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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Romans 2:18

his will Lit. the will. Cp. 3 John 1:7, where the original is "for the sake of theName." Possibly the phrase here was a "stereotyped" formula, which St Paul quotes. But in any case its form (as that of the parallel above) is one of peculiar solemnity and dignity.

approvest the things that are more excellent Better, assayest, puttest to the test, things which differ. Exactly the same words occur Philippians 1:10. The Jew had the touchstone of Divine Revelation to apply to questions of wrong and right; he claimed to be a perfect casuist.

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See also Romans 2:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 18. _KNOWEST HIS WILL_] Hast been favoured with a revelation of his own will, immediately from himself. _THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE EXCELLENT_] τα δισφεροντα, _The things_ _that differ_-that rev...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND 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 he...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Gentile Moralist and Reformer and His Condemnation. (Romans 2:1 .)_ 2. The Two Classes. (Romans 2:7 .) 3. The State of the Jew. (Romans 2:17 .)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Now Paul accosts the Jew, reproving his PRIDE OF LAW, MADE VOID BY DISLOYALTY. Romans 2:17. His pretensions (But if thou bearest the name of Jew, etc.), provoke the questions of Romans 2:21 : the comm...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    If you are called by the name of Jew, if you take your rest in the Law, if you boast in God and know his will, if you give your approval to the excellent things, if you are instructed in the Law, if y...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRIVILEGE (Romans 2:1-11)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    KNOWEST. Greek. _ginosko._ App-132. WILL. Greek. _thelema._ App-102. APPROVEST. Greek. _dokimazo._ See Romans 1:28. MORE EXCELLENT. Greek. _diaphero._ See Acts 27:27. BEING INSTRUCTED. Greek. _kate...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤῸ ΘΈΛΗΜΑ. cf. Lft, _Revision_, p. 106, ed. 1; p. 118, ed. 2 (S.H.). ΔΟΚΙΜΆΖΕΙΣ. As above, Romans 1:28, ‘approvest, after testing.’ ΤᾺ ΔΙΑΦΈΡΟΝΤΑ = the things that are better, the better courses of c...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    17–3:20. The Gospel is needed by Jews, who have also failed through ignoring the one condition of righteousness....

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΔΟΚΙΜΆΖΕΙΣ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΔΟΚΙΜΆΖΩ (G1381) испытывать, исследовать, одобрять после проверки, ΔΙΑΦΈΡΟΝΤΑ _praes. act. part. от_ ΔΙΑΦΈΡΩ (G1308) проносить через, отличаться, превосходить, быть б...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1826 INCONSISTENT CHRISTIANS REMONSTRATED WITH Romans 2:17. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the thing...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND APPROVEST THE THINGS, &C.— The words Τα διαφεροντα, signify _things excellent, convenient, controverted,_ or _differing:_ in either of these senses the term may be understood here; though the last...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _TEXT_ Romans 2:17-24. But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God, Romans 2:18 and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instru...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; AND KNOWEST HIS WILL, AND APPROVEST THE THINGS THAT SEE MORE EXCELLENT, [ dokimazeis (G1381)...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    _THE CONDUCT OF MANKIND_ 16 Much of the judgment which obtains among men is unjust and oppressive because of their inability to uncover the real truth: But in the divine judgment the _ hidden _ thing...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    APPROVEST, etc.] i.e. able to distinguish delicately between the more and the less good....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FAILURE OF THE JEWS In Romans 1 St. Paul showed that the Gentiles were under God's judgment on account of sin. Now he is about to turn to the Jews. He asserts first, that God's judgment will fall...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    PAUL’S LETTER TO THE *ROMANS ROMANS _HILDA BRIGHT AND KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 2 PAUL’S ANSWERS TO THOSE WHO *JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE 2:1-16 1. THEY CANNOT AVOID GOD’S JUDGEMENT 2:1-4 v1 So, you who *...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HIS WILL. — Literally, _the will_ — _i.e.,_ “the supreme will.” APPROVEST THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE EXCELLENT. — Probably rightly given in the Authorised version, though the marginal rendering also is...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 7 JEWISH RESPONSIBILITY AND GUILT Romans 2:17 "THE Jew, first, and also the Greek"; this has been the burthen of the Apostle's thought thus far upon the whole. He has had the Jew for some wh...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    τὸ θέλημα is God's will. Lipsius compares the absolute use of ὁδός, θύρα and ὄνομα. _Cf._ Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:23; Acts 14:27;...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE SEARCHER OF ALL HEARTS Romans 2:12 The Apostle goes on to show that all men, whether Jews or Gentiles, will be judged by the same standard. For the Jew that law was written upon the pages of the...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    It is evident that the apostle here turned to the Jew, though he did not immediately name him. He charged the Jew with the sin of practicing the very evils he condemned in the Gentiles. He is at least...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And knowest [his] will, and (n) approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; (n) Can test and discern what things swerve from God's will....

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    FIFTH PASSAGE (2:1-29). THE WRATH OF GOD SUSPENDED OVER THE JEWISH PEOPLE. In the midst of this flood of pollutions and iniquities which Gentile society presents to view, the apostle sees one who lik...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “ _Now if thou who art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest His will, and canst discern the things that differ, being instructed out of the law; and esteemest...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    The _second part_ of the chapter, Romans 2:17-29, contains _the application_ of the principles laid down in the first. After expressing himself in a general and more or less abstract way, Paul address...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, (18) And knowest will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; (19) And a...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The circumstances under which the epistle to the Romans was written gave occasion to the most thorough and comprehensive unfolding, not of the church, but of Christianity. No apostle had ever yet visi...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    18._And knowest his will, and approvest things excellent, etc. _He now concedes to them the knowledge of the divine will, and the approval of things useful; and this they had attained from the doctrin...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Two things are presented here with respect to God; His judgment against evil the evil-doer shall not escape (the real difference of right and wrong would be maintained by judgment); and His mercy, pat...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And knowest _his_ will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; Ver. 18. _Being instructed out of the law_] Gr. κατηχουμενος, Being well catechised and prin...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Behold_ Here he applies the matter he had discussed in the preceding verses more closely to the Jews, and proves, that, notwithstanding all their pretences and privileges, they were transgressors of...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    OUT OF THE LAW; out of the Scriptures....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND KNOWEST HIS WILL, AND APPROVEST THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE EXCELLENT, BEING INSTRUCTED OUT OF THE LAW;...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The guilt of the Jews:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CASE OF THE CULTURED GREEK But there is a class of Gentiles who are quite keen in seeing these evils in others, and unhesitatingly judging them for them, while never considering that the same judg...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Romans 2:17-29 1. What is the difference between an inward Jew and an outward Jew? a. What was an outward Jew? i. Circumcised ii. Good self-image 1. Name Jew means a lot to him 2. Rested in the...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    APPROVES THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE EXCELLENT: Or, triest the things that differ...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    AND KNOWEST HIS WILL, AND APPROVEST THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT, BEING INSTRUCTED OUT OF THE LAW, 'Approvest' -'with. sense of what is vital in religion' (Mof); 'they claimed. unique ability to de...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Ver. 18,19. ART CONFIDENT; thou dost proudly arrogate all that follows to thyself, and conceitest that thou hast all the points of the law in thy breast, and full knowledge of all the secrets thereof....

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Romans 2:18 and G2532 know G1097 (G5719) will G2307 and G2532 approve G1381 (G5719) excellent G1308 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE JEW AND THE LAW OF GOD. ‘But if you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory (boast) in God, and know his will, and approve the things which are excellent, being instructed out of t...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SPECIAL CASE OF THE JEW. PAUL IS ANSWERING THE QUESTION - ‘DOES NOT HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT GOES WITH IT, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS CIRCUMCISED INTO GOD'S COVENANT...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Romans 2:18. AND KNOWEST HIS WILL; lit, ‘the will,' evidently God's will, as revealed in the law. APPROVEST THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT; or, ‘dost distinguish the things that differ.' Both transla...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _2. The Jew is Condemned; His External Circumcision does not Avail._ This section contains the direct application to the case of the Jew, in the form of an indignant outburst (Romans 2:17-24), much of...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2. THE SINFULNESS OF THE JEWS, AS A PROOF OF THEIR NEED OF THE GOSPEL. This passage contains the second part of the proof of the universality of sin, and hence of the universal need of the gospel, whe...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Romans 2 The Practical Outcome of Judaism. I. The first thing on which St. Paul lays anxious stress in this passage is this: The judgment of God according to men's works is just, inevitable, and impa...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The equal standing of Jew and Gentile before the justice of God. Morality apart from Christ useless as means of salvation. Jews knowing the law condemned by the law. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLU...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Romans 2:1. _Therefore thou art inexcusable, oh man,_ whether Roman or Jew, who judgest another, and doest the same thing thyself, though it may be in some other way. But as the judgment of God is acc...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    YOU KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO. They did have this advantage. But they thought it was enough if they had this knowledge. Compare Romans 2:13....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Behold, thou art called a Jew._ THE JEWS ALSO WITHOUT EXCUSE Hitherto the apostle, in seeking to shut up the Jew unto the faith of Christ, has contented himself with an enunciation of the equitable...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 2:1 Most interpreters say that Paul focuses on the sin of the Jews throughout this chapter. Another view is that the sin of the moral person (whether Jewish or Gentile) who judge...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 2:18.—κατηχούμενος, being orally instructed. Romans 2:21.—This verse may be illustrated out of the Jewish writings, for they say, “He who teacheth others what he doth not hims...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ROMANS 2:1 (_b_) _Those who judge others, not excepting the Jews. _Here a new stage of the argument, in proof of the position propounded in Romans 1:18, begins, and is continued to the end...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judges (Romans 2:1): You see, I read this list and I say, "Oh, yes, it is horrible. My, I just don't know what we are going to do, the w...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 3:15;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    The things that are more excellent [τ α δ ι α φ ε ρ ο ν τ α]. This may be the meaning, and it is adopted by Rev. with the proper omission of more. But it may also mean the things which differ; in whic...

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