Romans 2:20
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--
an instructor of the foolish
The term "instructor" in Greek is "παιδευτής" (paideutēs), which implies a guide or a corrector, someone who imparts wisdom and discipline. In the context of Romans, Paul is addressing those who consider themselves wise and capable of guiding others, particularly the Jews who had the Law. The "foolish" here refers to those lacking understanding, possibly Gentiles or those not versed in the Jewish Law. Historically, the Jewish people were seen as custodians of divine wisdom, tasked with enlightening the nations. This phrase challenges the reader to reflect on the responsibility that comes with knowledge and the humility required to teach others effectively.

a teacher of infants
The word "teacher" is "διδάσκαλος" (didaskalos) in Greek, denoting one who imparts knowledge or instruction. "Infants" (νήπιος, nēpios) can be understood both literally and metaphorically, referring to those who are immature or new in understanding. In a spiritual sense, this could mean new believers or those unacquainted with the deeper truths of God. The imagery of teaching infants suggests a nurturing, patient approach, emphasizing the importance of foundational truths in spiritual education. It highlights the role of the Jewish people as educators in the faith, entrusted with guiding others in their spiritual infancy.

because you have in the Law
The phrase "in the Law" refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, which were central to Jewish life and identity. The Greek word for "Law" is "νόμος" (nomos), signifying not just legalistic rules but a comprehensive guide for living a life pleasing to God. Historically, the Law was given to the Israelites as a covenant, setting them apart as God's chosen people. This phrase underscores the privilege and responsibility of having the Law, which was meant to be a source of wisdom and a light to the nations.

the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
"Embodiment" in Greek is "μόρφωσις" (morphōsis), meaning a form or representation. This suggests that the Law is not just a set of rules but a tangible expression of divine wisdom. "Knowledge" (γνῶσις, gnōsis) and "truth" (ἀλήθεια, alētheia) are profound concepts in Scripture, representing not only intellectual understanding but also a deep, relational knowledge of God and His will. The Law, therefore, is seen as a reflection of God's character and an avenue to understand His truth. This phrase calls believers to recognize the depth and richness of the Scriptures, urging them to live out the truths contained within as a testament to God's wisdom and faithfulness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, addressing both Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome.

2. Jewish Teachers
The primary audience in this passage, who prided themselves on their knowledge of the Law.

3. The Law
Refers to the Mosaic Law, which was central to Jewish life and religious practice.

4. Rome
The city where the recipients of the letter resided, a diverse and influential center of the ancient world.

5. Gentile Believers
Secondary audience, who were also part of the Roman church and learning about the faith.
Teaching Points
The Responsibility of Knowledge
Knowledge of the Law brings with it the responsibility to live according to its teachings. It is not enough to simply know the Law; one must embody it in action.

The Danger of Hypocrisy
Teaching others while failing to apply the same standards to oneself leads to hypocrisy. True instruction requires integrity and consistency.

The Role of the Law
The Law serves as a guide to understanding God's truth and knowledge. It is a tool for teaching and instructing others in righteousness.

Humility in Teaching
Those who teach must do so with humility, recognizing that knowledge alone can lead to pride. Love and humility should accompany instruction.

Living Out the Truth
Believers are called to be examples of the truth they profess, demonstrating the transformative power of God's Word in their lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Paul's description of the Law as the "embodiment of knowledge and truth" challenge us in our daily walk with God?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our teaching and sharing of God's Word is free from hypocrisy?

3. How can we balance the acquisition of biblical knowledge with the practice of love and humility in our interactions with others?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that we are not just hearers of the Word, but doers as well?

5. How can the teachings in Romans 2:20 be applied to our role as mentors or leaders within our communities or families?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 23
Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, similar to Paul's critique of those who teach the Law but do not practice it.

James 1:22-25
Emphasizes the importance of being doers of the Word, not just hearers, which aligns with Paul's message about living out the Law.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Discusses how knowledge can lead to pride, but love builds up, echoing the need for humility in teaching.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
Highlights the purpose of Scripture for teaching and training in righteousness, relevant to the role of the Law as described by Paul.

Psalm 119:105
Describes God's Word as a lamp and light, underscoring the Law's role as a guide to truth and knowledge.
Law and GuiltT.F. Lockyer Romans 2:12-24
Inconsistency Hinders the Spread of ChristianityRomans 2:17-29
Inconsistency: its Evil EffectsC. H. Spurgeon.Romans 2:17-29
Ineffectual OpinionsA. Maclaren.Romans 2:17-29
Jewish BoastingC. Higgins.Romans 2:17-29
Jewish Treatment of GentilesProf. Godet.Romans 2:17-29
Nominal Christians, the Occasion of Blasphemy to the HeathenCanon Stowell.Romans 2:17-29
SacrilegeJ. W. Lance.Romans 2:17-29
SacrilegeT. Robinson, D. D.Romans 2:17-29
Sensitiveness of Moral SenseC. Neil, M. A.Romans 2:17-29
Teaching and ExampleAbp. Secker.Romans 2:17-29
Teaching and PracticeJ. Lyth, D. D.Romans 2:17-29
The Advantages of the JewsR. Haldane.Romans 2:17-29
The Jewish WorldR.M. Edgar Romans 2:17-29
The Jews Also Without ExcuseW. Tyson.Romans 2:17-29
The Need of Spiritual ReligionT. G. Horton.Romans 2:17-29
The Nominal ChristianJ. Lyth, D. D.Romans 2:17-29
The ProfessorJ. Lyth, D. D.Romans 2:17-29
The Responsibility of the TeacherRomans 2:17-29
The Sunday School TeacherJ. S. Broad, M. A.Romans 2:17-29
The Teacher Animated and Urged to DutyJ. Bennett, D. D.Romans 2:17-29
The Teacher Must Make the Truth Part of His Inner ExperienceC. H. Spurgeon.Romans 2:17-29
The Teacher TaughtC. S. Robinson, D. D.Romans 2:17-29
True ReligionC.h Irwin Romans 2:17-29
Truths Best Taught by LifeRomans 2:17-29
Unsaved WorkersC. H. Spurgeon.Romans 2:17-29
People
Paul, Romans
Places
Rome
Topics
Babes, Babies, Corrector, Dull, Embodiment, Foolish, Form, Hast, Ignorant, Immature, Infants, Instructor, Law, Ones, Outline, Possess, Real, Schoolmaster, Teacher, Truth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Romans 2:20

     1462   truth, in NT
     5136   body
     5652   babies
     8757   folly, effects of

Romans 2:17-20

     8804   pride, examples

Romans 2:17-24

     6121   boasting
     7755   preaching, importance
     8767   hypocrisy
     8807   profanity

Romans 2:17-27

     8822   self-justification

Romans 2:17-29

     5381   law, letter and spirit

Romans 2:19-21

     5135   blindness, spiritual

Library
September the Tenth Criticism and Piety
"Thinkest thou, that judgest them that do such things, that thou shalt escape?" --ROMANS ii. 1-11. That is always my peril, to assume that by being severe with others I exculpate myself. I go on to the bench, and deliver sentence upon my brother, when my proper place is in the dock. And this is the subtlety of the snare, that I regard my criticisms and condemnations of other people as signs of my own innocence. This is the last refinement in temptation, and multitudes fall before its power. The
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

The Circumcision of the Heart
"Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter." Romans 2:29. 1. It is the melancholy remark of an excellent man, that he who now preaches the most essential duties of Christianity, runs the hazard of being esteemed, by a great part of his hearers, "a setter forth of new doctrines." Most men have so lived away the substance of that religion, the profession whereof they still retain, that no sooner are any of those truths proposed which difference the Spirit of Christ from
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Earnest Expostulation
Observe that the apostle singled out an individual who had condemned others for transgressions, in which he himself indulged. This man owned so much spiritual light that he knew right from wrong, and he diligently used his knowledge to judge others, condemning them for their transgressions. As for himself, he preferred the shade, where no fierce light might beat on his own conscience and disturb his unholy peace. His judgment was spared the pain of dealing with his home offenses by being set to work
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 29: 1883

Coming Judgment of the Secrets of Men
"Should all the forms that men devise Assult my faith with treacherous art, I'd call them vanity and lies, And bind the gospel to my heart." Is not this word "my gospel" the voice of love? Does he not by this word embrace the gospel as the only love of his soul--for the sake of which he had suffered the loss of all things, and did count them but dung--for the sake of which he was willing to stand before Nero, and proclaim, even in Caesar's palace, the message from heaven? Though each word should
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 31: 1885

"Hear the Word of the Lord, Ye Rulers of Sodom, Give Ear unto the Law of Our God, Ye People of Gomorrah,"
Isaiah i. 10, 11, &c.--"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah," &c. It is strange to think what mercy is mixed with the most wrath like strokes and threatenings. There is no prophet whose office and commission is only for judgment, nay, to speak the truth, it is mercy that premises threatenings. The entering of the law, both in the commands and curses, is to make sin abound, that grace may superabound, so that both rods and threatenings
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Tendencies of Religious Thought in England, 1688-1750.
THE thirty years of peace which succeeded the Peace of Utrecht (1714), was the most prosperous season that England had ever experienced; and the progression, though slow, being uniform, the reign of George II. might not disadvantageously be compared for the real happiness of the community with that more brilliant, but uncertain and oscillatory condition which has ensued. A labourer's wages have never for many ages commanded so large a portion of subsistence as in this part of the 18th century.' (Hallam,
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

The Same Necessary and Eternal Different Relations
that different things bear one to another, and the same consequent fitness or unfitness of the application of different things or different relations one to another, with regard to which the will of God always and necessarily does determine itself, to choose to act only what is agreeable to justice, equity, goodness, and truth, in order to the welfare of the whole universe, ought likewise constantly to determine the wills of all subordinate rational beings, to govern all their actions by the same
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. History of the Councils. Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians. 1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Epistle xvi. From Felix Bishop of Messana to St. Gregory.
From Felix Bishop of Messana [243] to St. Gregory. To the most blessed and honourable lord, the holy father Pope Gregory, Felix lover of your Weal and Holiness. The claims under God of your most blessed Weal and Holiness are manifest. For, though the whole earth was filled with observance of the true faith by the preaching and doctrine of the apostles, yet the orthodox Church of Christ, having been founded by apostolical institution and most firmly established by the faithful fathers, is further
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Entire Sanctification in Type.
The Mosaic dispensation was legal, ceremonial and typical. "The law having a shadow of the good things to come," says the author of the Hebrews. But a shadow always points to a substance; and so far as holiness is commanded, and so far as it is shadowed forth in the ceremonial law, we shall find that there is a corresponding substance and reality in the gospel of Christ. In the first place, if we study carefully the provisions of the Mosaic law, we shall be struck with the many forms of ceremonial
Dougan Clark—The Theology of Holiness

Love of Religion, a New Nature.
"If we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."--Romans vi. 8. To be dead with Christ, is to hate and turn from sin; and to live with Him, is to have our hearts and minds turned towards God and Heaven. To be dead to sin, is to feel a disgust at it. We know what is meant by disgust. Take, for instance, the case of a sick man, when food of a certain kind is presented to him,--and there is no doubt what is meant by disgust. Consider how certain scents, which are too
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is None of His. "
Rom. viii. 9.--"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?" 2 Chron. vi. 18. It was the wonder of one of the wisest of men, and indeed, considering his infinite highness above the height of heavens, his immense and incomprehensible greatness, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and then the baseness, emptiness, and worthlessness of man, it may be a wonder to the
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"If we Say that we have not Sinned, we Make Him a Liar, and his Word is not in Us. "
1 John i. 10.--"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." There is nothing in which religion more consists than in the true and unfeigned knowledge of ourselves. The heathens supposed that sentence, {GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER NU}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER THETA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA} {GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON}{GREEK
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Though in Order to Establish this Suitable Difference Between the Fruits or Effects of virtue and vice,
so reasonable in itself, and so absolutely necessary for the vindication of the honour of God, the nature of things, and the constitution and order of God's creation, was originally such, that the observance of the eternal rules of justice, equity, and goodness, does indeed of itself tend by direct and natural consequence to make all creatures happy, and the contrary practice to make them miserable; yet since, through some great and general corruption and depravation, (whencesoever that may have
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

But Now, that as Bearing with the Infirmity of Men He did This...
12. But now, that as bearing with the infirmity of men he did this, let us hear what follows: "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. To them that are under the law, I became as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law." [2505] Which thing he did, not with craftiness
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Note to the Following Treatise 1. The Following Letter
NOTE TO THE FOLLOWING TREATISE 1. The following Letter, which is the 190th of S. Bernard, was ranked by Horst among the Treatises, on account of its length and importance. It was written on the occasion of the condemnation of the errors of Abaelard by the Council of Sens, in 1140, in the presence of a great number of French Bishops, and of King Louis the Younger, as has been described in the notes to Letter 187. In the Synodical Epistle, which is No. 191 of S. Bernard, and in another, which is No.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church.
IN the city of Geneva, once the stronghold of the severest creed of the Reformation, Christianity itself has of late years received some very rude shocks. But special attempts have been recently made to counteract their effects and to re-organize the Christian congregations upon Evangelical principles. In pursuance of this design, there have been delivered and published during the last few years a series of addresses by distinguished persons holding Evangelical sentiments, entitled Séances
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

Neither do they Confess that they are Awed by those Citations from the Old...
7. Neither do they confess that they are awed by those citations from the Old Testament which are alleged as examples of lies: for there, every incident may possibly be taken figuratively, although it really did take place: and when a thing is either done or said figuratively, it is no lie. For every utterance is to be referred to that which it utters. But when any thing is either done or said figuratively, it utters that which it signifies to those for whose understanding it was put forth. Whence
St. Augustine—On Lying

Man.
THE IMAGE OF GOD. MAN is God's image, and to curse wickedly the image of God, is to curse God himself. Suppose that a man should say with his mouth, I wish that the king's picture were burned; would not this man's so saying render him as an enemy to the person of the king? Even so it is with them that by cursing wish evil to their neighbors or themselves; they contemn the image of God himself. This world, as it dropped from the fingers of God, was far more glorious than it is now. VALUE OF THE SOUL.
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

The Hindrances to Mourning
What shall we do to get our heart into this mourning frame? Do two things. Take heed of those things which will stop these channels of mourning; put yourselves upon the use of all means that will help forward holy mourning. Take heed of those things which will stop the current of tears. There are nine hindrances of mourning. 1 The love of sin. The love of sin is like a stone in the pipe which hinders the current of water. The love of sin makes sin taste sweet and this sweetness in sin bewitches the
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity the Christian Calling and Unity.
Text: Ephesians 4, 1-6. 1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

All Mankind Guilty; Or, Every Man Knows More than He Practises.
ROMANS i. 24.--"When they knew God, they glorified him not as God." The idea of God is the most important and comprehensive of all the ideas of which the human mind is possessed. It is the foundation of religion; of all right doctrine, and all right conduct. A correct intuition of it leads to correct religious theories and practice; while any erroneous or defective view of the Supreme Being will pervade the whole province of religion, and exert a most pernicious influence upon the entire character
William G.T. Shedd—Sermons to the Natural Man

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
Jacques Saurin, the famous French Protestant preacher of the seventeenth century, was born at Nismes in 1677. He studied at Geneva and was appointed to the Walloon Church in London in 1701. The scene of his great life work was, however, the Hague, where he settled in 1705. He has been compared with Bossuet, tho he never attained the graceful style and subtilty which characterize the "Eagle of Meaux." The story is told of the famous scholar Le Clerc that he long refused to hear Saurin preach, on the
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 3

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