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Romans 2:22

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 2:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
Romans 2:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,
20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;
21thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
23thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?
24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.
25For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
← Romans 2:21Romans 2:23 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, etc..] Adultery here is to be taken not figuratively for adulterating the word of God, and mixing it with their own inventions; but literally for the sin of adultery, and that not in heart only, but in act: dost thou commit adultery? an iniquity which greatly prevailed among the Jews at this time of day; hence Christ calls them “an adulterous generation”, (<401239>Matthew 12:39 16:4 <410838>Mark 8:38); and that to such a degree, that by the advice of their great Rabbi, R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, they left off the trial of the suspected woman, cases of this nature being so very numerous: and this sin prevailed not only among the common people,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“thou that abhorrest idols--as the Jews did ever after their captivity, though bent on them before. dost thou commit sacrilege?--not, as some excellent interpreters, "dost thou rob idol temples?" but more generally, as we take it, "dost thou profane holy things?" (as in Mat 21:12-13, and in other ways).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Dost thou commit adultery? - There is no doubt that this was a crime very common among the Jews; see the Matthew 12:39 note; John 8:1-11 notes. The Jewish Talmud accuses some of the most celebrated of their Rabbies, by name, of this vice. (Grotius.) Josephus also gives the same account of the nation. Thou that abhorrest idols - It was one of the doctrines of their religion to abhor idolatry. This they were everywhere taught in the Old Testament; and this they doubtless inculcated in their teaching. It was impossible that they could recommend idolatry. Dost thou commit sacrilege? - Sacrilege is the crime of violating or profaning sacred things; or of appropriating to common purposes what has…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:22 do you use items stolen from pagan temples? Old Testament law prohibited Jews from having anything to do with pagan idols (see Deut 7:26), but first-century Jews did not strictly follow this law. Sometimes they stole idols and used or sold the precious metals.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“adultery: Jer 5:7, Jer 7:9, Jer 7:10, Jer 9:2; Eze 22:11; Mat 12:39, Mat 16:4; Jam 4:4 sacrilege: Mal 1:8, Mal 1:14, Mal 3:8; Mar 11:17 Romans 2:23”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification