Romans 2:12-24 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:18

And knowest his will ,.... Not the secret will or purpose of God; nor his revealed will in the Gospel, for of this they were ignorant; but his declared will in the law, showing what is to be done, and what is not to be done: to know which in express terms was a privilege, that other people had not; but then the bare knowledge of this will be of no avail: for persons may know their Lord's will, as the Jews did, and not do it, and so be worthy to be beaten with many stripes: and approvest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:19

And art confident that thou thyself ,.... Being vainly puffed up in, their fleshly minds, they were strongly persuaded that they were very fit persons to be a guide to the blind : all men are by nature blind, as to the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; the meaner sort of the people among the Jews seem to be intended here; or else the ignorant Gentiles, whom the Jews were very fond of making proselytes to their religion and laws; but miserable guides were they, whether to their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:20

An instructor of the foolish ,.... All men in a state of unregeneracy are foolish, and need instruction; here the common people among the Jews, who knew not the law, are meant; it was very usual to call anyone of their doctors and masters מורה , "an instructor": it follows, a teacher of babes ; either in age or in understanding; such who taught either of them were called by the Jews מלמדי תינוקות , "teachers of babes". Thus they paraphrase the text in Daniel 12:3 , "they that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:21

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself ?.... Several charges are here brought against the Jews, even against their teachers; for though they are put by way of question, they are to be considered as so many assertions and matters of fact; thus, though they taught others, they did not teach themselves; they were blind leaders of the blind; they were ignorant of the law, of the spirituality of it; they were desirous to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:22

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery ,.... Adultery here is to be taken not figuratively for adulterating the word of God, and mixing it with their own inventions; but literally for the sin of adultery, and that not in heart only, but in act: dost thou commit adultery ? an iniquity which greatly prevailed among the Jews at this time of day; hence Christ calls them "an adulterous generation", Matthew 12:39 ; and that to such a degree, that by the advice of their great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:23

Thou that makest thy boast of the law ,.... Of their having it, which other nations had not; of their knowledge of it, which many of their own people were without, or had but a small share of; and of their keeping of it even to perfection: through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God ? sin sometimes is expressed by a word which signifies a "fall"; sometimes by another, which signifies missing of the mark, or straying from it; sometimes by another, which signifies a "contrariety to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:24

For the name of God is blasphemed ,.... The being and perfections of God, such as his holiness, omniscience, and omnipotence, are denied, or evil spoken of; and also the law of God, and the forms of worship instituted by him: among the Gentiles through you : through their iniquities, who when they observe them, conclude that the God of Israel is not omniscient, or he would know, and take notice of these things; and that he is not holy, or he could not bear them; nor omnipotent, or he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:12

For as many as have sinned without law, etc. - They, viz. the Gentiles, who shall be found to have transgressed against the mere light of nature, or rather, that true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, John 1:9 , shall not come under the same rule with those, the Jews, who have in addition to this enjoyed an extraordinary revelation; but they shall be dealt with according to the inferior dispensation, under which they lived: while those, the Jews, who have sinned... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:13

For not the hearers of the law, etc. - It does not follow, because one people are favored with a Divine revelation, that therefore they shall be saved; while the others who have not had that revelation, shall finally perish: this is not God's procedure; where he has given a law - a Divine revelation, he requires obedience to that law; and only those who have been doers of that law - who have lived according to the light and privileges granted in that revelation, shall be justified - shall be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:14

For 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 in the law - act according to... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:14

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