Romans 1:19,20

“ Seeing that that which may be known of God is manifested in them; for God hath manifested it unto them. For the invisible perfections of God, his eternal power and his divinity are spiritually contemplated, since the creation of the world, in his works, that they may be without excuse. ”

The truth of which Paul wished to speak in Romans 1:18, was that revelation of God's person and character which He had given to men. The διότι, because (for διὰ τοῦτο ὅτι, for the reason that), carries the thought to that which follows as the reason of what precedes, in contrast to διό, on account of which (Romans 1:24), which points to what precedes as the reason for what follows.

The meaning of this διότι, seeing that, is as follows: they quenched the truth, seeing that the truth had been revealed to them (Romans 1:19-20), and they changed it into a lie (Romans 1:21-23) (25).

The term γνωστόν, strictly, what can be known, usually signifies in the New Testament what is really known (γνωστός); this is its probable meaning in Luke 2:44; John 18:15; Acts 1:19; Acts 17:23. Yet it is not quite certain that the first meaning may not also be given to the word in some of the passages quoted; and in classic Greek it is the most usual sense (see the numerous examples quoted by Oltramare). What decides in its favor in our passage is the startling tautology which there would be in saying: “ what is known of the being of God is manifested. ” There is therefore ground for preferring here the grammatical and received meaning in the classics. Paul means: “ What can be known of God without the help of an extraordinary revelation is clearly manifested within them.” A light was given in their conscience and understanding, and this light bore on the existence and character of the Divine Being. This present fact: is manifested, is afterwards traced to its cause, which is stated by the verb in the aorist: “for God manifested it to them;” this state of knowledge was due to a divine act of revelation. God is not known like an ordinary object; when He is known, it is He who gives himself to be known. The knowledge which beings have of Him is a free act on His part. Romans 1:20 explains the external means by which He wrought this revelation of Himself in the conscience of men.

Vv. 19 and 20 have explained the word ἀλήθεια, the truth, of Romans 1:18. Romans 1:21-23 develop the phrase: κατέχειν τὴν ἀλήθειαν, to hold this truth captive.