Romans 2:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:21

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? The οὗν here does not involve an anacoluthon after the reading εἴ δὲ in Romans 2:17 , though St. Paul would not have much cared if it had been so. It serves only to sum up the lengthened protasis, and introduce the apodosis: " If … dost thou then, " etc.? In what follows it is not, of course, implied that all Jews who relied on the Law were, in fact, thieves, adulterers, etc., but only that the Jews as a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:21

A sermon to teachers. The apostle supposes a Jew to have listened complacently to the long catalogue of crimes of which the heathen world has been guilty—crimes which blacken the lip to mention. And then the apostle turns strategically round upon the self-satisfied possessor of a Divine revelation to put the scathing inquiry, why he has not been freer from violations of the moral law. Advantage entails responsibility; it was inconsistent to eagerly proselytize to a religion which the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 2:21

Thou therefore ... - He who is a teacher of others may be expected to be learned himself. They ought to be found to be possessed of superior knowledge; and by this question the apostle impliedly reproves them for their ignorance. The form of a question is chosen because it conveys the truth with greater force. He puts the question as if it were undeniable that they were grossly ignorant; compare Matthew 23:3, “They say, and do not,” etc.That preachest - This word means to proclaim in any... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 2:21-24

Romans 2:21-24. Thou therefore which teachest another And valuest thyself upon thy ability to do it, trusting therein for acceptance with God; teachest thou not thyself? He does not teach himself, who does not practise what he teaches. This, and what follows, is mentioned, to show that the knowledge, which the scribes and doctors pretended to derive from the law, had had no manner of influence on their spirit and conduct; so that their boasting in the law, and their claim to be the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 2:1-29

The Jewish world (2:1-29)Not only are pagan Gentiles under God’s condemnation, Jews are also. Jews find fault with their Gentile neighbours, yet they do the same things themselves (2:1). They know that God is just and that he punishes sin. Therefore, when they suffer no immediate punishment for their behaviour, they think that God approves of them and will not punish them. They do not realize that in his kindness and patience he is giving them time to repent (2-4).Those who increase their sin... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Romans 2:21

therefore . Ironical use of Greek. oun . another . As Romans 2:1 , but without article. preachest . Greek. kerusso . App-121 . a man, &c . Literally not to steal. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 2:21

Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples? thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law, dishonorest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.This devastating blast is a charge of hypocrisy, immorality,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Romans 2:21

Romans 2:21. Dost thou steal?— Grotius on this text proves from Josephus, that some of the Jewish priests lived by rapine, depriving others of their due share of the tithes, and even suffering them to perish for want: that others were guilty of gross uncleanness: and as for sacrilegiously robbing God and his altars, it had been complained of as early as Malachi's days (Malachi 1:8; Malachi 1:12-13.). See Grotius and Doddridge. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Romans 2:21

17-24. 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 more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 2:17-29

2. The guilt of the Jews 2:17-29Even though the Jews had the advantages of the Mosaic Law and circumcision, their arrogance and fruitlessness offset these advantages. Divinely revealed religion is no substitute for trust and obedience toward God. Romans 2:17-29 are similar to Romans 1:18-32. In Romans 2:17-29, Paul showed that Jews are guilty before God just as he formerly proved all humanity guilty. In both sections he pointed out that man knew the truth but rejected it and consequently became... read more

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