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NASB | Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 2:14 When Gentiles, who do not have the Law [since it was given only to Jews], do instinctively the things the Law requires [guided only by their conscience], they are a law to themselves, though they do not have the Law. |
Subject: Greek scholars help with translation? |
Bible Note: Hey, Doc It's been a long time. Good to see you are still around these parts. I do not dislike the NASB nor the Amplified translations. The amplified of course is more interpretation, but is real nice for reading and an additional resource. When reading Romans 2 recently, I noticed while crossing over this familiar passage a pause that made me wonder if there shouldn't be at least a look at changing the translation. My reason was because in many other parts of scripture it seems obvious that "no one seeks God and no one does good, not even one." So why would Paul attempt to say that non-regenerate Gentiles would "do what the Law requires." Second, I have am not currently in favor of assuming that Paul is dividing the Law up here into only "common" law (do not murder, do not steal) or even a so called Noahidic Law common to all peoples. So in re-reading the English text (since I don't read Greek unfortunately) I put in mind that these were Gentiles who were "regenerate" (ie. Christians to use our term). Then the Text made some sense: the Jews, who were "in the flesh" born into the covenant and grew up with the Law and heard it read weekly or more, were in reality not "doing it"; but, the Gentiles who were not "in the flesh" born into the covenant, but grafted into Israel through the faith of Abraham, were now actually hearing and doing the Law. “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” Furthermore, the Law is “written on their hearts” still speaking of Gentiles. This is drawing back on Jeremiah 31, which speaks of the whole Law and also speaks only of Israel, therefore in Romans 11 Paul speaks of how the Gentiles are grafted into Israel. If the Law is written on their hearts, it must be the Holy Spirit that does this, and this also means they must be regenerate Gentiles, not random pagans in any culture. Therefore: “…when Gentiles, who do not have by nature the Law [of Moses], do the things required by the Law [of Moses], they are …” Also, this change (not in the Greek, but in the translation) that I propose does not in anyway change the argument that Paul is making. The only real practical change is that a lot of sermons based on “all cultures” having a common law because we were all created in the Image of God, etc… will need to find a different passage to preach from. Doc, I was waiting to reply until I had more time, but when your response also came, I couldn’t resist. Then I remembered that on this forum, I like to test some of my thinking out even before I have had time to really organize and confirm or not confirm my thinking. It’s nice to have a place where a person can think out loud. MJH |