The Meaning of Romans 2:18 Explained

Romans 2:18

KJV: And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

YLT: and dost know the will, and dost approve the distinctions, being instructed out of the law,

Darby: and knowest the will, and discerningly approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

ASV: and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  knowest  [his] will,  and  approvest  the things that are more excellent,  being instructed  out of  the law; 

What does Romans 2:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Romans 2:12-20 - The Searcher Of All Hearts
The Apostle goes on to show that all men, whether Jews or Gentiles, will be judged by the same standard. For the Jew that law was written upon the pages of the Old Testament; but for the Gentiles, who possessed neither Moses nor Sinai, it was written on the tablets of the heart and known as "conscience." The difference between the two is comparable to that between the time of day indicated by the sun and by the watch which each man carries in his pocket. It is a blessed and profound truth, which makes all men amenable to God's judgment, that deep down in every man's soul He has engraven His holy law.
How clearly Scripture bears witness to the eternal judgment! Acts 17:31. The secrets of men are to be judged, Romans 2:16. How thankful we should be that those who stand in Christ shall not come under condemnation! He has borne the curse of a broken law for us, and is not ashamed to call us brethren, Hebrews 2:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 2

1  No excuse for sin
6  No escape from judgment
14  Gentiles cannot;
17  nor Jews

Greek Commentary for Romans 2:18

The things that are more excellent [τὰ διαφέροντα]
This may be the meaning, and it is adopted by Rev. with the proper omission of more. But it may also mean the things which differ; in which case we shall render provest instead of approvest. The sense will then be: thou dost test with nice discrimination questions of casuistry. Compare Philemon 1:10. The latter interpretation seems preferable, being borne out by the succeeding being instructed. [source]
Being instructed [κατηχούμενος]
Systematically through catechetical and synagoguic instruction. See on Luke 1:4. This formal instruction is the basis of the critical discrimination. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 2:18

Romans 14:22 In that which he approveth [εν οι δοκιμαζει]
This beatitude cuts both ways. After testing and then approving (Romans 1:28; Romans 2:18) one takes his stand which very act may condemn himself by what he says or does. “It is a rare felicity to have a conscience untroubled by scruples” (Denney). [source]
Philippians 1:10 Things which are excellent [τὰ διαφέροντα]
Unnecessary difficulty has been made in the explanation of this phrase. Love displays itself in knowledge and discernment. In proportion as it abounds it sharpens the moral perceptions for the discernment of what is best. The passage is on the line of 1 Corinthians 12:31, “Covet earnestly the best gifts,” and the “more excellent way” to attain these gifts is love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). See on Romans 2:18, where the same phrase occurs, but with a different meaning. Some explain things which are morally different. [source]
James 3:14 Faction [εριτιαν]
Late word, from εριτος — erithos (hireling, from εριτευω — eritheuō to spin wool), a pushing forward for personal ends, partisanship, as in Philemon 1:16.In your heart (εν τηι καρδιαι υμων — en tēi kardiāi humōn). The real fountain (πηγη — pēgē James 3:11).Glory not Present middle imperative of κατακαυχαομαι — katakauchaomai for which see note on James 2:13. Wisdom is essential for the teacher. Boasting arrogance disproves the possession of wisdom.Lie not against the truth (πσευδεστε κατα της αλητειας — pseudesthe kata tēs alētheias). Present middle imperative of πσευδομαι — pseudomai old verb, to play false, with μη — mē carried over. Lying against the truth is futile. By your conduct do not belie the truth which you teach; a solemn and needed lesson. Cf. Romans 1:18., Romans 2:18, Romans 2:20. [source]
James 3:14 Glory not [μη κατακαυχαστε]
Present middle imperative of κατακαυχαομαι — katakauchaomai for which see note on James 2:13. Wisdom is essential for the teacher. Boasting arrogance disproves the possession of wisdom.Lie not against the truth (πσευδεστε κατα της αλητειας — pseudesthe kata tēs alētheias). Present middle imperative of πσευδομαι — pseudomai old verb, to play false, with μη — mē carried over. Lying against the truth is futile. By your conduct do not belie the truth which you teach; a solemn and needed lesson. Cf. Romans 1:18., Romans 2:18, Romans 2:20. [source]
James 3:14 Lie not against the truth [πσευδεστε κατα της αλητειας]
Present middle imperative of πσευδομαι — pseudomai old verb, to play false, with μη — mē carried over. Lying against the truth is futile. By your conduct do not belie the truth which you teach; a solemn and needed lesson. Cf. Romans 1:18., Romans 2:18, Romans 2:20. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 2:18 mean?

and know the will approve the things being superior being instructed out of the law
καὶ γινώσκεις τὸ θέλημα δοκιμάζεις τὰ διαφέροντα κατηχούμενος ἐκ τοῦ νόμου

γινώσκεις  know 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
δοκιμάζεις  approve 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: δοκιμάζω 
Sense: to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
διαφέροντα  being  superior 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: διαφέρω  
Sense: to bear or carry through any place.
κατηχούμενος  being  instructed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κατηχέω  
Sense: to sound towards, sound down upon, resound.
ἐκ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
νόμου  law 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: νόμος  
Sense: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command.