Romans 2:22

Translations

Modern

You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

Traditional

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

Literal

You who are saying not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who are abhorring idols, do you rob temples?

Latin

…qui dicis non mœchandum, mœcharis: qui abominaris idola, sacrilegium facis:

Original

Greek

English

You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

Notes

Romans 2:22

do you rob temples?: Old Testament law prohibited Jews from having anything to do with pagan idols (see Deuteronomy 7:26). Pagans were those who worshiped false gods, and idols were hand-made representations of these false gods. But first-century AD Jews did not always follow this law. Sometimes they stole idols and used or sold the valuable metals from which the pagans made the idols.

Romans 2:21–22

Paul again uses the diatribe style (a teaching method that argues with an imagined opponent) to show the inconsistency in Jewish claims (see study note on 2:1–5).

Romans 1:18–3:20

Paul waits to explain righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until he first teaches about the sinfulness of all people. Both non-Jews and Jews are equally under the power of sin (1:18–32; 2:1–3:8). Because of this, both groups are in the same situation before God. No one can gain God’s favor by their own actions or obedience (3:9–20). All people need God’s saving action, not their own efforts.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) Natural Revelation Sin Enters the World The Limitations of Law

Related verses

Malachi 3:8
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings.
Matthew 12:39
Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Matthew 16:4
A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.
Ezekiel 22:11
One man commits an abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter.
Acts 19:37
For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.
Malachi 1:14
“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.
Malachi 1:8
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
Jeremiah 7:9–10
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,
Jeremiah 5:7
“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.
Mark 11:17
Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Jeremiah 9:2
If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people.

Glossary

Abomination Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Faith Jew Letter to the Romans Sin

Topics

Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of Christian Minister: False and Corrupt Formalism: General Scriptures Concerning Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Hypocrites: Professing but not Practising Inconsistency: General Scriptures Concerning Preachers Sin: Against Knowledge

Romans 2:22

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Translations

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Notes

Related verses

Glossary

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