Romans 1:20
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For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
For the invisible things of him from--or "since" the creation of the world are clearly seen--the mind brightly beholding what the eye cannot discern. being understood by the things that are made--Thus, the outward creation is not the parent but the interpreter of our faith in God. That faith has its primary sources within our own breast (Rom 1:19); but it becomes an intelligible and articulate conviction only through what we observe around us ("by the things which are made," Rom 1:20). And thus are the inner and the outer revelation of God the complement of each other, making up between them one universal and immovable conviction that God is. (With this striking apostolic statement agree the latest conclusions of the most profound speculative students of Theism). even his eternal power and Godhead--both that there is an Eternal Power, and that this is not a mere blind force, or pantheistic "spirit of nature," but the power of a living Godhead. so that they are without excuse--all their degeneracy being a voluntary departure from truth thus brightly revealed to the unsophisticated spirit.
Open source ↗In this chapter we may observe, I. The preface and introduction to the whole epistle, to Rom 1:16. II. A description of the deplorable condition of the Gentile world, which begins the proof of the doctrine of justification by faith, here laid down at Rom 1:17. The first is according to the then usual formality of a letter, but intermixed with very excellent and savoury expressions.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—
So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.