Romans 10:2

Amplified Bible

For I testify about them that they have a certain enthusiasm for God, but not in accordance with [correct and vital] knowledge [about Him and His purposes].

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
I can say this about them: They really try hard to follow God, but they don't know the right way.

Revised Standard Version
I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For I beare them recorde that they have a fervet mynde to God warde but not accordinge to knowledge.

Hebrew Names Version
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

International Standard Version
For I can testify on their behalf that they have a zeal for God, but it is not in keeping with full knowledge.Acts 21:20; 22:3; Romans 9:31; Galatians 1:14; 4:17;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

New Century Version
I can say this about them: They really try to follow God, but they do not know the right way.

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

Webster's Bible Translation
For I bear them testimony that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

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

World English Bible
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I bear them record, that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Weymouth's New Testament
For I bear witness that they possess an enthusiasm for God, but it is an unenlightened enthusiasm.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But Y bere witnessyng to hem, that thei han loue of God, but not aftir kunnyng.

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

Berean Standard Bible
For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.

Contemporary English Version
I know they love God, but they don't understand

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

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

Complete Jewish Bible
for I can testify to their zeal for God. But it is not based on correct understanding;

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

Etheridge Translation
For I testify of them that they have zeal for Aloha, [fn] but not in knowledge.

Murdock Translation
For I bear them witness, that there is in them a zeal for God; but it is not according to knowledge.

King James Version (1611)
For I beare them record, that they haue a zeale of God, but not according to knowledge.

New Living Translation
I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.

New Life Bible
I know about them. They have a strong desire for God, but they do not know what they should about Him.

New Revised Standard
I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I beare them record, that they haue the zeale of God, but not according to knowledge.

George Lamsa Translation
For I can testify for them that there is in them a zeal for God, but not according to the true knowledge.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For I bear them witness that they have, a zeal for God, - but not according to correct knowledge;

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

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I beare them recorde, that they haue a zeale of God: but not accordyng to knowledge.

Good News Translation
I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge.

Christian Standard Bible®
I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

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

Lexham English Bible
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Literal Translation
For I testify to them that they have zeal to God, but not according to knowledge.

Young's Literal Translation
for I bear them testimony that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For I beare them recorde, that they are zelous for Gods cause, but not wt vnderstondinge.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I bear them witness, that they have a zeal for God, but not guided by true knowledge.

New English Translation
For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.

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

Simplified Cowboy Version
They have a lot of enthusiasm, but it is totally misdirected. They are like a Blue Heeler that constantly works the horses instead of the cattle.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

Legacy Standard Bible
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Contextual Overview

¹Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation. ²For I testify about them that they have a certain enthusiasm for God, but not in accordance with [correct and vital] knowledge [about Him and His purposes].³For not knowing about God's righteousness [which is based on faith], and seeking to establish their own [righteousness based on works], they did not submit to God's righteousness. ⁴For Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior]. ⁵For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it. ⁶But the righteousness based on faith [which produces a right relationship with Him] says the following: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' that is, to bring Christ down; ⁷or, 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we had to be saved by our own efforts, doing the impossible]." ⁸But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— ⁹because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I bear them: By this fine apology for the Jews, the Apostle prepares them for the harsher truths which he was about to deliver. 2 Corinthians 8:3, Galatians 4:15, Colossians 4:13

that they: 2 Kings 10:16, John 16:2, Acts 21:20, Acts 21:28, Acts 22:3, Acts 22:22, Acts 26:9, Acts 26:10, Galatians 1:14, Galatians 4:17, Galatians 4:18, Philippians 3:6

but not: Romans 10:3, Romans 9:31, Romans 9:32, Psalms 14:4, Proverbs 19:2, Isaiah 27:1, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Philippians 1:9

Reciprocal: Numbers 25:13 - zealous Joshua 22:12 - the whole Judges 17:13 - General Judges 19:29 - divided her Judges 21:1 - There 1 Samuel 14:24 - Cursed 2 Samuel 21:2 - in his zeal 2 Kings 2:17 - they urged Job 20:2 - my thoughts Psalms 59:10 - let Psalms 69:27 - let them Ecclesiastes 7:16 - Be not Isaiah 55:2 - do ye Isaiah 57:12 - General Micah 6:6 - Wherewith Matthew 5:20 - exceed Mark 10:17 - what Luke 5:33 - and make Luke 13:14 - with Luke 18:21 - General John 5:12 - What John 9:24 - Give Acts 13:50 - devout Acts 20:26 - I take Galatians 5:2 - that

Cross-References

Genesis 10:5
From these, [the people of] the coastlands of the nations were separated and spread into their lands, every one according to his own language, according to their constituent groups (families), and into their nations:

Genesis 10:7
the sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah; Sheba and Dedan.

Genesis 10:12
and [Nimrod built] Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah; all these [combined to form] the great city [Nineveh].

Genesis 10:14
and Pathrusim and Casluhim—from whom came the Philistines—and Caphtorim.

Genesis 10:21
Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber [including the Hebrews], the older brother of Japheth, children were born.

Isaiah 66:19
"I will set up a [miraculous] sign among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations: Tarshish, Pul (Put), Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant islands and coastlands that have not heard of My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare and proclaim My glory among the nations.

Ezekiel 27:7
"Your sail was of fine embroidered linen from Egypt So that it became your distinguishing mark (insignia); Your [ship's] awning [which covered you] was blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah [of Asia Minor].

Ezekiel 27:19
"Vedan and Javan traded with yarn from Uzal [in Arabia] for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were among your merchandise.

Ezekiel 38:6
Gomer and all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north and all its troops—many peoples with you.

Ezekiel 38:15
"You will come from your place in the remote parts of the north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding horses, a great horde, and a mighty army;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I bear them record, that they have a zeal of God,.... A zeal for God; for the being and unity of God, against the polytheism and idolatry of the Gentiles; for the word of God, the writings of the Old Testament, of which they were zealous defenders and preservers, and which they diligently read and heard explained, and whereby they thought to obtain eternal life; for the law of God, moral and ceremonial, especially for the rituals of the Mosaic economy; for the service and worship of God, they spared no pains, but compassed sea and land to bring in proselytes to their religion; all which the apostle could testify from his own knowledge, and by his own experience, who had been as great a zealot as any of them all. But now whilst the apostle is expressing his strong affection for this people, he is careful to act the faithful part to them, and points out their mistakes, and shows them their faults; which he does in this and the following verse, by observing, that they had a zeal of God indeed,

but not according to knowledge: it was not well regulated, it proceeded on mistaken principles, and moved in a wrong way, in persecuting the church of God, in doing things contrary to the name of Christ, in putting to death his ministers and members, thinking that hereby they did God good service; which arose from their ignorance of their Father, and of the Son: though they had a zeal of God, they knew neither God nor Christ aright; they did not know God in Christ, nor Jesus to be the true Messiah; they understood neither law nor Gospel truly, and fancied the Gospel was contrary to the law, and an enemy to it; and therefore in their great zeal opposed it, and the professors of it; they were zealous of the law, and of doing the commands of it, but knew not the true nature, use, and end of the law; as appears by what follows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I bear them record - To bear record means to be a witness; to give evidence. This, Paul was well qualified to do. He had been a Jew of the strictest order Acts 26:5; Philippians 3:5, and he well knew the extraordinary exertions which they put forth to obey the commands of the Law.

A zeal of God - A zeal for God. Thus, John 2:17,” The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;” an earnest desire for the honor of the sanctuary has wholly absorbed my attention; compare Psalms 69:9; Acts 21:20, “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous of the law;” Acts 22:3, “And was zealous toward God as ye all are this day.” Zeal for God here means passionate ardor in the things pertaining to God, or in the things of religion. In this they were, doubtless, many of them sincere; but sincerity does not of itself constitute true piety; John 16:2, “The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” This would be an instance of extraordinary zeal, and in this they would be sincere; but persecution to death of apostles cannot be true religion; see also Matthew 23:15; Acts 26:9, “I thought that I ought to do,” etc. So many persons suppose that, provided they are sincere and zealous, they must of course be accepted of God. But the zeal which is acceptable is what aims at the glory of God, and which is founded on true benevolence to the universe; and which does not aim primarily to establish a system of self-righteousness, as did the Jew, or to build up our own sect, as many others do. We may remark here, that Paul was not insensible to what the Jews did, and was not unwilling to give them credit for it. A minister of the gospel should not be blind to the amiable qualities of people or to their zeal; and should be willing to speak of it tenderly, even when he is proclaiming the doctrine of depravity, or denouncing the just judgments of God.

Not according to knowledge - Not an enlightened, discerning, and intelligent zeal. Not what was founded on correct views of God and of religious truth. Such zeal is enthusiasm, and often becomes persecuting. Knowledge without zeal becomes cold, abstract, calculating, formal; and may be possessed by devils as well as human beings. It is the union of the two - the action of the man called forth to intense effort by just views of truth and by right feeling - that constitutes true religion. This was the zeal of the Saviour and of the apostles.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 10:2. They have a zeal of God — They believe their law to have come immediately from God himself, and are jealous of its glory and excellence; they conscientiously observe its rites and ceremonies, but they do not consider the object and end of those rites; they sin more through ignorance than malice; and this pleads in their excuse. By this fine apology for them, the apostle prepares them for the harsher truths which he was about to deliver.