Romans 2:17

Romans 2:17. But if. The addition of a single letter in the Greek gives this sense, which is without doubt the correct one. The construction is modified by the change; Romans 2:17-20 form the conditional part of the sentence, and Romans 2:21-24 the conclusion (apodosis) in the form of successive questions (but see on Romans 2:23). ‘If' is, of course, rhetorical; there could be no doubt as to the position and feelings of the Jew.

Thou. Emphatic, as the original indicates.

Bearest the name of. ‘Art called,' is incorrect, ‘art named' is not so exact as the full paraphrase we give.

A Jew. The name of Judah had a religious sense, and the title ‘Jew' was regarded as highly honorable. The title ‘Christian' may also become a mere title.

Bestest upon the law. The article is omitted, but the Mosaic law is, of course, meant

Boastest in God. The verb may be rendered ‘boast' or, ‘glory.' The former word suggests a false glorying, arising from bigotry and conceit, and this is the sense here; but ‘glory' would preserve the correspondence with the passage where the word retains its good sense.