Romans 2:20

Romans 2:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
• New International Version (NIV)an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
• English Standard Version (ESV)an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
• New King James Version (NKJV)an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

Context of Romans 2:20

18You know what God wants people to do. His Law teaches you what is good and right. 19You are sure that you yourself can teach other people about God. You think that you can be like a guide to blind people. You think that you can be like a light to people who are in the dark. You are sure that you can teach fools and people who do not know very much. You know that God's Law tells you everything about what is true. Because it helps you to know so much, you think that you can be a great teacher! 21So you teach other people, do you? But do you teach yourself? You tell other people, ‘Do not rob anyone.’ But maybe you yourself rob other people. 22You say, ‘People must not have sex with anyone who is not their wife or their husband.’ But maybe you yourself have sex in a wrong way. You say that you hate idols. But do you rob places where people worship idols?

Romans 2:20 word by word

παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• An instructorπαιδευτήςpaideutēs · instructorG3810
• of the foolishἄφρωνaphrōn · foolishG878
• a teacherδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
• of babesνήπιοςnēpios · childG3516
• which hastἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• the formὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the formμόρφωσιςmorphōsis · formG3446
• of knowledgeγνῶσιςgnōsis · knowledgeG1108
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• of the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551

Cross-references for Romans 2:20

• Matthew 11:25At this moment, Jesus said, ‘Father, you rule over everything in heaven and on the earth! People who do not know many things can now understand your message. And so I thank you. But you have hidden these things from some other people. Those people think that they understand everything. They think that they are wise.
• 1 Corinthians 3:1My Christian friends, I could not teach you as I would teach people who have God's Spirit. I had to teach you as people who belong only to this world. You were like little children who could not understand the message about Christ very well.
• Hebrews 5:13Anyone who still thinks like a baby does not yet understand God's message about what is right. It is as if they are still drinking only milk.
• 1 Peter 2:2Instead, you should want to learn about God more and more. New babies always want their mothers' milk, which makes them grow strong. God's true message is like good food that will make you strong in your spirits. Then you will continue to grow as believers so that God saves you.
• Romans 6:17At one time, you were slaves to sin. But then you received God's true message, and you were happy to obey it. I thank God because of that!
• 2 Timothy 1:13You have heard me tell you about God's true message. Let those words be an example to you, so that you also teach what is true. Do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. Continue to trust him and to love his people.
• 2 Timothy 3:5Those people will seem to be serving God. But really they refuse to accept God's power to help them. You must stay away from people like that.

Commentaries on Romans 2:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20An instructer of the foolish, etc. - Ye believe the Gentiles to be babes and fools when compared with yourselves; that ye alone possess the only true knowledge; that ye are the only favourites of Heaven; and that all nations must look up to you as possessing the only form of knowledge, , the grand scheme and draught of all true science, of every thing that is worthy to be learned: the system of eternal truth, derived from the law. If, therefore, ye act…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Of the foolish - The word “foolish” is used in the Scriptures in two significations: to denote those who are void of understanding, and to denote the wicked. Here it is clearly used in the former sense, signifying that the Jew esteemed himself qualified to instruct those without knowledge. Of babes - This is the literal meaning of the original word. The expression is figurative, and denotes those who were as ignorant as children - an expression which they…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-24Verses 17-24 The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the sins professors…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-20The pride of the Jews reflects Old Testament and Jewish teachings about the privileges and responsibilities God gave to Israel. God gave his law to Israel, formed a special relationship with them, and gave them the task of being a spiritual light to the Gentiles (see Isaiah 42:6–7). Jews were not wrong to enjoy these blessings; their error was in failing to live up to their privileged position.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2417-24. Behold--"But if" is, beyond doubt, the true reading here. (It differs but in a single letter from the received reading, and the sense is the same).Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 2:20

• Babes
• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Instruction
• Minister, Christian
• Science
• Self-Righteousness
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Accuse
• Babe
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance
• Sure
• Treasure

Commentaries on Romans 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings