Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 2:18
And knowest [his] will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
18. his will ] Lit. the will. Cp. 3Jn 1:7, where the original is “for the sake of the Name.” Possibly the phrase here was a “stereotyped” formula, which St Paul quotes. But in any case its form (as that of the parallel above) is one of peculiar solemnity and dignity.
approvest the things that are more excellent ] Better, assayest, puttest to the test, things which differ. Exactly the same words occur Php 1:10. The Jew had the touchstone of Divine Revelation to apply to questions of wrong and right; he claimed to be a perfect casuist.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And knowest his will – The will or commands of God. This knowledge they obtained from the Scriptures; and of course in this they were distinguished from other nations.
And approvest – The word used here is capable of two interpretations. It may mean either to distinguish, or to approve. The word is properly and usually applied to the process of testing or trying metals by fire. Hence, it comes to be used in a general sense to try or to distinguish anything; to ascertain its nature, quality, etc.; Luk 12:56. This is probably its meaning here, referring rather to the intellectual process of discriminating, than to the moral process of approving. It could not, perhaps, be said with propriety, at least the scope of the passage does not properly suppose this, that the Jew approved or loved the things of God: but the scope of the passage is, that the Jew valued himself on his knowledge of what was conformable to the will of God; see the notes at Rom. 14.
The things that are more excellent – The word translated here more excellent denotes properly the things that differ from others, and then also the things that excel. It has an ambiguity similar to the word translated approved. If the interpretation of that word above given is correct, then this word here means those things that differ from others. The reference is to the rites and customs, to the distinctions of meats and days, etc., prescribed by the Law of Moses. The Jew would pride himself on the fact that he had been taught by the Law to make these distinctions, while all the pagan world had been left in ignorance of them. This was one of the advantages on which he valued himself and his religion.
Being instructed … – That is, in regard to the one God, his will, and the distinguishing rites of his worship.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. Knowest his will] Hast been favoured with a revelation of his own will, immediately from himself.
The things that are more excellent] , The things that differ-that revelation which God has given of himself makes the nicest distinctions between right and wrong; between vice and virtue; showing how you should walk so as to please God, and, consequently, acquire the most excellent portion that human spirits can have on this side heaven: for all these blessings ye acknowledge to receive from your law, being instructed, , being catechized, from your infancy, in the knowledge of Divine things.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Art confident; thou dost proudly arrogate all that follows to thyself, and conceitest that thou hast all the points of the law in thy breast, and full knowledge of all the secrets thereof.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. approvest the things that areexcellent“triest the things that differ” (Margin).Both senses are good, and indeed the former is but the result of thelatter action. (See on Php 1:10).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And knowest his will,…. Not the secret will or purpose of God; nor his revealed will in the Gospel, for of this they were ignorant; but his declared will in the law, showing what is to be done, and what is not to be done: to know which in express terms was a privilege, that other people had not; but then the bare knowledge of this will be of no avail: for persons may know their Lord’s will, as the Jews did, and not do it, and so be worthy to be beaten with many stripes:
and approvest the things that are more excellent: or “triest the things that differ”; from one another, and from the will and law of God; or as the Syriac, “discernest” , “things that are convenient”; agreeable, which are fit and ought to be done: and having tried and discerned them, they approved of them in their judgment as the things more excellent; but then they did not put these excellent things in practice which they approved of; and the knowledge and approbation they had of these things, arose from their
being instructed out of the law, and not the Gospel; for the excellent things of the Gospel, they had no discerning, knowledge and approbation of; see Php 1:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The things that are more excellent [ ] . This may be the meaning, and it is adopted by Rev. with the proper omission of more. But it may also mean the things which differ; in which case we shall render provest instead of approvest. The sense will then be : thou dost test with nice discrimination questions of casuistry. Compare Phi 1:10. The latter interpretation seems preferable, being borne out by the succeeding being instructed.
Being instructed [] . Systematically through catechetical and synagoguic instruction. See on Luk 1:4. This formal instruction is the basis of the critical discrimination.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) And knowest his will, (kai ginoskeis to thelema) And knowest or recognize the high and divine will of God, as you Jews claim to do, to know his will out of, or from His Word, the Holy Scriptures, Joh 7:17.
2) And approvest the things that are more excellent, (kai dokimazeis ta diapheronta) And approvest the excelling (Superior) things, you sanction only the better moral and ethical things; and if you are able to discriminate meticulously between good and evil, right and wrong, moral discernment, but they said and did not, Mat 23:2-3.
3) Being instructed out of the law, (Katechoumenos ek tou nomou) being instructed (informed) out of the law, and if you are enlightened on a higher level of knowledge, out of the law, as you claim to be, catechized, even drilled orally in a knowledge of the Will of God, as revealed in the Law of Moses, as they were, Rom 10:1-5. Academic, intellectual knowledge that does not submit to the Word and Will of God, regarding sin, condemnation, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ, as the Redeemer, leaves Jews and Gentiles alike lost and condemned, as Paul had once been and as his Jewish brethren then (as a nation) remained, Luk 13:1-5; Rom 9:1-3.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18. And knowest his will, and approvest things excellent, etc. He now concedes to them the knowledge of the divine will, and the approval of things useful; and this they had attained from the doctrine of the law. But there is a twofold approval, — one of choice, when we embrace the good we approve; the other of judgment, by which indeed we distinguish good from evil, but by no means strive or desire to follow it. Thus the Jews were so learned in the law that they could pass judgment on the conduct of others, but were not careful to regulate their life according to that judgment. But as Paul reproves their hypocrisy, we may, on the other hand, conclude, that excellent things are then only rightly approved (provided our judgment proceeds from sincerity) when God is attended to; for his will, as it is revealed in the law, is here appointed as the guide and teacher of what is to be justly approved. (79)
(79) There are two expositions of the words, δοκιμάζεις τὰ διαφερόντα, which may be sustained according to what the words signify in other places. The first word means to prove, or test, or examine, and also to approve; and the second signifies things which differ, or things which are excellent. “Thou provest, or, distinguishest things which differ,” is the rendering of [ Beza ] , [ Pareus ] , [ Doddridge ] , and [ Stuart ] : “Thou approvest things excellent or useful,” is the rendering of [ Erasmus ] , [ Macknight ] , and others. The first is the most suitable to the context, as knowledge, and not approval, is evidently intended, as proved by the explanatory clause which follows, — “being instructed out of the law.” — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) His will.Literally, the willi.e., the supreme will.
Approvest the things that are more excellent.Probably rightly given in the Authorised version, though the marginal rendering also is possible, triest the things that differi.e., art able to discriminate between good and evil.
Being instructed.With reference to the constant reading of the Law in the synagogue.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Approvest more excellent That is, after due testing thou decidest the true superiority.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Rom 2:18. And approvest the things, &c. The words , signify things excellent, convenient, controverted, or differing: in either of these senses the term may be understood here; though the last (namely, their difference in respect of lawful and unlawful) may be pitched on, I think, says Mr. Locke, as most suited to the Apostle’s design here; and that which the Jews much stood upon, as giving them one great pre-eminence above the defiled Gentiles. Beza, in this view, translates the passage, And discernest things that differ. See Elsner’s Observations, vol. 2: page 7.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Ver. 18. Being instructed out of the law ] Gr. , Being well catechised and principled, thou art able to discern the doctrines, and choose the best. Luther somewhere professeth himself to be discipulum catechismi, a scholar to the catechism; and those that are not well seen in the principles, can make no good progress in religion.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18. . . ] having been just mentioned, it is left to be inferred that refers to Him.
. . . ] provest (in the sense of sifting and coming to a conclusion on) things which differ , , . , . . . Theod. . , Theophylact. The Vulg. ‘probas utiliora,’ and E. V. ‘ approvest the things that are more excellent ,’ is somewhat flat in meaning, and not so applicable.
. . ] being (habitually, not in youth only, force of pres.) instructed (not merely catechetically but didactically, in the synagogues, &c.) out of the law ( , though after a preposition because the law is distributed it is the book of the law, the law itself , out of which the takes place).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Rom 2:18 . is God’s will. Lipsius compares the absolute use of , and . Cf. Act 9:2 ; Act 19:9 ; Act 19:23 ; Act 14:27 ; Act 5:41 . Also 1Co 16:12 , where God’s will is meant, not the will of Apollos. The words are to be taken together. In virtue of being taught out of the law (in the synagogue and the schools) the Jew possesses moral discernment: he does not sink to the , the mind which has lost all moral capacity (Rom 1:28 ). But a certain ambiguity remains in : it may mean either (1) to distinguish, by testing, between things which differ i.e. , to discriminate experimentally between good and evil; or (2) to approve, after testing, the things which are more excellent. There are no grounds on which we can decide positively for either.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
knowest. Greek. ginosko. App-132.
will. Greek. thelema. App-102.
approvest. Greek. dokimazo. See Rom 1:28.
more excellent. Greek. diaphero. See Act 27:27.
being instructed. Greek. katecheo. See Act 18:25.
out of. Greek. ek. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
18. . .] having been just mentioned, it is left to be inferred that refers to Him.
. . .] provest (in the sense of sifting and coming to a conclusion on) things which differ,- , . , … Theod. . , Theophylact. The Vulg. probas utiliora, and E. V. approvest the things that are more excellent, is somewhat flat in meaning, and not so applicable.
. .] being (habitually, not in youth only,-force of pres.) instructed (not merely catechetically but didactically, in the synagogues, &c.) out of the law ( , though after a preposition-because the law is distributed-it is the book of the law, the law itself, out of which the takes place).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Rom 2:18. ) the will, that is, whatever has been ratified by the law; so, the will, absolutely, Mat 18:14; 1Co 16:12. But this will is nothing else, than the will of God; but a strong feeling of piety [, pious caution] prevented Paul from adding, of God.-) provest, approvest.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Rom 2:18
Rom 2:18
and knowest his will,-They possessed the divine revelation and claimed to know Gods will. [It is right and highly commendable to know Gods will, and culpable not to know it when there is opportunity. The wrong, then, lies not in knowing his will, but in regarding the mere knowledge as a mark of superiority and ground of acceptance with God. It is not knowing that makes one better than another, but doing. The point made against it is that, although he knew Gods will, he did not obey it. He did more; he even sunk to the level of the Gentile in vice.]
and approvest the things that are excellent,-They claimed that they understood and judged that which is best. [Their education the more highly qualified them to distinguish between the things that differ and approve correctly as to which is right or wrong.]
being instructed out of the law,-Having been instructed out of the law of Moses from childhood, they claimed superiority of judgment in these matters. [This they did by the aid of better light, but practiced the worse. This they did from a perverted nature and a corrupted heart. This is the charge made against them.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
knowest: Deu 4:8, Neh 9:13, Neh 9:14, Psa 147:19, Psa 147:20, Luk 12:47, Joh 13:17, 1Co 8:1, 1Co 8:2, Jam 4:17
approvest the things that are more excellent: or, triest the things that differ, Phi 1:10, *marg. 1Th 5:21, Heb 5:14
being instructed: Rom 15:4, Psa 19:8, Psa 119:98-100, Psa 119:104, Psa 119:105, Psa 119:130, Pro 6:23, 2Ti 3:15-17
Reciprocal: Lev 11:5 – but divideth Deu 32:10 – he instructed Rom 3:2 – because Rom 7:1 – them that Tit 1:16 – profess 1Jo 2:9 – he is
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
:18
Rom 2:18. God’s will was made known in the law, hence the Jew could have knowledge of it. Approvest means to decide between right and wrong, and the Jew could do that by the instruction the law provided him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rom 2:18. And knowest his will; lit, the will, evidently Gods will, as revealed in the law.
Approvest the things that are excellent; or, dost distinguish the things that differ. Both translations are verbally exact, the latter being more in accordance with usage. But it gives so tame a sense here, in this glowing rebuke, that the other is to be preferred.
Being instructed, etc. This was the means by which the will of God was known, and the excellent things approved. There is a reference to the public reading and exposition of the law in the synagogue.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
18. Thou knowest us well, and discriminatest the things which differ, making thy boast from the law. We are in a mixed world; soul-poison on all sides, the spiritually dead feeding on it. Though a dead man has eyes, he sees not; ears, he hears not; a nose, he smells not; a tongue, he tastes not; nerves, he feels not. Satan has his poison greeting us on all sides. If you eat, you die. Spiritual resurrection alone can open eyes, ears, olfactory, gustatory, and sentient organs, while sanctification gives them healthy and efficient activity.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
2:18 And knowest [his] will, and {n} approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
(n) Can test and discern what things swerve from God’s will.