the act of holding something down. A common analogy for understanding this word is that of a sailor who is determined to pilot his or her boat against a strong current of water. To accomplish this, the sailor must work to “suppress” or counteract the natural flow of water by forcing the rudder to take the boat in the direction he or she wishes to go instead of the direction of the current.
That brings us to this reference to “godlessness,” a term that means “without reverence for God.” A godless person is someone who lives as if God did not exist, or exhibits irreverence for Him in thought, word, or deed. Much like a warning lamp that signals the presence of a fault condition, godlessness signals a defect in one’s vertical relationship with his or her Creator.
Scholars and commentators have wrestled with the precise meaning of the term “faith to faith” here in Romans 1:17. For instance, this portion of Scripture may relate to God’s faithfulness in respect to our faith, or it may refer to ever-increasing degrees of faith.
While many accept the premise that everyone possesses a moral compass, there are just as many who would undoubtedly view “right” and “wrong” as a matter of personal preference. However, a compass that aligns with our preferences may not provide an accurate reading. Therefore, the question of where that compass points is far more significant.