They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.
Parallel translations
- WEB because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.
- KJV Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
- BSB For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
- NKJV because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
- NASB because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
What can be known of God is evident to people because God has made it plain to them. Humanity is not without knowledge of God.
Overview
Paul grounds human accountability in revelation: God Himself has shown people what may be known of Him. This is general revelation — truth about God available to all through creation and conscience. It removes the excuse of ignorance and sets up the charge that people sin against light they have been given.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Acts 14:16–17who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
- Ps 19:1–6For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
- Rom 1:20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
- Acts 17:23–30For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.
- Isa 40:26Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their army by number. He calls them all by name. by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, Not one is lacking.
- John 1:9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
- Jer 10:10–13But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King. At his wrath, the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to withstand his indignation.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 1:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.