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.
Parallel translations
- WEB (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,
- KJV 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:
- NKJV 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,
- NASB 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,
- NLT 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.
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
When Gentiles without the law instinctively do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves. God's moral standard is written on the human conscience.
Overview
Paul observes that Gentiles, though lacking the Mosaic law, sometimes do what it requires 'by nature,' showing they have an inner sense of God's moral demands. This is evidence of the moral law written on the heart. It does not mean Gentiles keep the law perfectly or earn salvation, but that they have enough moral knowledge to be accountable and without excuse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Rom 1:19–20For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
- Rom 2:12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
- Rom 2:27The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
- Acts 17:30Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Eph 2:12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
- Ps 147:19–20He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
- Acts 10:35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
- Rom 3:1–2What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
- Rom 1:32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
- Deut 4:7For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?
- Acts 14:16In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.
- 1 Cor 11:14Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
- Phil 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 2:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.