SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:20
enseador de los que no saben, maestro de nios, que tienes la forma de la ciencia y de la verdad en la ley.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 2:20
Verse 20. An instructer of the foolish, &c.] Ye believe the Gentiles to be babes and fools when compared with yourselves; that ye alone possess the only true knowledge; that ye are the only favourites of Heaven; and that all nations must look up to you as possessing the only form of knowledge, morfwsin thv gnwsewv, the grand scheme and draught of all true science, of every thing that is worthy to be learned: the system of eternal truth, derived from the law. If, therefore, ye act not as becomes those who have such eminent advantages, it must be to your endless disgrace and infamy.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. An instructor of the foolish , etc..] All men in a state of unregeneracy are foolish, and need instruction; here the common people among the Jews, who knew not the law, are meant; it was very usual to call anyone of their doctors and masters hrwm , an instructor: it follows, a teacher of babes ; either in age or in understanding; such who taught either of them were called by the Jews twqwnyt ydmlm , teachers of babes. Thus they paraphrase the text in ( Daniel 12:3): they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. This is the Judge who judges, the judgment of truth truly, and the collectors of alms: and they that turn, many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever; these are, twqwnt ydmlm , the teachers of babes f23 .
Though these are said to be inferior to the wise men, or doctors: which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law : they had not a true knowledge of the law; only a draught and scheme, the outward form of the law, and a mere shadow and appearance of the knowledge of the truth of it. From hence the apostle would have it concluded, that though the Jews had the law, and in some sense knew it, yet inasmuch as they did not perform it, they could not be justified by it; and that even their teachers, their greatest masters and doctors, were very deficient, as appears from what follows; and since they could not be instilled by it, who taught others the knowledge of it, the hearers of it could not expect justification from it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-24 - The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sin they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vai pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the roo and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, an in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride A great evil of the sins professors is, the dishonour done to God an religion, by their not living according to their profession. Man despise their more ignorant neighbours who rest in a dead form of godliness; yet themselves trust in a form of knowledge, equally void of life and power, while some glory in the gospel, whose unholy live dishonour God, and cause his name to be blasphemed.
Greek Textus Receptus
παιδευτην 3810 N-ASF αφρονων 878 A-GPM διδασκαλον 1320 N-ASM νηπιων 3516 A-GPM εχοντα 2192 5723 V-PAP-ASM την 3588 T-ASF μορφωσιν 3446 N-ASF της 3588 T-GSF γνωσεως 1108 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ της 3588 T-GSF αληθειας 225 N-GSF εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSM νομω 3551 N-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. Instructor (paideuthn), Rev., corrector. Better, because emphasizing the element of discipline or training. See on chastise, Luke xxiii. 16 Of babes (nhpiwn) The term used by the Jews to designate proselytes or novices. Paul uses it of one not come of legal age, Gal. iv. 1. The form - in the law (morfwsin). Not mere appearance, but the scheme, the correct embodiment of the lineaments of truth and knowledge in the law.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:20 {A corrector of the foolish} (paideutn aphron"n). Old word (from paideuw) for instructor, in Plato, and probably so here, though corrector or chastiser in #Heb 12:9 (the only N.T. instances). See #Lu 23:16. Late inscriptions give it as instructor (Preisigke). Aphron"n is a hard word for Gentiles, but it is the Jewish standpoint that Paul gives. Each termed the other "dogs." {Of babes} (nepiwn). Novitiates or convert to Judaism just as in #Ga 4:1. Paul used it of those not of legal age. {The form} (tn morfwsin). Rare word only in Theophrastus and Paul (here and #2Ti 3:5). Pallis regards it as a Stoical term for education. Lightfoot considers the morph"sis as "the rough-sketch, the pencilling of the morfe," the outline or framework, and in #2Ti 3:5 "the outline without the substance." this is Paul's picture of the Jew as he sees himself drawn with consummate skill and subtle irony.
