Atos 17

Atos 17

MacDonald writes that "Paul’s argument continues. If men are the offspring of God, then it is impossible to think of God as a gold or silver or stone idol. These are shaped by art and man’s devising, and therefore are not as great as men. These idols are, in a sense, the offspring of human beings, whereas the truth is that human beings are the creation of God." (Believer's Bible Commentary) MacArthur reasons that "God created man, He must be more than a mere man-made idol." (Ibid) Being then the children of God - "So since we are God's offspring" (NET) - Offspring is a more accurate translation than children which as discussed in the previous verse might be misleading to some readers not familiar with how one becomes a true child of God (Jn 1:12). Ge 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Ryrie "Being then the children of God, not in the sense that all have something of the divine in them, nor that all are His redeemed children, but that all people were created and given life by God." (RSB) We ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone - Idolatry is not even logical! As John Polhill so aptly puts it "Only the creature can express the true worship of the Creator, not the creation of the creature, not something made by human design and skill." (NAC-Acts)