Romans 10:2

Tyndale New Testament

For I beare them recorde that they have a fervet mynde to God warde but not accordinge to knowledge.

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.

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

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].

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

¹ Brethren my hertes desyre and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. ² For I beare them recorde that they have a fervet mynde to God warde but not accordinge to knowledge. ³ For they are ignoraut of the rightewesnes which is alowed before God and goo about to stablisshe their awne rightewesnes and therfore are not obedient vnto the rightewesnes which is of valew before God. ⁴ For Christ is the ende of the lawe to iustifie all that beleve. ⁵ Moses describeth the rightewesnes which cometh of ye lawe howe that the man which doth the thinges of the lawe shall lyve therin. ⁶ But ye rightewesnes which cometh of fayth speaketh on this wyse. Saye not in thyne hert who shall ascende into heven? (that is nothinge els then to fetch Christ doune) ⁷ Other who shall descende into the depe? (that is nothinge els but to fetch vp Christ from deeth) ⁸ But what sayth the scripture? The worde is nye the even in thy mouth and in thyn herte. This worde is the worde of fayth which we preache. ⁹ For yf thou shalt knowledge wt thy mouth that Iesus is the lorde and shalt beleve with thyn hert that God raysed him up from deeth thou shalt be safe. ¹⁰ For the belefe of the hert iustifieth: and to knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe.

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

Revelation 20:8
and shall goo oute to deceave the people which are in the foure quarters of the erth Gog and Magog to gadder them to gedder to batayle whose nombre is as the sonde of the see:

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.