Romans 2:15 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 2:15

So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);

KJV

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

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Commentary

3 voices

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS (253)

But as for his saying "in the hearts," it must not be supposed that the law is said to be written in that member of the body which is called the heart. For how could flesh either put forth such perceptions of prudence, or contain such great storehouses of memory? But it must be understood that the rational power of the soul is customarily called the heart. And the Apostle says that those who hold the law inscribed in their hearts make use of the testimony of a sound conscience.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Their conscience - There is none of all its faculties which the soul has less in its power than this. Bearing witness - In a trial there are the plaintiff, the defendant, and the witnesses. Conscience and sin itself are witnesses against the heathens.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

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

Which show - Who thus evince or show. The work of the law - The design, purpose, or object which is contemplated by the revealed Law; that is, to make known to man his duty, and to enforce the obligation to perform it. This does not mean, by any means, that they had all the knowledge which the Law would impart, for then there would have been no need of a revelation, but that, as far as it went, as far as they had a knowledge of right and wrong, they coincided with the revealed will of God.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

24 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
οἵτινες	oitines	who	G3748 →
ἐνδείκνυνται	endeiknuntai	show	G1731 →
τὸ	to	the	G3588 →
ἔργον	ergon	work	G2041 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
νόμου	nomou	law	G3551 →
γραπτὸν	grapton	written	G1123 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
ταῖς	tais	the	G3588 →
καρδίαις	kardiais	hearts	G2588 →
αὐτῶν	autōn	when they	G846 →
συμμαρτυρούσης	summarturousēs	are bearing witness	G4828 →
αὐτῶν	autōn	to them	G846 →
τῆς	tēs	their	G3588 →
συνειδήσεως	suneidēseōs	conscience	G4893 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
μεταξὺ	metaxu	between	G3342 →
ἀλλήλων	allēlōn	one another	G240 →
τῶν	tōn	the	G3588 →
λογισμῶν	logismōn	thoughts	G3053 →
κατηγορούντων	katēgorountōn	accusing	G2723 →
ἢ	ē	or	G2228 →
καὶ	kai	also	G2532 →
ἀπολογουμένων,	apologoumenōn	presenting a defense	G626 →

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
Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
leads to
- Romans 14:14
  I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
- Romans 14:20
  Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23
  “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
Through
1 Timothy 4:2
influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
leads to
- Ephesians 4:19
  Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.
Through
2 Corinthians 5:11
Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
leads to
- Jude 1:23
  save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
- Hebrews 10:31
  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Through
2 Corinthians 1:12
And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom,…
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 2:13
  And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
  For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

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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