Romans 1:32 Meaning: Approving Sin Is the Darkest Step
who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.
who the righteous judgment of God having known--that those practising such things are worthy of death--not only do them, but also have delight with those practising them.
who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practise them, but have fellow delight in those who do [them].
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Paul call approving others' sin the worst? This verse shows that cheering on wrongdoing is a deeper corruption than committing it.
Context
Paul is building a case. He has spent the first part of Romans 1 showing how people knew God from creation but turned away. They traded the truth for a lie, and God gave them over to the consequences of their choices. What follows is a raw list, envy, murder, deceit, gossip, arrogance, disobedience to parents. Verse 32 is the capstone. It is not a new sin but a description of where all those sins lead: people do them, and they applaud when others do them too. Paul is not singling out pagans. He is drawing a picture of humanity without God, so he can show why everyone, Jew and Gentile, needs the righteousness that comes through faith.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight here. First, epignontes, the word behind “knowing.” It is stronger than just being aware. It means to know something thoroughly, to recognise it fully. These people knew God’s decree with certainty. Their sin was not ignorance but rebellion against clear knowledge.
Second, dikaiōma, translated “ordinance,” “judgment,” or “righteous decree.” It carries the sense of a legal decision, a binding statute from God. In Romans 5, Paul uses the same word for the “act of righteousness” that brings life. Here it is God’s settled verdict that sin deserves death. People saw this truth written on their hearts, yet they chose to ignore it.
Third, suneudokousin, “they approve,” “they consent with,” “they have pleasure together.” The prefix sun- means “with.” This is not just passive agreement. It is active delight. To share pleasure in someone else’s sin is to join in it. The commentators call this the summit of wickedness. It is not that the person is too weak to resist sin. It is that they have come to love it, even in others.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian teachers across traditions read this verse as showing the deepest level of human corruption. John Calvin called it “the summit of all evils”, when someone is so shameless that they not only sin but also encourage it in others. Wesley said it is “the highest degree of wickedness,” because a person may sin in passion but still hate what they did, while one who delights in others’ sins loves evil for its own sake.
The Cambridge Bible notes that this “indicates complete victory over conscience.” A person who cheers on sin has silenced the inner witness. Gill’s Exposition connects it to an old Jewish saying: if you see others sin and rejoice, you are counted among the wicked. All agree that Paul is not merely describing behavior but diagnosing a heart that has lost all moral direction.
A common misunderstanding
Many readers think this verse is only about the worst sinners, the people at the end of Paul’s list. In fact, Paul is talking about everyone who knows God’s standard and still cheers for sin. That includes the person who laughs at a crude joke, who shares a gossipy post, who stays silent when cruelty is celebrated. The approving is the point, not the specific sins. You can be a “good” person by your own measure and still be guilty of this verse.
Living This Out
This week, watch what you applaud. Not just with your hands, with your laughter, your clicks, your silence. When someone tells a story that puts another person down and you nod along, is that approval? When a show makes cruelty funny and you keep watching, what are you saying? The verse asks a hard question: do you only struggle with your own sin, or have you started to enjoy sin in others? That enjoyment is a warning light. It means you have grown comfortable with what God calls death. Let it send you back to the mercy you need, not to a lecture you give others.
Main takeaway: Knowing God’s judgment and still applauding sin shows a heart that has learned to love what God hates.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse says it is not only bad to do wrong things. It is also bad to be happy when other people do wrong things. God wants us to love what is good and kind.
For ages 9, 12
Paul says people who know right from wrong sometimes do wrong and even cheer when their friends do wrong. It is like watching someone get bullied and laughing along. That hurts God’s heart. He wants you to care about what is right, even when you are the only one who does. Approval is powerful. You can use it to build others up or to join in what tears them down.
Questions People Ask
What does 'approve of those who practice them' mean in Romans 1:32?
The Greek word is suneudokeō, which means to agree together with, to take pleasure with, or to consent. It is not just passive acceptance; it is active delight. When you laugh at a sinful joke, share something that mocks others, or stay silent when cruelty is celebrated, you are approving. Paul calls this a deeper corruption than committing the sin yourself.
Why does Paul say approving sin is worse than doing it?
Many commentators see approval as the climax of Paul's list. A person may sin under temptation or passion and still hate what they did. But when you deliberately take pleasure in someone else's sin, you have begun to love evil for its own sake. Calvin called it 'the summit of all evils' because it shows a heart that has lost shame and conscience.
Does 'worthy of death' mean immediate capital punishment?
No. Paul uses 'death' in a broad sense to mean divine judgment and separation from God (compare Romans 5:12-19). The verse is describing what people deserve under God's righteous decree, not what human courts should enforce. Paul's whole point is that everyone, including those who approve, needs the mercy offered in Christ.
Is this verse only about non-Christians or pagans?
Paul's immediate context is the Gentile world, but he is building an argument that all humanity is under sin. In Romans 2 he turns to the Jews and shows they are guilty too. The principle applies to anyone who knows God's standard and still approves of sin. Many Christians may be guilty of this without realising it, which makes the verse a call to examine our hearts.
What is the difference between 'doing' sin and 'approving' sin in this verse?
The Greek verbs differ. 'Practice' (prassō) means to do habitually. 'Approve' (suneudokeō) means to delight in together with others. Doing sin can come from weakness or being swept along. Approving sin comes from a settled mindset that no longer sees it as evil. Paul's point is that both are serious, but approval shows a deeper hardness of heart.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study