Romans 1:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 1:20

The revelation of God in nature. To come into contact with the fearless writing of the Apostle Paul is like inhaling a breath of mountain air. He was not alarmed at the presence of any inquirer, though ancient as a Jew, learned as a Greek, or imperious as a Roman. He held up the gospel as a lamp whose rays, shining in all directions, search every system, refusing to allow error to pass for truth, vice for righteousness, or imperfection for completeness. He implied that what the Law did for... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 1:20

For the invisible things of him - The expression “his invisible things” refers to those things which cannot be perceived by the senses. It does not imply that there are any things pertaining to the divine character which may be seen by the eye; but that there are things which may be known of him, though not discoverable by the eye. We judge of the objects around us by the senses, the sight, the touch, the ear, etc. Paul affirms, that though we cannot judge thus of God, yet there is a way by... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 1:19-20

Romans 1:19-20 . Because that which may be known of God Those great principles which are indispensably necessary to be known, such as his existence, his unity, his power, his wisdom, his goodness, and his righteous government of the world; is manifest in, or rather among, them As ευ αυτοις should be here rendered: for God hath showed it to them By the light which lightens every man that cometh into the world, John 1:9. The apostle’s assertion is confirmed by the writings of the Greek... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 1:18-32

1:18-3:20 HUMANKIND’S SINFUL CONDITIONThe Gentile world (1:18-32)Because God is holy, just and true, he has an attitude of wrath, or righteous anger, against all that is wrong. He is opposed to sin in all its forms, and therefore guilty sinners are under his judgment. The Gentiles may not have received the teaching about God that the Jews have received, but they cannot excuse themselves by saying they know nothing about God. The created universe should tell them that there is a supreme being, a... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Romans 1:20

invisible . Greek. aoratos. Here, Colossians 1:15 , Colossians 1:16 , 1 Timothy 1:17 . Hebrews 11:27 . clearly seen . Greek. katkorao. Only here. things that are made . Greek. poiema. Only here and Ephesians 2:10 . eternal . Greek. aidios. App-151 . Godhead . App-98 . so that, &c . = to the end (Greek. eis) of their being. Compare Romans 1:11 . without excuse . Greek. anapologetos. Only here and Romans 2:1 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 1:20

For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.The invisible things of him ... is a reference to God's everlasting power and divinity; and Paul's argument is that invisible things may be "seen" by the mind. The things that are made, namely, all created objects, are the things which enable the mind to comprehend what no natural eye can see,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Romans 1:20

Romans 1:20. For the invisible things, &c.— For from the creation of the world those things of him which are invisible, are (being duly attended to) clearly seen by the things which are made; even his eternal power and divinity. Those invisible things of God, of which the Apostle here speaks, lie within the reach and discovery of men's reason and understanding; but yet they must exercise their faculties, and employ their minds about them: they are and can be discovered only if they be... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Romans 1:20

20. 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 ( :-); but it becomes an intelligible and articulate conviction only through what we observe around us ("by the things which are made," :-). And thus are the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 1:18-20

II. THE NEED FOR GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS 1:18-3:20Paul began his explanation of the gospel by demonstrating that there is a universal need for it. Every human being needs to trust in Jesus Christ because everyone lacks the righteousness that God requires before He will accept us."Paul implicitly acknowledges that Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20 is an interruption in his exposition of the righteousness of God by reprising Romans 1:17 in Romans 3:21 . . . Some think that the ’revelation of God’s wrath’ is... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 1:18-32

A. The need of all people 1:18-32Perhaps Paul began by showing all people’s need for God’s righteousness first because he was the apostle to the Gentiles and his Roman readers were primarily Gentiles. His argument in Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20 moves inward through a series of concentric circles of humanity."God never condemns without just cause. Here three bases are stated for His judgment of the pagan world. For suppressing God’s truth (Romans 1:18) For ignoring God’s revelation (Romans... read more

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