Romans 1:20
20 For [gar] the invisible things [aoratos] of him [autos] from [apo] the creation [ktisis] of
the world [kosmos] are clearly seen [kathorao], being understood [noeo] by
the things that are made [poiema], even [te] his [autos] eternal [aidios] power [dunamis] and [kai] Godhead [theiotes]; so [eis] that they [autos] are [einai] without excuse [anapologetos]: KJV-Interlinear
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal
power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation
of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without
excuse. ESV
The word for creation, ‘ktisis,’ means from the
beginning. It does not refer to the
assembly or invention of the actual creation of anything, but is a reference to
the beginning of humanity, namely since Adam.
Therefore, from the outset of the human race, which
means beginning with Adam and then Eve, and from them, every generation that
has lived on this planet since.
Humanity has known of the invisible things of
God. The invisible things, ‘aoratos,’
refers to those things which cannot be seen or heard, or felt, or tasted, or
smelled, or otherwise detected in any manner whatsoever.
And those things are herein defined, namely Gods
eternal power and divine nature.
Nothing of God can be measured or detected or even
discovered by man. And yet, by means of
His divine power and nature, He is seen and known by means of the evidence that
exists within nature and of creation which is all around us.
We have in this world, opposite sexes, both male
and female, there exists plants and fish and animals and birds and so many
things that defy the imagination. Even
the vastness of the sky and the sun, moon, and stars beyond, speak of a divine
design and God Himself.
But Paul also makes it very clear that even the
Godhead has been known from the beginning of the human race.
Christianity is unique in that there exists one
God, which refers to the divine essence of God, but three persons.
The divine essence refers to the ten attributes of
God, namely omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, eternal life,
righteousness, justice, veracity, immutability, love, and sovereignty.
Each of the members of the Godhead, possesses these
attributes. They all three are co-equal,
co-infinite, and co-eternal.
History is filled with examples of multiple gods
having this or that attribute or power or domain. Examples of conflicts between the gods. Examples of man challenging the gods and either
winning or losing, or showing them a thing or two. All of which are arguments designed to water
down or negate the importance and role of God.
But, what these stories really do, is point out
that man has a knowledge of God, and a knowledge of His divine essence, which
is something that man cannot discover.
And yet by means of the world around, plus the information
and stories that were handed down from generation to generation, beginning with
Adam, and even by means of various other things as they relate to peoples that
had long since moved around the world and were totally removed and separated
from Israel and the Middle East, God and things about Him, are still known.
And these invisible things that cannot be known,
are known by means of the things that have been made, ‘poiema,’ through the
workmanship of that which is.
Which is to say, that all things that exist have
obviously come from someone who invented, designed and made them.
So, man has no excuse or basis for not knowing God
and the truth that exists in this world.
This simply means that all choices that go against
God and truth, are openly made by people, in total disregard of God and
truth. People make their choices on
purpose, in preference to their sin natures.
