Romans 2:14

Romans 2:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
• New International Version (NIV)(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
• New Living Translation (NLT)Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.

Context of Romans 2:14

12For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Romans 2:14 word by word

ὅταν γὰρ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τὰ τοῦ νόμου ποιῶσιν, οὗτοι νόμον μὴ ἔχοντες ἑαυτοῖς εἰσιν νόμος,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• which haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• notμήmē · notG3361
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• by natureφύσιςphusis · natureG5449
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• unto themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438

Cross-references for Romans 2:14

• Romans 2:12For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
• Romans 3:1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
• Deuteronomy 4:7For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
• Psalms 147:19He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.
• Acts 14:16In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
• Acts 17:30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
• Ephesians 2:12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
• Romans 2:27Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
• Romans 1:19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
• 1 Corinthians 11:14Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
• Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
• Romans 1:32Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Commentaries on Romans 2:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, etc. - Nor does it follow that the Gentiles who have not had a Divine revelation, shall either perish, because they had it not; or their unrighteous conduct pass unpunished, because not having this revelation might be considered as an excuse for their sins. Do by nature the things contained in the law - Do, without this Divine revelation, through that light which God imparts to every man, the things contained…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14For when - The apostle, in Romans 2:13, had stated a general principle, that the doers of the Law only can be justified, if justification is attempted by the Law. In this verse and the next, he proceeds to show that the same principle is applicable to the pagan; that though they have not the written Law of God, yet that they have sufficient knowledge of his will to take away every excuse for sin, and consequently that the course of reasoning by which he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-15Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires: This fits with the idea that the law is written on their hearts (2:15), which points to the promise of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Or Paul may be speaking about non-Christian Gentiles. These Gentiles know God’s basic moral law through their conscience. In this case, Paul shows that all people can be held responsible for basic moral standards, even without God’s written law.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1513-15. For not the hearers, &c.--As touching the Jews, in whose ears the written law is continually resounding, the condemnation of as many of them as are found sinners at the last involves no difficulty; but even as respects the heathen, who are strangers to the law in its positive and written form--since they show how deeply it is engraven on their moral nature, which witnesses within them for righteousness and against iniquity, accusing or condemning…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 2:14

• Conscience
• Doer
• Gentiles
• God Continued...
• Heart
• Judgment
• Law

In the dictionaries

• Accuse
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance
• Judgment, The final
• Law
• Resurrection of the dead

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