Romans 2 15

Romans 2:15 kjv

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Romans 2:15 nkjv

who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

Romans 2:15 niv

They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Romans 2:15 esv

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

Romans 2:15 nlt

They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

Romans 2 verses

Romans 2 15 Meaning

Romans 2:15 elucidates that Gentiles, who do not possess the written Mosaic Law, still inherently understand and often act in accordance with its fundamental moral principles. This intrinsic moral sense is manifested through their conscience, which functions as an internal witness, either affirming or condemning their thoughts and actions. It demonstrates that the core moral demands of God's law are engraved on the human heart, making all humanity accountable.

Romans 2 15 Context

Romans chapter 2 serves as a pivotal point in Paul's argument about human sinfulness and the universal need for God's righteousness by faith. Following his condemnation of Gentile idolatry and immorality in Romans 1, Paul now addresses those who might consider themselves morally superior, primarily the Jews. He challenges any assumption that possessing the written Mosaic Law grants immunity from judgment or provides a pathway to self-justification. Romans 2:15 directly explains why even Gentiles, who do not have the Law of Moses, are nonetheless accountable before God. It posits that God has imprinted a fundamental moral understanding within all humanity, evidenced by the internal operations of conscience, making everyone, Jew and Gentile, without excuse for their unrighteousness and subject to divine judgment.

Romans 2 15 Word analysis

• They show (ἐνδείκνυνται - endeiknyntai): This verb means "to make clear," "to demonstrate," "to exhibit," or "to prove." It signifies a public or demonstrable manifestation. The actions and internal workings of the Gentiles provide clear evidence, an observable proof, that the principles of God's moral law are somehow at work within them, not merely a hidden potentiality but an active force.
• requirements of the law (τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου - to ergon tou nomou): Literally "the work of the law" or "the deed of the law." This does not refer to the Mosaic Law as a whole or to specific legal rituals, but to its fundamental moral demands, its ethical substance. It highlights the actions and ethical principles prescribed by the Law (e.g., prohibitions against murder, theft, adultery) that are universally understood to be right or wrong. It distinguishes the moral essence from the ceremonial or civil aspects of the Law.
• written on their hearts (γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν - grapton en tais kardiais autōn): "Written" (grapton) signifies an indelible inscription, permanent and authoritative. "Hearts" (καρδίαις - kardiais) in biblical thought, is not just the seat of emotion, but the core of one's being – the center of intellect, will, moral choices, and spiritual life. This phrase powerfully echoes Old Testament prophecies of the New Covenant (Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10, Heb 10:16), indicating an innate moral awareness divinely embedded within humanity from creation, not received through external revelation of the Torah.
• their consciences also bearing witness (συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως - symmartyrousēs autōn tēs syneidēseōs): "Conscience" (συνείδησις - syneidēsis) literally means "co-knowledge" or "knowing with." It denotes an inner moral sense that evaluates one's own thoughts and actions, either approving or disapproving them. "Bearing witness" (συμμαρτυρούσης - symmartyrousēs) means to bear witness together with or concurrently with. Here, it implies the conscience acts as an internal, corroborating witness alongside the 'law written on their hearts,' validating that inner moral knowledge.
• and their thoughts (μεταξύ ἀλλήλων τῶν λογισμῶν - metaxu allēlōn tōn logismōn): "Thoughts" (λογισμῶν - logismōn) refers to one's internal reasonings, deliberations, mental processes, or considerations. The phrase "μεταξύ ἀλλήλων" means "among themselves" or "between one another," suggesting an internal debate or moral reckoning occurring within the individual.
• sometimes accusing (κατηγορούντων - katēgorountōn): This is a legal term meaning "to accuse," "to bring a charge against," or "to denounce." It describes the conscience's function to condemn or lay blame on the individual for actions that transgress their innate moral understanding.
• sometimes even defending them (ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων - ē kai apologoumenōn): "Defending" (ἀπολογουμένων - apologoumenōn) also comes from a legal context, meaning "to make a defense," "to present an apology," "to justify," or "to argue in self-defense." This indicates the conscience's capacity to approve actions that align with the moral law, thereby absolving or vindicating the individual in their internal court. This shows the active and often conflicted nature of the conscience.

Romans 2 15 Bonus section

This verse directly contradicts any notion that individuals born without access to the specific details of the Mosaic Law or the Gospel are exempt from moral culpability before God. It establishes universal human accountability not based on external legal codes alone, but on an internal moral framework that is an aspect of creation. This "law on the heart" does not confer the power to obey perfectly, but rather reveals the inherent inability to do so, thus paving the way for the necessity of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (as presented in Romans 3 and beyond). It highlights that the core problem of humanity is not merely a lack of knowledge, but a rebellion against the knowledge they already possess, both externally from creation and internally from conscience.

Romans 2 15 Commentary

Romans 2:15 provides a crucial theological link between God's universal revelation in creation (Rom 1) and His ultimate judgment. Paul argues that even those without explicit written revelation, the Gentiles, possess an inherent moral standard within them. This "law written on their hearts" is not a means of salvation, but a demonstration of their moral accountability to God. It reflects the truth that all humanity, as God's image-bearers, are imbued with an innate capacity to discern between right and wrong, a "work of the law" evidenced by their conscience.

The conscience acts as an internal monitor, constantly assessing their thoughts and deeds, either accusing them of wrong or excusing them for right. This internal moral court, operating within every human being, bears witness to their knowledge of God's standards and underlines the justness of divine judgment. This inherent moral compass, while testifying to God's standard, does not enable humanity to perfectly keep it or attain righteousness by their own effort. Instead, it exposes human sinfulness, driving them to a recognition of their need for the Gospel and God's saving grace in Christ. It means no one stands before God without some measure of moral awareness and thus, no one has an excuse.