Robertson Word Pictures - Romans 2:17 - 2:17

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Robertson Word Pictures - Romans 2:17 - 2:17


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Bearest the name (eponomazēi). Present passive indicative in condition of first class of eponomazō, 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 (epanapauēi nomōi). Late and rare double compound, in lxx and once in the Didache. In N.T. only here and Luk 10:6 which see. It means to lean upon, to refresh oneself back upon anything, here with locative case (nomōi). It is the picture of blind and mechanical reliance on the Mosaic law.

Gloriest in God (kauchāsai en theōi). Koiné[28928]š vernacular form for kauchāi (kauchaesai, kauchāsai) of kauchaomai as in Rom 2:23; 1Co 4:7 and katakauchāsai in Rom 11:18. The Jew gloried in God as a national asset and private prerogative (2Co 10:15; Gal 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 Phi 1:10 it is difficult to tell which stage of the process Paul has in mind.

Instructed out of the law (katēchoumenos ek tou nomou). Present passive participle of katēcheō, a rare verb to instruct, though occurring in the papyri for legal instruction. See note on Luk 1:4 and note on 1Co 14:19. The Jew’s “ethical discernment was the fruit of catechetical and synagogical instruction in the Old Testament” (Shedd).