Romans 2:14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
KJV
ὅταν γὰρ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τὰ τοῦ νόμου ποιῶσιν, οὗτοι νόμον μὴ ἔχοντες ἑαυτοῖς εἰσιν νόμος·
Greek NT
Cum autem gentes, quæ legem non habent, naturaliter ea, quæ legis sunt, faciunt, ejusmodi legem non habentes, ipsi sibi sunt lex :
Vulgate
(for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
ASV
For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these, having not the law, are a law to themselves.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
12 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
μή
me
particle · 1033×
νόμος
nomos
noun · 196×
οὗτος
outos
demonstrative · 1380×
ποιέω
poieo
verb · 569×
φύσις
phusis
noun · 14×
ἑαυτοῦ
eautou
reflexive_pronoun · 316×
ἔθνος
ethnos
noun · 162×
ἔχω
echo
verb · 707×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὅταν
otan
conjunction · 123×
Textual variants
1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.
minor
SBLGNT: ποιῶσιν | WH/Treg/NIV: ποιῶσιν | RP: ποιῇ
- ποιῶσιν — SBLGNT
- ποιῶσιν — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
- ποιῇ — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
Historic Christian voices
13 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§1777Moral conscience,48 present at the heart of the person, enjoins him at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil. It also judges particular choices, approving those that are good and denouncing those that are evil.49 It bears witness to the authority of truth in reference to the supreme Good to which the human person is drawn, and it welcomes the commandments. When he…
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210205.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. Paul turns from the Gentiles to the Jews, showing that possession of the law does not make one righteous before God. The Jews who condemn the Gentiles practice the same sins. God will judge every man according to his works — not that works merit salvation, but that they reveal the truth of the heart. True c…
Summa Theologica · 5 passages
Is law something pertaining to reason? The end of law Its cause The promulgation of law Article 1. Whether law is something pertaining to reason? Objection 1. It would seem that law is not something pertaining to reason. For the Apostle says (Romans 7:23): "I see another law in my members," etc. But nothing pertaining to reason is in the members; since the reason does not make …
Is there an eternal law? Is there a natural law? Is there a human law? Is there a Divine law? Is there one Divine law, or several? Is there a law of sin? Article 1. Whether there is an eternal law? Objection 1. It would seem that there is no eternal law. Because every law is imposed on someone. But there was not someone from eternity on whom a law could be imposed: since God al…
What is the natural law? What are the precepts of the natural law? Are all acts of virtue prescribed by the natural law? Is the natural law the same in all? Is it changeable? Can it be abolished from the heart of man? Article 1. Whether the natural law is a habit? Objection 1. It would seem that the natural law is a habit. Because, as the Philosopher says (Ethic. ii, 5), "there…
…and 2 more from this source.
From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, …
There is, to be sure, a certain light of nature remaining in human beings after the fall, by virtue of which they retain some notions about God, natural things, and the difference between what is moral and immoral, and demonstrate a certain eagerness for virtue and for good outward behavior. But this light of nature is far from enabling humanity to come to a saving knowledge of…
Cross-references
- 1Cor 9:21 — To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
- 1John 3:20 — For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
- Acts 10:35 — But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
- Acts 17:30 — And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
- Deut 4:7 — For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
- Eph 2:12 — That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
- Ps 147:19 — He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
- Rom 1:19 — Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
- Rom 1:32 — Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
- Rom 2:12 — For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
- Rom 2:12 — For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
- Rom 2:27 — And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
- Rom 3:1 — What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?