They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
Parallel translations
- WEB desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
- KJV Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
- NKJV desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
- NASB wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
- NLT They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
These men wanted to be teachers of the law but understood neither their own words nor the subjects they confidently asserted. It exposes the danger of confident ignorance in teaching.
Overview
The false teachers aspired to be authorities on the Mosaic law yet lacked real understanding of it. Their bold assertions outran their comprehension. Paul highlights that desire for status as a teacher, without true grasp of God's word, harms the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Rom 1:22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,
- 2 Pet 2:12These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
- 1 Tim 6:4he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
- Gal 3:5Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
- Gal 5:3–4Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
- Gal 3:2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
- Rom 2:19–21if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,
- Titus 1:10–11For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
- 2 Tim 3:7who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
- Matt 15:14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- John 9:40–41Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
- Gal 4:21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
- John 3:9–10“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
- Jer 8:8–9How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us,’ when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception?
- Matt 23:16–24Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
- Isa 29:13–14Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
- Acts 15:1Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
- Matt 21:27So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
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There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
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Original language
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