Romans 2:15
What does Romans 2:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 2:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 2:15 means
Conscience is a witness inside every person, testifying to moral realities. It reflects that the work of the Law is written on hearts, producing an inner dialogue where thoughts either accuse or, at times, defend. This does not imply flawless guidance—conscience can be misinformed or dulled—but it does show universal moral awareness and responsibility. The alternating accusations and defenses reveal that people know they are moral agents and that their choices carry weight. Paul uses this to prove that even without the written Law, Gentiles stand accountable before God for their moral lives.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);
KJV
King James Version · 1611Which 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;)
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because the work of the law is seen in their hearts, their sense of right and wrong giving witness to it, while their minds are at one time judging them and at another giving them approval;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who do shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also witnessing with them, and between one another the thoughts accusing or else defending,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them: and their thoughts between themselves accusing or also defending one another,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts accusing or else excusing themselves between themselves;)
Context
Extending the point of verse 14, this verse explains the internal dynamics of Gentile morality: conscience bears witness, thoughts pass judgment. Together they confirm that God’s moral standard reaches beyond Israel’s written code. This prepares the way for verse 16, which returns to the theme of final judgment—now including not just outward deeds but inner secrets—carried out by Jesus Christ. The flow shows that accountability is both external (Law) and internal (conscience).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden.
- Genesis 42:21
And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
- Job 27:6
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: My heart shall not reproachmeso long as I live.
- Titus 1:15
To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
- Romans 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
- John 8:9
And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.
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