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NASB | Romans 1:18 ¶ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:18 ¶ For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth, |
Bible Question:
Romans 1:18-20 In verses 18-20, is Paul referring to all men or to a specific group i.e. Leaders, Teachers, Policitians, Priests, Church leaders, etc.? During Paul's time and before, did ALL people know there was a God in heaven or had some not heard? If all had heard, when/how did the world get to the point of some people having never heard? Your replies will be most appreciated! God bless! Wanda B. |
Bible Answer: Hi Wanda I wanted to add a note to this discussion. In Romans 1 Paul takes the reader back in time to review the situation between God and man. I think he in effect condenses the history but his aim is to express the justice of Gods judgement of mankind. Justice is rooted in what has happened; the history of the thing. God did infact create a perfect world. He created Adam and Eve in love and was Himself active in the created world, and mankind occupied a lynchpin status. Yet Adam and Eve rejected God. So did their children and children's children. We may percieve ourselves to be a long way down the line from Adam and Eve, but the truth of humanity's rebellion and God's continuing grace is still our story. Some of those who knew perfectly well the reality of Adam, Eve, Eden, and God himself were the very ones who set themselves to supress that truth and establish other beliefs. Yet in each generation God has maintained a wittness to the truth. Even today that is so, even so long after the fall into sin. In that sense then, because the creation was actual, and the story of the Bible is correct, we can look at things from God's point of view. From His point of view it is correct to say we were the ones who rebelled, lied about Him, suppressed the truth, exchanged the truth for a lie, set up other belief systems and so on. He also reveals to us that as a direct result of our wilful rejections, He has "given us over" to our own ways at times. Wandering off wilfully, we become actually lost! Paul states this background so as to unfold the incredible truth that the long suffering creator has even sent His Son in order to rescue us. Did all people know? Yes, Adam and Eve were the only people and they did know. Then their sons and daughters most certainly knew. Actually, even today with 7 billion of their descendants on the earth and after successive attempts in the past and the present to supress the truth, it is still the case that the bible is world wide, the gospel is taught widely. When or how did the world get to the point of some never having heard? Surprisingly rapidly; almost certainly (in my view) this prompted the flood of Genesis. Even with a new start with Noah's family the truth was suppressed and exchanged for a lie rapidly. So God called out a people for His own. Shockingly, they managed to nearly lose the book of testimony themselves, yet by God's help they did not and Jesus the saviour came. One of the wonderful insights of Romans is that God was in Pauls day reaching out to draw a people for Himself from among the gentlies too. Paul shows in Romans how, once we see things from God's point of view, our sin and His justice and grace become apparent and persuasive. eddie |