Yes—Gentiles are held responsible because God has clearly revealed Himself to them, leaving them without excuse.
Romans 1:18-20 says that what may be known of God is manifest in every person, because God has shown it to them; His eternal power and Godhead are clearly seen in creation. Les Feldick adds that unrighteous people actively 'hold the truth down'—even trampling it underfoot—rather than respond to what God has made known. God is always fair, so this accountability is just.
Romans 1:18-20 — This passage directly answers the question: God has revealed what may be known of Him to all people, and His power and Godhead are evident in creation, leaving no excuse.
Ephesians 2:12 — It describes the Gentile condition before God's work through Paul, showing they were strangers to Israel's covenants and without God in the world—yet God remained fair.
Romans 1:18 says the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who 'hold the truth in unrighteousness.' The text goes on to say that what may be known of God is manifest in them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world, God's invisible attributes—His eternal power and Godhead—are clearly understood by the things that are made, so that all people are 'without excuse.' This applies to all ungodliness, not just Israel.
Les Feldick focuses on the Greek of Romans 1:18, explaining that the word implies holding the truth down—literally standing on it with their feet and trampling it underfoot. Since Jesus said, 'I am the truth, the way, and the life,' Les says this means Christ-rejecting people have taken Jesus Christ and held what He taught down in unrighteousness and ungodliness. They do not want anything He had to say or anything that comes from God's Book [Clip 0]. Feldick also addresses the apparent problem of God's fairness. He acknowledges that in the Old Testament era, Gentiles were aliens from Israel's commonwealth, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But he insists, 'We can't ever accuse God of not being fair. He's always been fair. He's always just. He's always righteous' [Clips 2, 7]. God's original plan was to use Israel to bring the pagan Gentiles to the knowledge of their God, but Israel failed and became proud of its special position [Clips 5, 6]. When Israel rejected the Messiah, God sent Paul to the pagan Gentiles, and they began to swarm to the Gospel [Clip 1]. Today, many people could know the truth but 'don't want to'—they will not listen or learn because they do not want to know any better [Clip 3].
Romans 1:18 reveals God's wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Verse 19 says what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shewed it unto them. Verse 20 explains that God's invisible attributes, even His eternal power and Godhead, are clearly seen from the creation of the world through things that are made, leaving them without excuse. This applies to 'all' ungodliness, not just Israel.
Les points out that the Greek of Romans 1:18 implies people are 'holding down' the truth—literally standing on it with their feet and trampling it underfoot. Because Jesus is the Truth, they have taken the name of Jesus Christ and held it down in unrighteousness. They do not want anything He had to say or anything that comes from God's Book.
Feldick says that when God was dealing with Israel on a covenant basis, Gentiles were 'without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.' Some people get shaken by that and wonder if God was fair. Les responds that God has always been fair, just, and righteous, so we can never accuse Him of unfairness. He adds, 'No wonder they were all pagan'—but that does not change God's justice.
Les says the whole concept from the beginning was that God intended Israel to be a particular people of value that He could use to reach all the pagans. In Exodus 19, God calls Israel 'a treasure unto Me above all people' because all the earth is His—He is Sovereign. Once Israel became a prepared, spiritual, obedient people, God would send them into the Gentile world to bring Gentiles to a knowledge of their God. But after 2,000 years of being told they were special, Israel couldn't get it out of their head that anyone else was worth a nickel.
Les compares Israel to modern America. There is not a man, woman, boy, or girl in America who could not know the plan of salvation or that we are in the last days, but they don't. Why? Because they don't want to. They will not listen, they will not learn, because they don't want to know any better. That was Israel's problem as well. This shows the issue is a refusal to accept truth, not a lack of evidence.
Because Israel rejected the Old Testament promises, rejected her Messiah and King, and crucified Him, they opened up the windows of heaven for us Gentiles, whose forefathers were pagan. Every one of our ancestors was steeped in idolatry, the occult, and mythology; Israel alone had the true knowledge of the true God. God then did something totally different and sent the apostle Paul out among those pagan Gentiles, and they suddenly began to swarm to the Gospel.
The Greek of 'Hold the Truth'
Les Feldick explains that the Greek of Romans 1:18 pictures unrighteous people standing on the truth and trampling it underfoot. Since Jesus is the Truth, they are deliberately rejecting Christ and what He taught.
Gentile Pagan Background
Les notes that every Gentile's forefathers were steeped in idolatry and mythology, while Israel alone had true knowledge of God. Israel's rejection of the Messiah opened the door for Paul to reach these pagan Gentiles.
God's Fairness to Gentiles
Les acknowledges that Gentiles were aliens from Israel's commonwealth, without hope and without God, but insists God has always been fair, just, and righteous—so we cannot accuse Him of unfairness.
Refusing to Know
Les compares Israel and America: people could know the plan of salvation, but they do not want to, will not listen, and will not learn because they don't want to know any better.
Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained
Now here the conclusion was made then, that yes, God is going to call out of the Gentiles a people for His name. Now I'm well aware of the fact that scripturally Gentiles certainly do not come into that intimate relationship that God had with Israel when He called them, My people. And then of course when they fell away, and in their obstinacy and their unbelief, then He said to Moses, Thy people.
Israel Called to Bring Light to Gentiles
Les explains that God always intended for Israel to be prepared and obedient so He could send them to the Gentile world to bring the Gentiles to a knowledge of their God, but Israel became proud and exclusive.
God's Sovereign Plan for Israel
Les emphasizes that God chose Israel from all people to be His treasure and use them to reach the pagans. God is Sovereign and created all the earth, so He has the right to do whatever He wants.
Gentiles Outside the Covenants
Les states that everything God did for the Jew did not apply to Gentiles; they were strangers to the covenants and without God in the world, which is why they were pagan—yet this still does not make God unfair.
Romans 1:18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
This foundational verse names the target of God's wrath: those who actively suppress the truth.
Romans 1:19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
It explains that God has personally made knowledge of Himself available to everyone.
Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
This verse is the key answer: creation reveals God's eternal power and nature, leaving no excuse for not knowing Him.
Ephesians 2:12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Les cites this to describe the Gentile's former separation from God's covenant people, then insists God was still fair.
John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Les uses this to explain that 'the truth' in Romans 1:18 is Jesus Christ.
Exodus 19:5: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Les refers to this in explaining God's plan to make Israel His treasured people to reach the nations.
Yes. Romans 1:19-20 says what may be known of God is manifest in them, because God has shown it to them, and His eternal power and Godhead are clearly seen in creation. Therefore they are without excuse. Les Feldick adds that instead of responding to that truth, they hold it down in unrighteousness.
No. Les acknowledges that Gentiles were strangers to the covenants and without God in the world, but he says we can never accuse God of not being fair. God has always been fair, just, and righteous.
Les teaches that from the beginning God intended to use Israel to reach all the pagans. Israel was to be a prepared, spiritual, obedient people who would bring the Gentiles to a knowledge of God. When Israel failed, God raised up Paul to take the Gospel to the Gentile world.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Holds Everyone Without Excuse — Romans 1:18-21