Читать книгу Mathers Systematic Theology - Norman W. Mathers - Страница 5

God’s revelation of wrath each day is just for two reasons (Rom. 1:18). The knowledge of God is manifest within man (1:19). Men have speculated and created their own god (1:21). Men possess the knowledge of the truth of God. The truth is the truth of God. The truth of God is a genitive of apposition that names the specific category of the knowledge. Men have rejected that truth for the formulation of their own concept of God. Romans 1:19 and 1:21 are causal clauses giving the reasons why God is just in allowing men to live in all unrighteousness and ungodly living. They suppress the truth of the fact of the existence of God through creation. Paul says that God is just because men have the knowledge of the existence of God. This knowledge of God’s existence is via the testimony of creation. This knowledge is manifest within them. Phaneron is used of a public notice. God has revealed that knowledge to them (1:19). His invisibles- His eternal power and divinity (deity –Godhead) are seen and understood (reflection – rationalism) (1:20). Man perceives through his senses and understands with his mind that creation testifies to the existence of God. Paul concludes that men are without excuse (1:20). Man perceives and formulates knowledge of God’s power and deity by God’s testimony to man through creation.

Creation testifies to the existence and presence of God. Men can see God’s eternal power and divinity from creation. Man says that God did not create the world (1:25). The Apostle Paul states that man has exchanged the knowledge of God’s existence for the lie (1:25). Man believes that the creature is God. God never condemns without just cause. His judgment of the pagan world is just, for man has ignored God’s revelation (1:19-20), for perverting God’s glory (1:21-23) and for putting the knowledge of God out of mind (1:29-32). Man is without excuse since he can see and understand God’s everlasting eternal power and Godhead through looking at (perceiving) creation. Man is without excuse unable to mount a defense (Liddell & Scott 1973:117). Can God justifiably judge man based on his response to general revelation? Man is without excuse before a righteous God because of man’s suppression of that truth (Rom. 1:20). Paul’s world and our world is further charged in Romans 1:21 with not glorifying nor thanking God. Man became futile in his speculations and their understanding was darkened (1:21). The word futile means empty. It is used of idolatry (Acts 14:15), rationalism in (1 Cor. 3:20), religion (James 1:26), futile way of life (I Pet. 1:18), and thinking sensuality (Eph. 4:17). The empty thinking is that man is God. The creature is God (images of man, birds, four footed animals, and reptiles). For this very reason God has given them over to shameful passions (1:26). The judgment of God is to be seen in lesbianism (1:26) and homosexuality (1:27). Such are clearly a judgment on modern man. God has given them over to a reprobate mind (1:28). Three times Paul declares that God gave them up and over. Three times declares Paul that God is just. The progression is noted from shameful passions (1:26), sexual perversions lesbianism and homosexuality (1:27), and a reprobate mind (1:28).