An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Parallel translations
- WEB a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.
- BSB an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have 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 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 3:5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
- Titus 1:16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
- 2 Tim 1:13Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
- Rom 6:17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
- 1 Cor 3:1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
- 1 Pet 2:2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
- Matt 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
- Heb 5:13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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 2:20 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.