What does Romans 1:18-22 mean?

[Rescued One]

Through creation we know of the existence of God. . .where did matter/energy come from?. . .which itself then demands we glorify and give thanks to him.

Christians know. Atheists don't. My mother the deist believed in a generic god---that wasn't good enough.

 

[Rescued One]

PLEASE explain how Arminians conclude that Romans 1:18-22 proves that everyone knows truth before God gives us eternal life. If we are dead in sins, how can we know? There are people who never read the Bible or read it and know nothing.

Why won't someone answer my specific question?

 

[Arial]

Why won't someone answer my specific question?

They conclude that because that is what they need it to say in order to deny Total Depravity and election. They say it proves that fallen man can know God and choose him without God dragging them "kicking and screaming" into the kingdom of his Son. So that he does not force them to be saved. In fact, it proves exactly the opposite.

 

[ReverendRV]

Why won't someone answer my specific question?

I did answer you; and correctly. - Romans says the things that may be known of God are clearly understood; leaving us without an Excuse. These things are General Revelation for All. Arminians think Romans means Special Revelation is clearly understood by All; they are wrong...

This is really the answer; it's this simple...

Post in thread 'What does Romans 1:18-22 mean?'

Apr 30, 2025

I'm getting confused!

Perhaps you're referring to how it says God's Eternal Power and Divine Nature are clearly seen by All?

The answer is that the Law of God is written on the heart of All Mankind; and this is what is clearly seen. This is General Revelation; it reflects the Nature of God. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. These are "Reflections" of God's Power and Nature. All KNOW...

• ReverendRV

• 

 

[Josheb]

I spent years with Arminians and non-Calvinists; almost zero years with Calvinists. So I want to know how Rom. 1:18-22 refutes Ephesians 2.

Please don't be confused by my questions. I believe I was dead in sins until I recognized my Savior chose me and gave me faith. I was saved and am saved forever.

PLEASE explain how Arminians conclude that Romans 1:18-22 proves that everyone knows truth before God gives us eternal life. If we are dead in sins, how can we know? There are people who never read the Bible or read it and know nothing.

First of all, classic Reformed Arminianism is different from all the other synergies but all synergistic doctrines of salvation often get categorized as Arminian since Arminius espoused a very popular alternative to the classic Reformed monergism of Luther and Calvin and their chief source, theological Augustine.

That being said, the synergist will say your statement acknowledging you recognized Jesus as Savior is evidence or proof of you already possessing cognitive and volitional faculties instrumental in your own salvation. God did not force recognition upon you. Arminius would disagree and that is one of the points that separates his view of salvation from the other synergistic viewpoints. Likewise, the fact that everyone already knows truth is evidence, or proof, that sinners have parts of the intellect and volition that remain unaffected by sin. Again, Arminius rejected that particular position, but that's what the Provisionists and Traditionalist soteriologies teach. Arminius held to the belief in what we now call Total Depravity, or the viewpoint the sinner is incapable of doing anything of salvific work while still in the sinful state (see Disputation 11, Sec. 7). Arminius believed there was a moment prior to regeneration in which God revealed Himself and provided a moment of freedom sufficient for the sinner to make a liberated choice. In that way the perceived coerciveness of salvation (which has always been a synergist red herring) is avoided and, in Arminius' thinking, a human could be held responsible, accountable, and culpable.

 

[Eleanor]

Why won't someone answer my specific question?

Your question has been answered, what are you not understanding?

Creation demonstrates that God exists--where did matter/energy come from?--therefore, everyone knows that God exists and, therefore, because he is God they owe him thanks and praise, for which they are liable for not giving to him.

 

[Rescued One]

They conclude that because that is what they need it to say in order to deny Total Depravity and election. They say it proves that fallen man can know God and choose him without God dragging them "kicking and screaming" into the kingdom of his Son. So that he does not force them to be saved. In fact, it proves exactly the opposite.

THANK YOU! My question is answered! But I'm sorry for their misinterpretation. I'm not kicking and screaming.

 

[Arial]

THANK YOU! My question is answered! But I'm sorry for their misinterperstion. I'm not kicking and screaming.

I know you are not. No one would be so it is a mystery as to why that is often how the Doctrines of Grace are interpreted by the "free willies".

 

[Hazelelponi]

Christians know. Atheists don't. My mother the deist believed in a generic god---that wasn't good enough.

Atheists know, it's just more comfortable to feign ignorance and stay in defiance. I know we don't like seeing people like this, but Scripture says it's true.

I certainly found myself to be intelligent once, but it was no match for my sin.

I posted a sermon on this forum in the YouTube section, it's under 15 minutes and is a cool sermon on these Roman passages; you might enjoy it. It came up in my feed this morning and thought of your topic hers, figured who doesn't love a good sermon clip? (I really do love a good sermon!) Here's a hyperlink to it.

It's why people are unwilling to acknowledge God I imagine. A God who is really God is a frightening thing.

 

[His clay]

I have attention deficit and other issues. If Arminians and non-Calvinists see those verses as refuting Calvinism, please explain to me how those verses refute Ephesians 2. Please be patient with me. I grew up in a family that didn't attend church or own Bibles. There were lots of divorces.

Explain how they refute Calvinism. I'm not chasing after undefined problems. It is your responsibility to actually state the actual problem. The fact that Arminians and Calvinists see things differently is a given. The fact that they see those verses differently is a given. However, you need to state the actual problem. How do they refute? All that I have seen thus far is arbitrary statements. There is no substance given.

What in Eph 2 is refuted? by what argument?
Why jump from Romans 1 before clearly articulating the arguments?
What in Romans 1 is refuted? and how?

Please understand that I've been around the bend quite a few times, so I'm not going to chase after undefined targets. Eph 2 is too general of a target. Romans 1:18-22 is too general of a target. Did the Arminians and non-Calvinists give such a general argument? Did they actually address anything in particular? As such, there is absolutely nothing to address. What exactly did they say that was contrary to Calvinism? Again, arbitrary statements are non-arguments. Anyone can make arbitrary statements. I can easily say that the Bible refutes Arminiansm and non-Calvinism. However, statements like these are a dime a dozen, and they do not constitute an actual argument.

Final question: If you are not going to articulate an actual Arminian argument, then what assurance do I have that you will listen and understand a Calvinistic argument?

I will gladly be patient with you. Please take some time and make the issue clear for me by taking the time to respond to my questions.

Edited to add: I see that in post #27 you have found the response you were looking for. I hope that the issue has been resolved in your mind.

 

[Rescued One]

@His clay

If you are going to respond to me, read my posts first. I'm sorry that I am not welcome here. I'm getting disillusioned by the intolerance at this site. I apologize for my shortcomings.

 

[Arial]

I just read some of the other posts in the thread. It seems Hazeleponi upset you too. So I need to make a point about what she was saying.
When you post only the material that is from the Mormon writings without stating why it is being posted, it becomes a post of Mormon propaganda. and it looks to visitors and members like the forum is allowing heretical views to be presented in that manner. We have deleted entire threads and OP's when Catholics have filled pages from so called saints, the tenants of Catholacism, JW's, Unitarians, in the same way as you are presenting the Mormon material.

If you are going to post it, it needs to come with a detractor, such as "The Mormons state ----" and this is the Christian position--then give the scriptural basis for the Christian position. It shouldn't just be posted as though it is being presented from a Mormon trying to disrupt a Christian forum.

 

[His clay]

@His clay

If you are going to respond to me, read my posts first. I'm sorry that I am not welcome here. I'm getting disillusioned by the intolerance at this site. I apologize for my shortcomings.

If you are going to respond to me, then try answering the simple questions and reading my posts first. Why are you demonstrating an avoidance for real dialogue and answering questions? You are welcome here. Therefore, I recommend really interacting with others, rereading my prior post, and trying to answer the questions. I'll quote my prior post just for you.

Explain how they refute Calvinism. I'm not chasing after undefined problems. It is your responsibility to actually state the actual problem. The fact that Arminians and Calvinists see things differently is a given. The fact that they see those verses differently is a given. However, you need to state the actual problem. How do they refute? All that I have seen thus far is arbitrary statements. There is no substance given.

What in Eph 2 is refuted? by what argument?
Why jump from Romans 1 before clearly articulating the arguments?
What in Romans 1 is refuted? and how?

Please understand that I've been around the bend quite a few times, so I'm not going to chase after undefined targets. Eph 2 is too general of a target. Romans 1:18-22 is too general of a target. Did the Arminians and non-Calvinists give such a general argument? Did they actually address anything in particular? As such, there is absolutely nothing to address. What exactly did they say that was contrary to Calvinism? Again, arbitrary statements are non-arguments. Anyone can make arbitrary statements. I can easily say that the Bible refutes Arminiansm and non-Calvinism. However, statements like these are a dime a dozen, and they do not constitute an actual argument.

Final question: If you are not going to articulate an actual Arminian argument, then what assurance do I have that you will listen and understand a Calvinistic argument?

I will gladly be patient with you. Please take some time and make the issue clear for me by taking the time to respond to my questions.

Edited to add: I see that in post #27 you have found the response you were looking for. I hope that the issue has been resolved in your mind.

I would love to see your response to the actual questions I presented. Thanks so much.

 

[His clay]

PLEASE explain how Arminians conclude that Romans 1:18-22 proves that everyone knows truth before God gives us eternal life. If we are dead in sins, how can we know? There are people who never read the Bible or read it and know nothing.

Romans 1:18-22 is describing general revelation. The gospel is not included in general revelation.

Let's observe what is going on in 1:18-22.

1. The section starts by proclaiming God's wrath upon the godlessness and wickedness of people.
2. The people know something (general revelation), but they are suppressing it by means of their wickedness. "who suppress the truth by their wickedness"
3. What specifically do they know? "God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made" All of which are not saving. The demons also know that God exists, and they know something of His nature, but they are not saved. Nor does general revelation constitute the gospel. (notice how nothing is said about knowing Jesus, redemption found in Him, faith and trust in Him, Him being a substitute, etc.....all of which are critical parts of the gospel)
4. This non-saving knowledge is just enough to leave them without excuse. The text says, "so that people are without excuse."
5. The final two verses proclaim the tragic result of their suppression of truth. "their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools"
   1. futile thinking
   2. foolish hearts
   3. backward from reality as they claimed to be wise but were fools
6. So we can see that they know a few basic truths of God's existence and nature, but they run away from it (i.e. they suppress it; they push it away; they push it down away from their sight). They exist in a state of denial of the reality that confronts them every single day, the reality that they see at every moment. This denial and suppression of general revelation demonstrates their deadness in sins. As the chapter goes on (in Romans 1), they only get worse (going from bad to worse), and at the end they know that their sin demands punishment, but they don't care. . . . "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." They know that they are accountable under God, but they suppress that reality because they want to do evil.
7. Since when does the dead in sins (in Eph2) mean that unbelievers can't know general revelation?
8. The Bible (and the gospel) is part of special revelation, which is not the general revelation mentioned in Romans 1.

I believe that this addresses every single point made in this post. I hope that it is helpful. God bless!