Romans 2:13 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 2:13

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified;

KJV

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

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Commentary

4 voices

Cyprian

Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews (258)

That we must labour not with words, but with deeds. In Solomon, in Ecclesiasticus: "Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds useless and remiss." And Paul, in the first to the Corinthians: "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." Also to the Romans: "Not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: "He who shall do and teach so, shall be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

For not the hearers of the law are, even now, just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified - Finally acquitted and rewarded a most sure and important truth, which respects the gentiles also, though principally the Jews.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

This the apostle here opposes: it was a great privilege that they had the law, but not a saving privilege, unless they lived up to the law they had, which it is certain the Jews did not, and therefore they had need of a righteousness wherein to appear before God. We may apply it to the gospel: it is not hearing, but doing that will save us, John xiii.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

For not the hearers ... - The same sentiment is implied in Jas 1:22; Mat 7:21, Mat 7:24; Luk 6:47. The apostle here doubtless designed to meet an objection of the Jews; to wit, that they had the Law, that they manifested great deference for it, that they heard it read with attention, and professed a willingness to yield themselves to it. To meet this, he states a very plain and obvious principle, that this was insufficient to justify them before God, unless they rendered actual obedience. Are just - Are justified before God, or are personally holy.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
οἱ	hoi	the	G3588 →
ἀκροαταὶ	akroatai	hearers	G202 →
νόμου	nomou	of [the] law [are]	G3551 →
δίκαιοι	dikaioi	righteous	G1342 →
παρὰ	para	with	G3844 →
τῷ	tō	<the>	G3588 →
θεῷ,	theō	God,	G2316 →
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	but	G235 →
οἱ	hoi	the	G3588 →
ποιηταὶ	poiētai	doers	G4163 →
νόμου	nomou	of [the] law	G3551 →
δικαιωθήσονται.	dikaiōthēsontai	will be justified.	G1344 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Galatians 2:16
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in…
leads to
- Philippians 3:9
  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
- Psalms 143:2
  Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
- Romans 3:19–28
  Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- 1 Peter 1:18–21
  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Romans 9:30
  What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Through
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
leads to
- 1 John 2:29
  If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
  But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- 1 John 3:3
  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

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Justification by Faith: the Verdict of the Cross | MannaFest

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About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Romans: the study guide →Read chapter 2 →The featured study →

Continue: Romans 2 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Romans

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Romans