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Greek Word Pronunciation: al-LAS-oh
Strong’s Number: 236
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 248
Key Verse: “… and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God …” -- Romans 1:23

This is a word that comes from allos, meaning “another of a different kind.” Allasso means “to make other than it is; to cause one thing to cease and another to take its place.” It appears only 6 times in the New Testament.

In Acts 6:14, at Stephen’s arrest, the Jews misrepresented Stephen’s comment, indicating Stephen had said that Jesus would alter the Mosaic customs, to introduce other customs in their place.

In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, in reference to the Rapture, “we will all be changed.” Believers will undergo such a change as to fit them for their new abode in heaven.

In Galatians 4:20, Paul was expressing his wish to be physically present with the Galatian believers to “change” his tone, that is, from the severe sound in a letter, to a tender quality. He wants to change the manner, not the substance of his speech.

Hebrews 1:12 is in reference to the temporary nature of the world which “will also be changed.” Creation is now decaying, and this is contrasted with the immutability of Christ, Who never changes.

In our key verse, ROMANS 1:23, the reference is to idolaters who have “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man.” Men willfully chose to make this exchange of God as an object of worship, for the idols they chose to worship. Matthew Henry said: “It was the greatest honor God did to man that He made man in the image of God; but it is the greatest dishonor man has done to God that he has made God in the image of man.”