Jewish Violation of the Law

17 Now if[a] you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,(A) and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,(B) being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth(C) in the law— 21 you then, who teach another,(D) don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?(E) 23 You who boast in the law,(F) do you dishonor God by breaking the law?[b] 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.[c](G)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:17 Other mss read Look
  2. 2:23 Or you dishonor God by breaking the law.
  3. 2:24 Is 52:5

Jews also Condemned by the Law

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve the things that are superior, because you[a] are instructed by the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Therefore, the one who teaches someone else, do you not teach yourself? The one who preaches not to steal, do you steal? 22 The one who says not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? The one who abhors idols, do you rob temples? 23 Who boast in the law, by the transgression of the law you dishonor God![b] 24 For just as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are instructed”) which is understood as causal
  2. Romans 2:23 Or “do you dishonor God?” (a number of translators and interpreters take this phrase as a final rhetorical question; the present translation regards it as a final summary statement to be taken ironically)
  3. Romans 2:24 A quotation from Isa 52:5