and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The original Greek word translated as "approve what is excellent" can also mean "test" or "discern what differs." This means Paul isn't just saying they agreed with God's will; he's highlighting their ability to distinguish right from wrong, a skill they honed through their religious instruction, even if they failed to act on it.
and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is dismantling the self-righteousness of those who boast in their Jewish heritage and adherence to the Law, highlighting that outward religious practice or knowledge without inner transformation is meaningless. He's just shown how Gentiles who lack the Law can still demonstrate its moral principles, and now he's detailing the supposed advantages of being Jewish, only to expose their hypocrisy. This verse emphasizes that knowing God's will and discerning right from wrong, which the Jews learned from the Law, should lead to genuine action, not just intellectual pride.
You might think knowing God's law automatically means you're on God's side. But what if that very knowledge can be used to simply draw lines, without actually crossing them into obedience?
Paul highlights a key privilege of the Jewish people: their instruction in the Law. This wasn't just a set of rules; it was a revelation of God's will.
Distinguishing Right and Wrong
The Greek word here, often translated as 'approve what is excellent,' can also mean 'discern' or 'test what differs.' Imagine having a keen eye for detail, able to spot the slightest imperfection. That's what the Law enabled them to do with morality – to distinguish between right and wrong, the permissible and the forbidden.
Intellectual vs. Heart Knowledge
This ability to discern was a significant advantage. It meant they had access to a framework for understanding God's desires, a level of insight far beyond the surrounding nations. However, Paul subtly hints that this 'knowledge' and 'discernment' were often just that – intellectual exercises, not deeply held convictions that led to action.
What happens when people pride themselves on knowing the right thing, yet never actually do it? Paul isn't pulling any punches here.
The core issue Paul addresses isn't the knowledge itself, but the attitude that accompanies it. For many Jews of his day, their instruction in the Law became a source of pride, a way to feel superior to others.
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A Privilege Turned to Vanity
Being 'instructed from the law' was a precious gift, a direct line to understanding God's character and commands. But instead of fostering humility and deeper devotion, this knowledge often led to self-congratulation. They could 'approve' of what was excellent in their minds, even recite the commands perfectly, but this mental assent didn't translate into heartfelt obedience.
The Hypocrisy Revealed
Paul is building a case against religious hypocrisy. He's saying that possessing the 'form of knowledge' (as he puts it elsewhere) without the reality of transformed living is ultimately empty. It's like having a map but never taking a step on the journey. This disconnect between knowing and doing is a serious offense in God's eyes.
Understand the original words
thelēma · Greek Noun
The fundamental standard of holiness, goodness, and divine requirement; it is the revelation of God's character and His desired conduct for His people.
diapherō · Greek Adjective/Participle
The inherent quality of being morally superior, morally pure, or ethically distinct, setting something apart from common or sinful practices.
The Jews of Paul's day prided themselves on their knowledge of the Law, believing it set them apart. Yet, Paul highlights their failure to live by the very instructions they received, emphasizing that true approval of God's will comes not from mere instruction, but from sincere obedience and alignment with Christ's teachings.
c. 1446 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God gives the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Law to the Israelites through Moses, establishing a covenant relationship and providing a detailed guide for their lives.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple by the Babylonians leads to the exile of many Jews, a period of divine judgment for disobedience to the Law.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, marking a time of restoration and renewed commitment to the Law.
c. 400 BC - 100 BC
Second Temple Period
A period of Jewish self-governance and religious practice centered around the Second Temple, with the Law continuing to be studied and taught in synagogues.
c. 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD— this verse
Rise of Rabbinic Judaism
Increased emphasis on interpreting and applying the Law through rabbinic traditions and synagogical teaching, shaping Jewish life and thought.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which introduces a new covenant and a deeper understanding of God's will that transcends the Law's letter.
This verse uses a similar Greek word to describe discerning and approving what is excellent, highlighting the importance of spiritual maturity and clear judgment grounded in faith.
Matthew 7:3-5This passage speaks to the hypocrisy of judging others while failing to examine one's own actions, a core theme present when discussing the Jewish reliance on the Law without practicing it.
Jeremiah 9:23-24This prophet emphasizes that true boasting should be in God's steadfast love and justice, not in worldly wisdom or knowledge, which resonates with the critique of the Jews' pride in their legal instruction.
John 5:39-40Jesus points out that merely studying the Scriptures (the Law) is insufficient; the ultimate goal is to come to Him for true life, highlighting the inadequacy of mere instruction without genuine belief and action.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7This passage describes the importance of diligently teaching God's commands and integrating them into daily life, underscoring that the 'instruction' mentioned in Romans 2 should lead to lived obedience, not just intellectual knowledge.
ellicottRomans 2:18: "And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;"
(18) His will. —Literally, the will — i.e., “the supreme will.” Approvest the things that are more excellent.—Probably rightly given in the Authorised version, though the marginal rendering also is possible, “triest the things that differ”—i.e., “art able to discriminate between good and evil.” Being instructed.—With reference to the constant reading of the Law in the synagogu…
clarkeRomans 2:18: "And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;"
Knowest his will - Hast been favored with a revelation of his own will, immediately from himself. The things that are more excellent - τα δισφεροντα, The things that differ - that revelation which God has given of himself makes the nicest distinctions between right and wrong; between vice and virtue; showing how you should walk so as to please God, and, consequently, acquire t…
The original Greek word translated as "approve what is excellent" can also mean "test" or "discern what differs." This means Paul isn't just saying they agreed with God's will; he's highlighting their ability to distinguish right from wrong, a skill they honed through their religious instruction, even if they failed to act on it.
Paul is dismantling the self-righteousness of those who boast in their Jewish heritage and adherence to the Law, highlighting that outward religious practice or knowledge without inner transformation is meaningless. He's just shown how Gentiles who lack the Law can still demonstrate its moral principles, and now he's detailing the supposed advantages of being Jewish, only to expose their hypocrisy. This verse emphasizes that knowing God's will and discerning right from wrong, which the Jews learned from the Law, should lead to genuine action, not just intellectual pride.
Paul is dismantling the self-righteousness of those who boast in their Jewish heritage and adherence to the Law, highlighting that outward religious practice or knowledge without inner transformation is meaningless. He's just shown how Gentiles who lack the Law can still demonstrate its moral principles, and now he's detailing the supposed advantages of being Jewish, only to expose their hypocrisy. This verse emphasizes that knowing God's will and discerning right from wrong, which the Jews learned from the Law, should lead to genuine action, not just intellectual pride.
"and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;" — The original Greek word translated as "approve what is excellent" can also mean "test" or "discern what differs." This means Paul isn't just saying they agreed with God's will; he's highlighting th…
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Last reviewed October 2026