Romans 2:18

Romans 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
• English Standard Version (ESV)and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
• New King James Version (NKJV)and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
• New Living Translation (NLT)You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.

Context of Romans 2:18

16This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. 17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

Romans 2:18 word by word

καὶ γινώσκεις τὸ θέλημα καὶ δοκιμάζεις τὰ διαφέροντα κατηχούμενος ἐκ τοῦ νόμου·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• knowestγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
• approvestδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
• the things that are more excellentδιαφέρωdiapherō · to spread/surpassG1308
• being instructedκατηχέωkatēcheō · to instructG2727
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551

Cross-references for Romans 2:18

• Deuteronomy 4:8And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
• Nehemiah 9:13“You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good.
• Psalms 147:19He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.
• Luke 12:47“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
• John 13:17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
• James 4:17If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
• Philippians 1:10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21but test them all; hold on to what is good,
• Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
• Romans 15:4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
• Psalms 19:8The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
• Psalms 119:98Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
• Proverbs 6:23For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,
• 2 Timothy 3:15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Commentaries on Romans 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Knowest his will - Hast been favored with a revelation of his own will, immediately from himself. The things that are more excellent - , The things that differ - that revelation which God has given of himself makes the nicest distinctions between right and wrong; between vice and virtue; showing how you should walk so as to please God, and, consequently, acquire the most excellent portion that human spirits can have on this side heaven: for all these…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18And knowest his will - The will or commands of God. This knowledge they obtained from the Scriptures; and of course in this they were distinguished from other nations. And approvest - The word used here is capable of two interpretations. It may mean either to distinguish, or to approve. The word is properly and usually applied to the process of testing or trying metals by fire. Hence, it comes to be used in a general sense to try or to distinguish…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 2:18

• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Instruction
• Self-Righteousness
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Accuse
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance
• Sure
• Treasure
• Bible, the

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