Romans 2:17-24
Amplified Bible
The Jew Is Condemned by the Law
17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely on the Law [for your salvation] and boast in [your special relationship to] God, 18 and [if you claim to] know His will and [a]approve the things that are [b]essential or have a sense of what is excellent, based on your instruction from the Law, 19 and [if you] are confident that you are a [qualified] guide to the blind [those untaught in theology], a light to those who are in darkness, 20 and [that you are] [c]a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the [spiritually] [d]childish, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, [e]do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob [pagan] temples [of valuable idols and offerings]?(A) 23 You who boast in the Law, do you [repeatedly] dishonor God by [f]breaking the Law? 24 For, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written [in Scripture].(B)
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- Romans 2:18 Or discerningly distinguish between the things which differ.
- Romans 2:18 Or excellent.
- Romans 2:20 Or an instructor.
- Romans 2:20 Lit infants.
- Romans 2:22 In Judaism at that time, one of the leading schools of thought (that of Hillel) taught that a man could divorce his wife for any reason, such as cooking a bad meal. Paul may have in mind men who use a flimsy excuse to divorce their wives, with the real intent of marrying another woman. In God’s eyes, this is an act of adultery.
- Romans 2:23 The Pharisees were distorting and breaking God’s law by giving their own interpretations priority over the plain meaning of the Scriptures.
Romans 2:17-24
New American Standard Bible
The Jews under the Law
17 But if you call yourself a [a]Jew and (A)rely [b]upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and [c](B)distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a [d]corrector of the foolish, a teacher of [e]the immature, possessing in the Law (C)the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, (D)who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who [f]preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you (E)rob temples? 23 You who (F)boast [g]in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “(G)the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (H)because of you,” just as it is written.
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- Romans 2:17 Or Judean
- Romans 2:17 Or upon law
- Romans 2:18 Or approve
- Romans 2:20 Or instructor
- Romans 2:20 Lit infants
- Romans 2:21 Or proclaim
- Romans 2:23 Or in law
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