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17 But de if ei you sy call yourself eponomazō a Jew Ioudaios, and kai rely epanapauomai on the law nomos, and kai boast kauchaomai in en God theos, 18 and kai know ginōskō his ho will thelēma, and kai approve dokimazō the ho things that excel diapherō because you are instructed katēcheō by ek the ho law nomos, 19 and te are convinced peithō that you yourself seautou are eimi a guide hodēgos of the blind typhlos, a light phōs for those ho who are in en darkness skotos, 20 a corrector paideutēs of the foolish aphrōn, a teacher didaskalos of little nēpios children , having echō in en the ho law nomos the ho embodiment morphōsis of ho knowledge gnōsis and kai of ho truth alētheia 21 you ho, then oun, who teach didaskō others heteros, will you not ou teach didaskō yourself seautou? You ho who preach kēryssō against stealing kleptō, do you steal kleptō? 22 You ho who tell legō others not to commit moicheuō adultery , do you commit moicheuō adultery ? You ho who abhor bdelyssomai · ho idols eidōlon, do you rob temples hierosyleō? 23 You who hos boast kauchaomai in en the law nomos, by dia your ho breaking parabasis of the ho law nomos you dishonor atimazō · ho God theos! 24 For gar as kathōs it is written graphō, “ On account of dia you hymeis the ho name onoma of ho God theos is being blasphemed blasphēmeō among en the ho Gentiles ethnos.”

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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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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:18 Or discerningly distinguish between the things which differ.
  2. Romans 2:18 Or excellent.
  3. Romans 2:20 Or an instructor.
  4. Romans 2:20 Lit infants.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.