SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:19
¶ porque lo que de Dios se conoce, a ellos es manifiesto; porque Dios se lo manifest.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 1:19
Verse 19. That which may be known of God] Dr. Taylor paraphrases this and the following verse thus: "Although the Gentiles had no written revelation, yet what may be known of God is every where manifest among them, God having made a clear discovery of himself to them. For his being and perfections, invisible to our bodily eyes, have been, ever since the creation of the world, evidently to be seen, if attentively considered, in the visible beauty, order, and operations observable in the constitution and parts of the universe; especially his eternal power and universal dominion and providence: so that they cannot plead ignorance in excuse of their idolatry and wickedness."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. Because that which may be known of God , etc..] There are some things which could not be known of God by the light of nature; as a trinity of persons in the Godhead; the knowledge of God in Christ as Mediator; the God-man and Mediator Jesus Christ; his incarnation, sufferings, death, and resurrection; the will of God to save sinners by a crucified Jesus; the several peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, particularly the resurrection of the dead, and the manner of worshipping of God with acceptance: but then there are some things which may be known of God, without a revelation. Adam had a perfect knowledge of him; and his sons, though fallen, even the very Heathens have some notion of him, as that there is a God; and by the light of nature it might be known that there is but one God, who is glorious, full of majesty, and possessed of all perfections, as that he is all powerful, wise, good and righteous: and this is manifest in them , or to them; by the light that is given them: it is light by which that which may be known of God is manifest; and this is the light of nature, which every man has that comes into the world; and this is internal, it is in him, in his mind and conscience, and is communicated to him by God, and that by infusion or inspiration; (see Job 32:8); for God hath showed [it] unto them ; what may be known of him by that light; and which is assisted and may be improved by a consideration of the works of creation and Providence.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-25 - The apostle begins to show that all mankind need the salvation of the gospel, because none could obtain the favour of God, or escape his wrath by their own works. For no man can plead that he has fulfille all his obligations to God and to his neighbour; nor can any truly say that he has fully acted up to the light afforded him. The sinfulness of man is described as ungodliness against the laws of the first table and unrighteousness against those of the second. The cause of tha sinfulness is holding the truth in unrighteousness. All, more or less do what they know to be wrong, and omit what they know to be right, s that the plea of ignorance cannot be allowed from any. Our Creator' invisible power and Godhead are so clearly shown in the works he ha made, that even idolaters and wicked Gentiles are left without excuse They foolishly followed idolatry; and rational creatures changed the worship of the glorious Creator, for that of brutes, reptiles, an senseless images. They wandered from God, till all traces of tru religion must have been lost, had not the revelation of the gospe prevented it. For whatever may be pretended, as to the sufficiency of man's reason to discover Divine truth and moral obligation, or to govern the practice aright, facts cannot be denied. And these plainl show that men have dishonoured God by the most absurd idolatries an superstitions; and have degraded themselves by the vilest affection and most abominable deeds.
Greek Textus Receptus
διοτι 1360 CONJ το 3588 T-NSN γνωστον 1110 A-NSN του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM φανερον 5318 A-NSN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εν 1722 PREP αυτοις 846 P-DPM ο 3588 T-NSM γαρ 1063 CONJ θεος 2316 N-NSM αυτοις 846 P-DPM εφανερωσεν 5319 5656 V-AAI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
19. That which may be known (to gnwston). So A.V. and Rev., as equivalent to that which is knowable. But that which is knowable was not revealed to the heathen. If it was, what need of a revelation? Better, that which is known, the universal sense in the New Testament, signifying the universal objective knowledge of God as the Creator, which is, more or less, in all men.In them. In their heart and conscience. The emphasis should be on in. Thus the apparent tautology - what is known is manifest - disappears.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:19 {Because} (dioti). Gives the reason (dia, hoti like our "for that") for the revelation of God's wrath. {That which may be known of God} (to gnwston tou qeou). Verbal adjective from ginwskw, either "the known" as elsewhere in N.T. (#Ac 1:19; 15:18, etc.) or "the knowable" as usual in ancient Greek, that is "the knowledge" (h gnwsis) of God. See #Php 3:8. Cf. same use of the verbal chrston in #Ro 2:4, ametatheton in #Heb 6:17. {Manifest in them} (phaneron en autois). In their hearts and consciences. {God manifested} (ho qeos ephaner"sen). First aorist active indicative of fanerow. Not mere tautology. See #2:14-16.
