What does it mean?

[SnowBird77]

What is this text really saying?

[BIBLE]Romans 1:20[/BIBLE]

 

[HypnoToad]

I take it to mean that God (the invisible) reveals Himself through His creation (the visible/the made) - that if people study the world around them, it points to a higher power, to a creator.

It's sometimes refered to as "general revelation".

 

[Knowledge3]

"They" refers to unbelievers who contend with Christian doctrine or question God's existence. Generally speaking, God has revealed Himself through general and public revelation.

Romans is expert Doctrine, so it requires interwoven study of other verses to maintain correct theology. St. Paul is refuting points of argument and unbelief.

This verse deals with the trend of evolution:

[bible]Romans 1:23[/bible]

 

[SnowBird77]

I take it to mean that God (the invisible) reveals Himself through His creation (the visible/the made) - that if people study the world around them, it points to a higher power, to a creator.

It's sometimes refered to as "general revelation".

Who decided to call it general revelation and for what purpose? However, the text refers to the invisible attributes of God, not to the invisible God. This is a complete revelation.

 

[HypnoToad]

Who decided to call it general revelation and for what purpose? However, the text refers to the invisible attributes of God, not to the invisible God. This is a complete revelation.

I don't know who first came up with the term - that's just what the established term is.

This page http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=678 has a lot of info on it.

I'm not sure what you mean about God/His attributes/complete revelation. If God reveals His attributes, His is revealing Himself. Other than that, you'd have to clarify what you mean.

 

[daveleau]

I take it to mean that God (the invisible) reveals Himself through His creation (the visible/the made) - that if people study the world around them, it points to a higher power, to a creator.

It's sometimes refered to as "general revelation".

I agree. It is also called Natural Theology which was first written about as such by Thomas Aquinas.

Kind of like the phrase "all roads lead to Rome," All of Creation leads to God. There are enough pointers in the world to lead one to seek out God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

[daveleau]

The two ideas put forth in Erickson's "Christian Theology" is that there is Specific Revelation and Generic Revelation. Specific revelation entails Scripture and the movement of the Holy Spirit in people. Generic revelation is based on the work that God did in the past (creating the world ex nihilo (out of nothing)) and that it should be obvious to us that through the rules of the world (laws of science) that the world could not be made without a Designer and Creator.

 

[SnowBird77]

The two ideas put forth in Erickson's "Christian Theology" is that there is Specific Revelation and Generic Revelation. Specific revelation entails Scripture and the movement of the Holy Spirit in people. Generic revelation is based on the work that God did in the past (creating the world ex nihilo (out of nothing)) and that it should be obvious to us that through the rules of the world (laws of science) that the world could not be made without a Designer and Creator.

This last piece is not what the text is saying. Erickson is wrong if he really said that. The text is clear. God's power and nature are seen in the things He made. Those who study nature have shown more of the Creator than those who claim to preach Him.

 

[daveleau]

Which part are you speaking of?

 

[A Brother In Christ]

What is this text really saying?

Romans 1:20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

suppose to be everlasting power and godhood

talking about God's power....longlasting
god is out there....

 

[Sabra]

SnowBird77:

The Good News Bible translates the same passage this way:

"Ever since God created the world, His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and His divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all!"

Basically, IMHO, Paul is saying (like what others have already commented) there is more than enough evidence in nature to convince everyone that God exists such that they cannot say, "I didn't know You existed." The design, beauty, complexity, and order, all point to something more. The more we notice this, the more accountable we'll be because the more knowledge we have. You would think that in this scientific age that more people would be acknowledging God, but the humanists and atheists have deviously used evolution under the guise of "science" to drive people away from the church. It's just as sad when Christians help them...

Anyway, back to the topic:
For example, since God is God of order, rationality, and consistency, and our universe is also ordered, rational and consistent, then this is one attribute of God that we can clearly see in all of what He has made. We know that if Zesus and co were in charge of things, we should not expect to see any order or consistency, for example, what-so-ever.

 

[SnowBird77]

Which part are you speaking of?

Paul was not merely saying that the world could not have been made without a Designer. He did not say that at all. He said what he said. The attributes of the Creator (the invisible ones the church has erroneously claimed ownership of) are understood through the things He made. We all know that the study of nature is open to all.

 

[Jesus Is Real]

What is this text really saying?

[BIBLE]Romans 1:20[/BIBLE]

Good question.

1. Do you have a cat? Well.....cat's like to sit at the door while, like when your in the bath room. I just got this revelation recently. God shows his invisible nature through what's created, in this case a cat, that tells us about God. That being: God (Christ) stands at the door and knocks. Cat's don't knock, but actually my cat does she paws at the door some. So, in this we see God's invisible nature.

2. The Grape Vines, where men raise them up on high fensing. God's showed me this about 7 years ago: 'God is High and Lifted up.'

3. Wonder why cats sleep alot? They are showing that God has enter into His Rest.

And it goes on and on!
Blessings, Connie