Rom 1:21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as
God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and
their senseless heart was darkened. ASV
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not
as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened. KJV
Rom 1:21 Because knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God,
nor were thankful. But they became vain in their reasonings, and their
undiscerning heart was darkened. LITV
Rom 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as
God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their
foolish hearts were darkened. NKJV
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COMMENTARY
This is the one and only place in the entire Bible that folks
try to use to prove that "all men know God". Yet the rest of the Bible
testifies to the exact opposite in many places so the quest is to come
to a proper understanding of what this verse means when it says
"although they knew God"!
"when/although they knew God" [aorist; 'knew' is correct...
not 'knowing'].
As the context shows, the knowledge of God must be the knowledge derived from the manifestation given in the visible creation. In other
words, it is -Not- inherent in man by nature. Innate knowledge of God
is not taught in the Bible! In the context, this passage is talking
about Outward Objective
knowledge, not innate, Inward Subjective
knowledge! For a watershed vs showing that men by nature do not
know God see Matt 11:27. This passage is not speaking at all of a
'law written on man’s heart' or 'innate knowledge of God' as a
result of man being created 'in God’s image'. Originally man
-was- created in the image of God but as a result of sin and the fall
he is now in the image of Satan and is dead! In this condition it
is impossible for him to know God. The only thing ‘innate’
in
man by nature is his corruption; darkness; hatred and enmity toward
God.
Romans
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