Section 2:17–29

The Jews and the law ⌊of Moses⌋

In this section, Paul talked to the Jews about themselves. He continued to use the singular “you,” as in the previous section. This form of teaching is called a “diatribe.” (See Section 2:1–16.)

Using this diatribe, Paul rebuked the Jews because they had the law of Moses but they disobeyed it.

Paul showed them that an outward sign of religion is of no use to people if they did not do what is right. He told them that God praises those whose heart is right with God.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God praises a changed heart
-or-
Truly following God comes from the heart

Paragraph 2:17–24

2:17a

Now:
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces a new part of Paul’s talk about the Jews. There is some contrast here with what he said about the Gentiles. Here is another way to translate this word:

But (English Standard Version)

if: Paul used if here to cause the Roman believers to evaluate their own lives and determine if these verses apply to them. He probably expects some of them to say that they are like what he said here. Consider how to translate that meaning for the word if.

In the Greek text, this one if affects all of 2:17a–20c. (The word “then” does not occur until 2:21a.) Consider how to include all of 2:17a–20c in the if clause in your language.

Some languages may need to repeat the word if to make this clear. The Berean Standard Bible repeats it once in 2:18 and again in 2:19. But in some languages it is more natural to repeat it more often. For example:

17 Now if you call yourself a Jew and ⌊if you⌋ rely on the law and boast in God 18 and ⌊if you⌋ know his will and approve what is superior, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,
-or-

17 Now if you call yourself a Jew and ⌊if you⌋ rely on the law and boast in God 18 and ⌊if you⌋ know his will and approve what is superior, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, ⌊and⌋ a teacher of infants, because ⌊you are convinced that⌋ you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,

In some languages it is more natural not to repeat the word if at all, including 2:19a. For example:

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is superior, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and are sure that you yourself are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,

you call yourself a Jew: This clause refers to this person knowing that his parents were Jews, therefore he was a Jew. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you say you are Jewish
-or-
you have the name “Jew”
-or-
you are of the Jewish people

you: This letter was for all Roman believers to read. But here Paul wrote as if he was talking to a Jew. This Jew was someone who was proud of having the Law of Moses and all the knowledge and insight that it gave him.

In some languages a footnote to explain would be helpful to the readers. Here is an example footnote:

Paul now wrote to the Roman believers as if speaking to a Jew. This Jew was proud of having the Law of Moses and all the knowledge and insight that it gave him.

2:17b

rely on the law: Here the phrase rely on means “to depend on.” The Jews regarded their possession of the laws that God gave to Moses as something that made them right with God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

depend on the Law (Good News Translation)
-or-
trust in the law of Moses (New Century Version)
-or-
trust in your having the law to save you
-or-
say that God will accept you (sing.) because you have the Law ⌊of Moses⌋

2:17c

boast in God: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in :

(1) It indicates that the Jews spoke proudly about God. For example:

boast about God (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version (2011), Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, King James Version)

(2) It indicates that the Jews spoke proudly about their relationship with God. For example:

boast of your relationship to God (NET Bible)

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version (1984), New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the simple meaning of the Greek word. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

boast about how great God is
-or-
brag about your God (God’s Word)

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