Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Parallel translations
- WEB in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
- BSB So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
- NKJV who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
- NASB in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
- NLT They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
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
They show the law's work written on their hearts, with conscience and thoughts accusing or defending them. Conscience bears witness that all know God's moral standard.
Overview
Continuing v.14, Paul explains that the Gentiles' moral awareness reveals 'the work of the law written in their hearts.' Their conscience and internal moral reasoning, sometimes accusing and sometimes excusing, testify to this inner knowledge. This universal witness of conscience confirms that no one is truly ignorant of right and wrong, leaving all accountable to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 2 Cor 5:11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
- Titus 1:15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- Rom 1:18–19For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
- Job 27:6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
- Rom 9:1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
- 1 Tim 4:2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
- 1 Jn 3:19–21And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
- 1 Kgs 2:44The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
- Gen 20:5Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
- Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
- Eccl 7:22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
- Gen 42:21–22And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
- Gen 3:8–11And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
- John 8:9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
- Acts 23:1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
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 2:15 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.