rwp - Romans:2:17-29

rwp@Romans:2:17 @{Bearest the name} (\eponomazi\). Present passive indicative in condition of first class of \eponomaz\, old word, to put a name upon (\epi\), only here in N.T. "Thou art surnamed Jew" (Lightfoot). Jew as opposed to Greek denoted nationality while Hebrew accented the idea of language. {Restest upon the law} (\epanapaui nomi\). Late and rare double compound, in LXX and once in the Didache. In N.T. only here and strkjv@Luke:10:6| which see. It means to lean upon, to refresh oneself back upon anything, here with locative case (\nomi\). It is the picture of blind and mechanical reliance on the Mosaic law. {Gloriest in God} (\kauchsai en thei\). _Koin_ vernacular form for \kauchi\ (\kauchaesai, kauchsai\) of \kauchaomai\ as in verse 23; strkjv@1Corinthians:4:7| and \katakauchsai\ in strkjv@Romans:11:18|. The Jew gloried in God as a national asset and private prerogative (2Corinthians:10:15; strkjv@Galatians:6:13|). {Approvest the things that are excellent} (\dokimazeis ta diapheronta\). Originally, "Thou testest the things that differ," and then as a result comes the approval for the excellent things. As in strkjv@Phillipians:1:10| it is difficult to tell which stage of the process Paul has in mind. {Instructed out of the law} (\katchoumenos ek tou nomou\). Present passive participle of \katche\, a rare verb to instruct, though occurring in the papyri for legal instruction. See on ¯Luke:1:4; strkjv@1Corinthians:14:19|. The Jew's "ethical discernment was the fruit of catechetical and synagogical instruction in the Old Testament" (Shedd).

rwp@Romans:2:19 @{A guide of the blind} (\hodgon tuphln\). Accusative \hodgon\ in predicate with \einai\ to agree with \seauton\, accusative of general reference with infinitive \einai\ in indirect discourse after \pepoithas\. Late word (Polybius, Plutarch) from \hodos\, way, and \hgeomai\, to lead, one who leads the way. \Tuphln\ is objective genitive plural. The Jews were meant by God to be guides for the Gentiles, for salvation is of the Jews (John:4:22|). {A light} (\phs\). "A light for those in darkness" (\tn en skotei\, objective genitive again). But this intention of God about the Jews had resulted in conceited arrogance on their part.

rwp@Romans:2:20 @{A corrector of the foolish} (\paideutn aphronn\). Old word (from \paideu\) for instructor, in Plato, and probably so here, though corrector or chastiser in strkjv@Hebrews:12:9| (the only N.T. instances). See strkjv@Luke:23:16|. Late inscriptions give it as instructor (Preisigke). \Aphronn\ is a hard word for Gentiles, but it is the Jewish standpoint that Paul gives. Each termed the other "dogs." {Of babes} (\npin\). Novitiates or proselytes to Judaism just as in strkjv@Galatians:4:1|. Paul used it of those not of legal age. {The form} (\tn morphsin\). Rare word only in Theophrastus and Paul (here and strkjv@2Timothy:3:5|). Pallis regards it as a Stoical term for education. Lightfoot considers the \morphsis\ as "the rough-sketch, the pencilling of the \morph\," the outline or framework, and in strkjv@2Timothy:3:5| "the outline without the substance." This is Paul's picture of the Jew as he sees himself drawn with consummate skill and subtle irony.

rwp@Romans:2:21 @{Thou therefore that teachest another} (\ho oun didaskn heteron\). Paul suddenly breaks off (anacoluthon) the long sentence that began in verse 17| and starts over again with a phrase that gathers it all up in small compass (teachest) and drives it home (therefore) on the Jew (thyself). {Not to steal} (\m kleptein\). Infinitive with \m\ in indirect command (indirect discourse) after \kerussn\. {Dost thou steal?} (\klepteis?\). The preaching (\kerussn\) was fine, but the practice? A home-thrust. {Should not commit adultery} (\m moicheuein\). Infinitive in direct command again after \legn\. "The Talmud charges the crime of adultery upon the three most illustrious Rabbins" (Vincent).

rwp@Romans:2:22 @{That abhorrest} (\ho bdelussomenos\). Old word to make foul, to stink, to have abhorrence for. In LXX, in N.T. only here and strkjv@Revelation:21:8|. The very word used by Jesus to express their horror of idols (\eidla\, see on ¯Acts:7:41; strkjv@1Corinthians:12:2|). See strkjv@Matthew:24:15| for "abomination." {Dost thou rob temples?} (\hierosuleis?\). Old verb from \hierosulos\ (Acts:19:37|) and that from \hieron\, temple, and \sula\, to rob. The town clerk (Acts:19:37|) said that these Jews (Paul and his companions) were "not robbers of temples," proof that the charge was sometimes made against Jews, though expressly forbidden the Jews (Josephus, _Ant_. IV. 8, 10). Paul refers to the crime of robbing idol temples in spite of the defilement of contact with idolatry.

rwp@Romans:2:23 @{Through thy transgression of the law} (\dia ts parabases tou nomou\). Old word for stepping across a line. Trench calls attention to "the mournfully numerous group of words" for the varieties of sin like \agnoma\, ignorance, \anomia\, violation of law, \hamartia\, missing the mark, \hettma\, falling short, \parabasis\, passing over the line, \parako\, disobedience to a voice, \paranomia\, putting the law aside, \paraptma\, falling down, \plmmeleia\, discord.

rwp@Romans:2:24 @{Because of you} (\di' humas\). Free quotation from the LXX of strkjv@Isaiah:52:5|. The Jews were jealous for the Name of God and would not pronounce the Tetragrammaton and yet acted so that the Gentiles blasphemed that Name.

rwp@Romans:2:25 @{If thou be a doer of the law} (\ean nomon prasseis\). Condition of third class and the present (continued action) subjunctive of \prass\, a verb meaning to do as a habit. {Is become uncircumcision} (\akrobustia gegonen\). The Jew is then like the Gentile, with no privilege at all. Circumcision was simply the seal of the covenant relation of Israel with God.

rwp@Romans:2:26 @{Keep} (\phulassi\). Present subjunctive with \ean\, condition of third class, mere supposition like that in verse 25|, "keep on keeping" perfectly, Paul means. {For} (\eis\). As often in N.T.

rwp@Romans:2:27 @{If it fulfill the law} (\ton nomon telousa\). Present active participle (conditional use of the participle) of \tele\, to finish, continually fulfilling to the end (as would be necessary). {Judge thee} (\krinei--se\). Unusual position of \se\ (thee) so far from the verb \krinei\. {With the letter and circumcision} (\dia grammatos kai peritoms\). \Dia\ means here accompanied by, with the advantage of.

rwp@Romans:2:28 @{Which is one outwardly} (\ho en ti phaneri\). \Ioudaios\ (Jew) has to be repeated (ellipse) with the article, "the in the open Jew" (circumcision, phylacteries, tithes, etc.). Likewise repeat \peritom\ (circumcision).

rwp@Romans:2:29 @{Who is one inwardly} (\ho en ti krupti\). Repeat \Ioudaios\ (Jew) here also, "the in the inward part Jew" (circumcision of the heart \peritom kardias\ and not a mere surgical operation as in strkjv@Colossians:2:11|, in the spirit \en pneumati\, with which compare strkjv@2Corinthians:3:3,6|). This inward or inside Jew who lives up to his covenant relation with God is the high standard that Paul puts before the merely professional Jew described above. {Whose praise} (\hou ho epainos\). The antecedent of the relative \hou\ is \Ioudaios\ (Jew). Probably (Gifford) a reference to the etymology of Judah (praise) as seen in strkjv@Galatians:49:8|.