Romans 2:20

An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE FOOLISH, A TEACHER OF BABES, WHICH, HAST THE FORM, [ teen (G3588) morfoosin (G3446)] - or 'shaping out,' OF KNOWLEDGE AND OF THE TRUTH IN THE LAW - not being left, like the pagan, to vague conjecture of divine things, but favoured with definite and precise information from heaven....

20.I take what follows,_having the form of knowledge_, as a reason for the preceding; and it may be thus explained, — “because thou hast the form of knowledge.” For they professed to be the teachers of others, because they seemed to carry in their breasts all the secrets of the law. The word _form _is put for model (_exemplar _ — pattern); (81) for Paul has adopted μόρφωσιν and not τύπον : but he intended, I think, to point out the conspicuous pomp of their teaching, and what is commonly called display; and it certainly appears that they were destitute of that knowledge which they pretended. But Paul, by indirectly ridiculing the perverted use of the law, intimates, on the other hand, that right knowledge must be sought from the law, in order that the truth may have a solid basis....

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 the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the sins professors is, the dishonour done to God and religion, by their not living according to their profession. Many despise their more ignorant neighbours who rest in a dead form of godliness; yet themselves trust in a form of knowledge, equally void of life and power, while some glory in the gospel, whose unholy lives dishonour God, and cause his name to be blasphemed....

Verse 20. _AN INSTRUCTER OF THE FOOLISH_, c.] Ye believe the Gentiles to be _babes_ and _fools_ when compared with yourselves that ye alone possess the only _true knowledge_; that ye are the only _favourites_ of Heaven; and that all nations must look up to you as possessing the only _form of knowledge_, μορφωσιν της γνωσεως, the grand _scheme_ and _draught_ of all true _science_, of every thing that is worthy to be learned: the system of eternal _truth_, derived _from_ _the law_. If, therefore, ye act not as becomes those who have such eminent advantages, it must be to your endless disgrace and infamy....

OF THE FOOLISH - The word “foolish” is used in the Scriptures in two significations: to denote those who are void of understanding, and to denote the wicked. Here it is clearly used in the former sense, signifying that the Jew esteemed himself qualified to instruct those without knowledge. OF BABES - This is the literal meaning of the original word. The expression is figurative, and denotes those who were as ignorant as children - an expression which they would be likely to apply to all the Gentiles. It is evident that the character bare given by Paul to the Jews is one which they claimed, and of which they were proud. They are often mentioned as arrogating this prerogative to themselves, of being qualified to be guides and teachers of others; Matthew 15:14;...

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 of the chapter. The position to be proved is that all mankind is guilty before God (see note on Romans 1:18). So far this has been shown with regard to the mass of the heathen world; its general moral corruption, prevalent and condoned, having been pointed out finally as a glaring proof; the main point of the argument having been to trace this state of things to man's own fault, in that he had refused to retain and act on a knowledge of God originally imparted to him through nature a

AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE FOOLISH,.... All men in a state of unregeneracy are foolish, and need instruction; here the common people among the Jews, who knew not the law, are meant; it was very usual to call anyone of their doctors and masters מורה, "an instructor": it follows, A TEACHER OF BABES; either in age or in understanding; such who taught either of them were called by the Jews מלמדי תינוקות, "teachers of babes". Thus they paraphrase the text in Daniel 12:3: "they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. This is the Judge who judges, the judgment of truth truly, and the collectors of alms: and they that turn, many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever; these are, מלמדי תנוקות, "the teachers of babes" z.'' Though these are said a to be inferior to the wise men, or doctors: which hast the form of knowl

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 .) Romans 2:1 But in the heathen world there were such who gave witness against the immoral condition, the different vices. There were Moralists, Reformers and Philosophers like Socrates, Seneca and others. They judged and condemned certain evils. But God declares that they were not a whit better than the rest. The very things they condemned they were guilty of themselves. One of their own writers declared, “I see the good and approve of it and follow the ev

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 commandments he inculcates on others, he so violates that God is dishonoured, and His name is blasphemed among the Gentiles. The blasphemy of Isaiah 52:5 was occasioned by the insolence of Gentile oppressors; this by the hypocrisy of Israel. Romans 2:25. How worthless the outward possession of the Law, and the physical mark of circumcision, without the corresponding inner reality: law-keeping uncircumcision is virtually cir

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