a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.
Parallel translations
- KJV An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
- BSB an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
- ESV an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
- NKJV an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.
- NASB a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, possessing in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth—
- NLT You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 consider themselves instructors of the foolish and teachers of the immature, possessing in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth. Their confidence rests on having God's revealed truth.
Overview
Paul completes the portrait: the Jew sees himself as a corrector and teacher, holding in the law the very form of knowledge and truth. This is a high estimate of one's position. Yet Paul lists these confident claims precisely to set up his stinging question: do those who teach others actually obey what they teach? The answer will expose hypocrisy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Tim 3:5holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.
- Titus 1:16They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
- 2 Tim 1:13Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
- Rom 6:17But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
- 1 Cor 3:1Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
- 1 Pet 2:2as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,
- Matt 11:25At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
- Heb 5:13For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.
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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 2:20 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.