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;
• New International Version (NIV)if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by 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,

Context of Romans 2:18

16on the day when God judges the secrets of men according to my Good News through Messiah Yeshua. 17But if you call yourself Jewish and rely upon the Torah and boast in God and know His will and determine what matters because you are instructed from the Torah— 19and you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Torah the embodiment of knowledge and the 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 4:8What great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances that are righteous—like all of this Torah that I am setting before you today?
• Nehemiah 9:13“You descended on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just judgments, reliable laws, and good statutes and mitzvot.
• Psalms 147:19He declares His word to Jacob, His decrees and His rulings to Israel.
• Luke 12:47“That slave who knew his master’s will but did not prepare or act according to his desire will be harshly whipped.
• John 13:17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them!”
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now concerning idol sacrifices, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
• James 4:17Therefore whoever knows the right thing to do and does not do it—for him it is sin.
• Philippians 1:10in order to approve what is excellent—so that in the Day of Messiah you may be sincere and blameless,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21but test all things, hold fast to what is good,
• Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature, who through practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.
• Romans 15:4For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
• Psalms 19:8The Torah of Adonai is perfect, restoring the soul. The testimony of Adonai is trustworthy, making the simple wise.
• Psalms 119:98Your mitzvot make me wiser than my enemies —for they are mine forever.
• Proverbs 6:23For the mitzvah is a lamp, Torah a light, and corrective discipline the way of life,
• 2 Timothy 3:15and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise, leading to salvation through trusting in Messiah Yeshua.

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