Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. New Living Translation Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. English Standard Version For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. Berean Standard Bible Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. Berean Literal Bible For when Gentiles, not having the Law, do by nature the things of the Law, these not having the Law are a law to themselves, King James Bible For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: New King James Version for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, New American Standard Bible For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, NASB 1995 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, NASB 1977 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, Legacy Standard Bible For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, Amplified Bible When Gentiles, who do not have the Law [since it was given only to Jews], do instinctively the things the Law requires [guided only by their conscience], they are a law to themselves, though they do not have the Law. Christian Standard Bible So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. Holman Christian Standard Bible So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. American Standard Version (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; Aramaic Bible in Plain English For if the Gentiles who have not The Written Law would perform those things of The Written Law by their nature, while they have not The Written Law, they would be The Written Law to themselves. Contemporary English Version Some people naturally obey the Law's commands, even though they don't have the Law. Douay-Rheims Bible For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these having not the law are a law to themselves: English Revised Version for when Gentiles which have no law do by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law unto themselves; GOD'S WORD® Translation For example, whenever non-Jews who don't have laws from God do by nature the things that Moses' Teachings contain, they are a law to themselves even though they don't have any laws from God. Good News Translation The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law. International Standard Version For whenever gentiles, who do not possess the Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. Literal Standard Version For when nations that have no law, by nature may do the things of the Law, these not having a law—to themselves are a law, Majority Standard Bible Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. New American Bible For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law. NET Bible For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. New Revised Standard Version When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. New Heart English Bible For when the non-Jews who do not have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, Webster's Bible Translation For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law to themselves. Weymouth New Testament For when Gentiles who have no Law obey by natural instinct the commands of the Law, they, without having a Law, are a Law to themselves; World English Bible (for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, Young's Literal Translation For, when nations that have not a law, by nature may do the things of the law, these not having a law -- to themselves are a law; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God's Righteous Judgment…13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous. 14Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them… Cross References Acts 10:35 but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. Romans 1:19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. Romans 2:15 So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 1 Corinthians 9:21 To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. Treasury of Scripture For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law to themselves: which. Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; Romans 3:1,2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? … Deuteronomy 4:7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? do by. Romans 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? Romans 1:19,20 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them… 1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? are a law. Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Jump to Previous Commands Contained Desire Gentiles Indeed Instinct Instinctively Law Nations Natural Nature Obey Required Requires ThemselvesJump to Next Commands Contained Desire Gentiles Indeed Instinct Instinctively Law Nations Natural Nature Obey Required Requires ThemselvesRomans 2 1. No excuse for sin.6. No escape from judgment. 14. Gentiles cannot; 17. nor Jews. (14) A sort of parenthesis begins here. Romans 2:16 refers back to the main subject of the paragraph, and not to the particular point on which the Apostle digresses in Romans 2:14-15, the virtual operation of law among the Gentiles as well as Jews. By nature.--Spontaneously; of their own motion; not acting under the coercion of any external rule, but simply by the promptings of their own conscience left to itself. The things contained in the law.--Literally, the things of the law. In this one instance the article is used, meaning, however, not "the law of Moses," but "of this law," or "of such law"--i.e., the ideal law spoken of just before. Verses 14, 15. - For when Gentiles, which have not law, do by nature (or, having not law by nature, do; cf. ver. 27, ἡ ἐκ φύσεως ἀκροβυστία) the things of the Law (i.e. the Mosaic Law), these, not having law, are law unto themselves; which (οἵτινες, with its usual significance of quippequi) show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness (or, bearing witness therewith), and their thoughts betwixt each other accusing or else excusing (not, as in the Authorized Version, meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another, μεταξὺ being used as a preposition, governing ἀλλήλων). The "for" at the beginning of ver. 14 connects it with the preceding one thus: "Not hearers but doers of law will be justified." The Jew, therefore, has no advantage in the way of justification over the Gentile from being in a peculiar sense a hearer. For Gentiles also may be doers, though not of a positive revealed law, yet of the law of conscience. It is not, of course, implied that on the ground of any such doing they "shall be justified;" only that, so far as they do, they will, equally with the Jews, be rewarded. Nor is it said that any, in fact, do all that law enjoins. We observe the hypothetical form of expression, ὅταν ποιῇ, and also, τὰ τοῦ νόμου, i.e. any of the Law's requirements. The Law, for instance, says, "Thou shalt not steal;" and if a Gentile, though knowing nothing of the ten commandments, on principle refrains from stealing, his conscientious honesty will have its own reward as much as that of the Jew who refrains in obedience to the revealed commandment. A few of the expressions in these verses call for consideration.(1) What is meant by τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου, said to be "written in their hearts"? Τὸ ἔργον cannot be pleonastic, as supposed by Tholuck. One view is that it is equivalent to τὰ ἔργα τοῦ νόμου, which is an expression frequently used elsewhere (Romans 3:27, 28; Romans 9:32; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:2, 5, 10); and the singular number has been explained as collective, as in 1 Corinthians 3:13; Galatians 6:4, and ver. 7 above (so Meyer), or as "applying to each of the particular cases supposed in the ὅταν... ποιῶσιν (so Alford). The objection to this view is that it is not the works of the Law that can be said to be written, but rather the Law itself from which the works proceed. Seeing that γραπτὸν implies evident reference to the tables of the Law, it seems best to take ἔργον as denoting the efficacy of the Law, as opposed to the letter, which alone was written on the tables. So in effect Bengel: "Legem ipsam cum sua activitate. Opponitur literae, quae est accidens." (2) How do they show (ἐνδείκνυνται) this ἔργον νόμου? Evidently, from the context of ver. 14, by doing τὰ τοῦ νὸμου; i.e. doing them (as is, of course, implied) as being the right things to do, and approving them. The very possibility of their doing this is evidence of an innate moral sense in the human heart, which, however it may often be obscured or perverted, remains as a characteristic of humanity, and is more or less operative in all communities. "Nulls enim gens unquam sic ab humanitate abhorruit ut non se intra leges aliquas contineret. Constat absque dubio quasdam justitiae et rectitudinis conceptiones, quas Graeci προλήψεις recant, hominum animis esse naturaliter ingenitas" (Calvin). (3) What is exactly meant by the conscience witnessing, and the thoughts accusing or else excusing? Συνειδήσις is not the Law in the heart, but rather our consciousness, whereby wittingly, in accordance with that Law, we approve or condemn. The compound verb συμμαρτυρούσης seems to denote a joint witness of conscience. In Romans 8:16 and Romans 9:1, where alone the word occurs elsewhere, it is followed by a dative, and means certainly concurrent witness. But, if so here, with what? Probably with the ἔνδειξις already spoken cf. Right conduct on principle, and conscience approving, witness together to the inward law; or, conduct and conscience together witness to a man's merits or demerits in accordance with that law. Then, what is added about the λογισμοὶ shows how conscience operates. Reason comes into play, evoked by conscience, to reflect on its witness, and definitely condemn or approve what has been done. A kind of court of judicature is supposed. Man calls himself to the bar of his own moral judgment; his conscience adduces witness to the character of his deeds, or rather, with his deeds bears witness for or against himself; his thoughts are as advocates on both sides, arguing for condemnation or acquittal. "Observa quam erudite describat conscientiam, quum dicit nobis venire in mentem rationes, quibus quod recte factum est defendimus; rursum quae nos flagitiorum accusent et redarguant" (Calvin). Greek Indeed,γὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. when Ὅταν (Hotan) Conjunction Strong's 3752: When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as. Gentiles, ἔθνη (ethnē) Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one. who τὰ (ta) Article - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. do not have ἔχοντα (echonta) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. [the] Law, νόμον (nomon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. do ποιῶσιν (poiōsin) Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. by nature φύσει (physei) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Strong's 5449: From phuo; growth, i.e. natural production; by extension, a genus or sort; figuratively, native disposition, constitution or usage. what τὰ (ta) Article - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Law [requires], νόμου (nomou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. they are εἰσιν (eisin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. a law νόμος (nomos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. to themselves, ἑαυτοῖς (heautois) Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself. [even though] they οὗτοι (houtoi) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. do not have ἔχοντες (echontes) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. [the] Law, νόμον (nomon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. Links Romans 2:14 NIVRomans 2:14 NLT Romans 2:14 ESV Romans 2:14 NASB Romans 2:14 KJV Romans 2:14 BibleApps.com Romans 2:14 Biblia Paralela Romans 2:14 Chinese Bible Romans 2:14 French Bible Romans 2:14 Catholic Bible NT Letters: Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles who don't have (Rom. Ro) |