Being Instructed (2727) (katecheo from katá = down or intensive + echeo = sound, our English "echo") (see related word sounded forth = execheo) means to literally to sound down on or into the ears. From this the derived meaning is “to inform” or “to instruct orally.” The idea is to re-sound, to re-echo, to teach by by insistent repetition into the ears as the Arabs do when learning the Koran (learning aloud). The present tense indicates they were continuously being (passive voice) instructed out of the Law. Continuously systematically instructed through catechetical and synagogue instruction. This formal instruction is the basis of the critical discrimination or discernment. Katecheo - 8 times in NAS translated instruct, 1; instructed, 2; taught, 2; teaches, 1; told, 2 The idea is to teach by word of mouth, to teach in systematic or detailed manner, to indoctrinate ("catechize"). To drill a teaching into another which as alluded to can imply learning by repetition. Luke wrote his Gospel so that Theophilus might know the certainty of those things concerning which he had been informed orally or catechized (Luke 1:4). so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught (katecheo) (Luke 1:4) Apollos was catechized or orally informed, Luke writing that he... had been instructed (katecheo) in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John (Acts 18:25) The Jews had been orally informed by Paul in (Acts 21:21, 24) Acts 21:21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. Acts 21:24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses in order that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. As used here in Romans 2:18, Paul says that the Jews were taught orally out of the law. Paul preferred to speak five understandable words than ten thousand words in another language, so that he could then orally teach others "however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind, that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue." (1Cor. 14:19) God commands that the person who has been orally informed about His Word should share with him who orally teaches And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. (Gal. 6:6). In summary, teaching involves the oral passing on of information about the things of God. It is catechizing, informing by word of mouth. Katecheo is the source of our English word “catechism” and those doing the teaching who were called catechists and those receiving it were called catechumens. Catechized is idea of oral instruction especially associated with teaching by repetition. Both at home and in the synagogues, Jewish boys in particular were systematically and thoroughly instructed out of the Law. The Law was read and explained every Sabbath. Not only rabbis but also many other Jewish men memorized large portions of the OT, which they often recited in public as a demonstration of piety. It is ironic that ancient Jews considered wisdom to consist of acting according to the knowledge one had, whereas the ancient Greeks simply equated wisdom with knowledge. By New Testament times, however, many Jews, especially the religious leaders, had, in practice, accepted the Greek view of wisdom. Whether they did so intentionally or not, the consequence was that they felt content with merely knowing God’s law and had little desire or motivation to obey it. They knew much but obeyed little. All of us are aware of the spiritual blindness of many of our Jewish acquaintances, but we need to be aware that too may be affected by "spiritual myopia!" We fail to see that the sword of the Word cuts both Jews and Gentiles. The sword that pierces the heart of the religious Jew also pierces the religious Gentile. It is easy for the religious person to fall into the deceptive trap of imagining they are "okay" (righteous before God, guaranteed entry into God's presence when they die) because they know more about the Bible than the average person on the street (cp Ro 2:1-2), especially in this day of Biblical illiteracy. It is a great deception even for the pastor who takes his Bible in original Hebrew and Greek into the pulpit thinking he is okay with God, when in fact he may have a heart of stone. I constantly hear stories of pastors who are saved after years of preaching (Praise God)! One of the dangers of "religion" is that it functions much like a "vaccine" (think flu vaccine), so that those who have the vaccination ("a shot of religion") cannot get the real "disease" (the soul saving Gospel). Flu vaccinations are good because they save lives. "Religion Vaccinations" are dangerous because they keep dead souls from receiving life in Christ! Romans 2:19 and are confident (2SRAI) that you yourself are (PAN) a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, (NASB: Lockman) Greek: pepoithas (2SRAI) te seauton hodegon einai (PAN) tuphlon, phos ton en skotei: Amplified: And if you are confident that you [yourself] are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, and [that (Amplified Bible - Lockman) NLT: You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a beacon light for people who are lost in darkness without God. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: You can, therefore, confidently look upon yourself as a guide to those who do not know the way, and as a light to those who are groping in the dark. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: you have persuaded yourself and have come to a settled conviction that you are a guide of the blind, a light of those in darkness, (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of blind ones, a light of those in darkness, AND ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOU YOURSELF: pepoithas (2SRAI) te seauton: (Pr 26:12; Isa 5:21; 56:10; Mt 6:23-note; Mt 15:14; 23:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; Mk 10:15; Jn 7:46, 47, 48, 49; 9:34,40,41; 1Co 3:18; 4:10; 8:1,2; Rev 3:17,18) THE WAY THINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN! The ESV adds the "if" which applies to all the verbs in Ro 2:17-18 (if you rely...if you boast...if you know...etc) (ESV) and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, In other words what follows is assumed true. The Jews were fully convinced (perfect tense speaks of the permanence of their assurance) that they were a guide, a light, a corrector and a teacher, because they had the Law. And who was the implied recipient of their great learning? Undoubtedly (from the overall context) it was the Gentiles because they were blind, in darkness, foolish and immature. And so Paul enumerates the functions the Jews (with their access to God's Word) should have fulfilled to the Gentiles who were without access to God's Word (cp Eph 2:12). Did they Jews accomplish the task God had graciously given them? For the most part they did not, and yet some did accomplish their God ordained purpose, Paul (and his precious epistles) being one Jew who was obedient to the call of Jesus after being struck down on the Damascus Road (see Acts 9:1-7)... But arise, and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion (exousia = the right and the might) of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (Here "sanctified" not in present tense as with progressive sanctification but in perfect tense, indicating a past completed action [justification] with ongoing effects and results. See also Three Tenses of Salvation) by faith in Me.’ (Acts 26:16-18) Comment: Note that Paul's commission was especially to the Gentiles, to those who were spiritually blind, in spiritual darkness, spiritually foolish and spiritually immature. Paul obeyed without hesitation, for he knew that delayed obedience is always disobedience! Bible Knowledge Commentary agrees writing that "Many Jews were convinced and as a result believed certain things about themselves in relationship to Gentiles....This belief by Jews rested in their having in the Law the embodiment (morphōsin, “outline, semblance”; used elsewhere in the NT only in 2Ti 3:5) of knowledge and truth (the Gr. has the definite article “the” with both nouns: “the knowledge and the truth”)." The verb peitho suggests that what follows is the result of an idea not only of superiority but of self-complacency. Because they possessed the law, the Jews were confident (self assured, convinced) that they were spiritually superior teachers -- they were guides to blind pagans (cf. Mt 23:24, 25, 26, 27, 28), light to those in spiritual darkness (cf Isa 42:6), wise in God’s ways, and able to teach babes (this could be a reference to Gentile proselytes to Judaism). "The term 'thou art confident', describes his pretentious assurance." (Godet) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_215-29.htm#Instructed