InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEUT JOB YEHO (JOS) HERO (JDG) RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG YOEL (JOEL) MIC ISA ZEP HAB YIR (JER) LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBAD DAN EZEK EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL 2 PS WIS TOB MAN BAR G DAN G ESD L ESD ESG JDT 3 MAC SIR 1 MAC 2 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL LAOD PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
InterlinearVerse Rom C1 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
Rom 2 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29
OET-LV For/Because whenever the_pagans which not the_law having, by_nature the things of_the law may_be_practicing, these the_law not having, to_themselves are a_law,
OET (OET-RV) Whenever other nations don’t have the Jewish laws, but naturally obey what’s in the laws, they show that even without our laws, they have their own law.
In all of chapter two, Paul wrote as if to someone who disagreed with him. He used the singular “you” throughout the chapter. This form of teaching is called a “diatribe.” Only one person is talking (or writing), but it is as if two people are talking back and forth, asking and answering questions, making objections and responding. Using this diatribe, Paul rebuked those who judged others improperly. The person whom Paul spoke to here was not a believer. His evil deeds store up God’s wrath against him (2:5), and his sins will cause him to perish (2:12).
In this section, Paul addressed someone who judged others as bad but did the same things (2:1). God would punish such a person (2:2–3); it is according to what a person has done (2:6–11) and according to the knowledge of God that a person has (2:12–15).
Here are other possible headings for this section:
The person who does not believe and judges other people as bad yet does the same things
Hypocritical people who do not believe in Jesus
These two verses explain 2:12a–b. Some English versions indicate that these verses are extra information and not a part of the main collection of thoughts of Paul, but these two verses are not a change of subject or background information. You should not put these verses in parentheses.
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires,
For non-Jewish people do not have the Jewish law, but whenever they naturally/instinctively behave as that law commands,
Indeed/Truly, whenever non-Jews innately do what the law of Moses says to do, even though they do not have those laws,
Indeed: This conjunction is the same one that the BSB did not translate in 2:12a and translated as “For” in 2:13. It introduces an explanation of 2:12a–b.
Gentiles: This word refers to people who are not Jews. Here are other ways to translate this word:
Those who are not Jews (NCV)
non-Jews (GW)
nations
do by nature: This phrase refers to thoughts and deeds that are considered normal in the place where the person grew up. It includes what people in that place consider to be right or wrong. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
instinctively (NASB)
naturally (CEV)
through their own innate sense (NJB)
their minds are like their law which directs themKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
their own hearts teach themUma Back Translation on TW.
know in themselvesOtomi Back Translation on TW.
what the law requires: This indicates that the Gentiles do good deeds and avoid evil deeds. For example, they may honor their parents, which is also a Jewish law. Here are other ways to translate these words:
the deeds written in the law of Moses
as the Law commands (NJB)
the things/rules that the laws of Moses contain
in accordance with it (JBP)
some of the commands of that lawKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
even though they do not have the law.
even if they do not have the Jewish law.
even though they have not heard the laws of Moses.
they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law: The words even though indicates that it is true that the Gentiles did not have the Jewish laws to live by. But despite that, they were a law to themselves (2:14b). Here are other ways to translate this clause:
these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves (NASB)
they behave as if having a law, even without having heard the law of Moses
these who do not have the law are a law to themselves (NET)
Those who are not Jews do not have the law, but when they freely do what the law commands, they are the law for themselves (NCV)
they are a law to themselves,
they know what laws/rules to follow in their own minds,
they have a law in their hearts/insides,
they are a law to themselves: This indicates that the Gentiles follow a set of laws based on what they know is right and wrong. The word law here does not refer to the Jewish laws. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
they are their own law (REB)
they have made their own law to follow
their minds are like their law which directs themKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
they have a law there in their hearts
it is as if they have a law in their minds/thoughtsYakan Back Translation on TW.
the law: Here the word law refers to the Jewish laws.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Γάρ ἔθνη τά μή νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τά τοῦ νόμου ποιῶσιν οὗτοι νόμον μή ἔχοντες ἑαυτοῖς εἰσίν νόμος)
For here indicates that 2:14–16 give another reason why God judges both groups of people mentioned in 2:12. 2:14–16 explain why Gentiles who do not know God’s law are still sinners. Use a natural way in your language to indicate a reason. Alternate translation: [God also judges both groups of people impartially because]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα & νόμον μὴ ἔχοντες
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Γάρ ἔθνη τά μή νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τά τοῦ νόμου ποιῶσιν οὗτοι νόμον μή ἔχοντες ἑαυτοῖς εἰσίν νόμος)
Paul speaks of these people as if they do not own or possess the law. He means that they did not receive the law that God gave to the Jewish people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated “without the law” in 2:12. Alternate translation: [who are unaware of God’s law … who are unaware of God’s law]
Note 3 topic: grammar-collectivenouns
νόμον & τοῦ νόμου & νόμον
˓the˒_law & ˱of˲_the law & ˓the˒_law
See how you translated the law in 2:12.
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
φύσει & ποιῶσιν
˱by˲_nature & ˓may_be˒_practicing
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of nature, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [naturally do]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὰ τοῦ νόμου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Γάρ ἔθνη τά μή νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τά τοῦ νόμου ποιῶσιν οὗτοι νόμον μή ἔχοντες ἑαυτοῖς εἰσίν νόμος)
Paul is using the possessive form to describe the specific rules that make up the law. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [the commands within the law]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
ἑαυτοῖς εἰσιν νόμος
˱to˲_themselves (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Γάρ ἔθνη τά μή νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τά τοῦ νόμου ποιῶσιν οὗτοι νόμον μή ἔχοντες ἑαυτοῖς εἰσίν νόμος)
Here Paul speaks of Gentiles as if they were a law. Paul means that the non-Jewish people have their own rules about what is right and wrong, and their rules are similar to God’s law. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning in plainly. Alternate translation: [are actually obeying the God’s law]
OET-LV For/Because whenever the_pagans which not the_law having, by_nature the things of_the law may_be_practicing, these the_law not having, to_themselves are a_law,
OET (OET-RV) Whenever other nations don’t have the Jewish laws, but naturally obey what’s in the laws, they show that even without our laws, they have their own law.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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