Devine Scripture

Romans 10:2

What does Romans 10:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 10:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 10:2 means

Paul acknowledges Israel’s fervor for God. Their zeal is real, but it lacks true knowledge. Zeal, by itself, cannot save; it must be rightly informed. The tragedy Paul identifies is misdirected devotion—an intense commitment that misses the way of righteousness God has provided. This prepares the reader to see that the problem is not passion, nor God’s unfaithfulness, but misunderstanding and unbelief. In Christian terms, sincerity is not a substitute for truth. Paul’s testimony as a former zealous Pharisee underscores the point: zeal can fight against the very grace it seeks if it is not guided by God’s revealed righteousness in Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For I give witness of them that they have a strong desire for God, but not with knowledge.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for I bear them testimony that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For I bear them witness that they have zeal forGod, but not according to knowledge.

Context

Following Paul’s prayerful longing in verse 1, this verse explains the puzzle: how can a zealous people still be unsaved? Verses 3–4 will unfold the answer—ignorance of God’s righteousness and refusal to submit to it, with Christ as the law’s goal. Then verses 5–8 contrast two kinds of righteousness, that of the law and that of faith. So verse 2 prepares the reader for the diagnosis of Israel’s error and the contrast that reveals the true way to be right with God.

v.1Brethren, my heart’s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.

v.2This passage

v.3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Galatians 4:17

    They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.

  • Acts 22:3

    I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:

  • Acts 21:28

    crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.

  • Acts 21:20

    And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law:

  • Isaiah 27:1

    In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he will slay the monster that is in the sea.

  • Philippians 3:6

    as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

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