And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Parallel translations
- WEB and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
- BSB if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;
- NKJV and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
- NASB and know His will and distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law,
- NLT You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.
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
Such a person knows God's will and approves what is excellent, being instructed from the law. Knowledge of God's will brings greater responsibility.
Overview
Paul acknowledges the Jew's genuine advantages: knowing God's will and discerning what truly matters through instruction in the law. These are real blessings. But greater knowledge brings greater accountability, and Paul will soon show that knowing the right is no substitute for doing it. Privilege without practice condemns rather than commends.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- 1 Th 5:21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
- Jas 4:17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- Deut 4:8And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
- Phil 1:10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
- John 13:17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
- Prov 6:23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
- Rom 15:4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
- 1 Cor 8:1–2Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
- Ps 119:98–100Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
- Ps 147:19–20He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
- 2 Tim 3:15–17And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- Ps 119:104–105Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
- Ps 19:8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
- Neh 9:13–14Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
- Ps 119:130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
- Luke 12:47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
- Heb 5:14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
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 2:18 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.