Romans 2:15

Romans 2:15 Meaning and Explanation

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

King James Version (KJV)

Read this verse in context with translation switching:

Read Full Chapter →

Their conduct shows the law's work written on their hearts, with conscience and inner thoughts bearing witness, sometimes accusing and sometimes excusing.

What Does Romans 2:15 Mean?

Paul finishes the thought begun in the previous verse. Those who instinctively do right reveal the work of the law written in their hearts. Conscience stands as an inner witness, and a person's own thoughts rise up either to accuse or to excuse.

Here is the inner courtroom every human being carries. Even apart from the written commandment, the heart knows it is answerable, judging its own deeds. This conscience is a mercy, a quiet voice pointing toward the good, and a sign of the moral order God has set within us. It prepares the way for the deeper writing of His law upon the heart that the gospel promises.

Romans 2:15 in the Original Language

syneidesis (συνείδησις), 'conscience' -- the inner faculty that bears witness to right and wrong and weighs one's own conduct.

Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 2:15

What does Romans 2:15 mean?

Their conduct shows the law's work written on their hearts, with conscience and inner thoughts bearing witness, sometimes accusing and sometimes excusing.

Keep Studying Romans 2

Read the whole chapter in KJV, ASV, or WEB, or go deeper with the chapter study guide and key themes.