Romans 2:22 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul presses further: does the one who forbids adultery commit it, and does the one who detests idols rob temples?
What Does Romans 2:22 Mean?
Paul continues the searching questions, moving through the commandments. You who say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit it? You who abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege, profaning what is sacred?
Each question pairs a loud public conviction with a hidden contradiction. It is easy to denounce the sins we are not tempted by while quietly excusing our own. Paul will not let the line between profession and practice blur. The call is to a wholeness in which what we condemn in word we also refuse in deed, so that our reverence is not merely on our lips.
Romans 2:22 in the Original Language
hierosyleo (ἱεροσυλέω), 'commit sacrilege' -- to rob temples or profane what is sacred, betraying the very holiness one claims to honor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 2:22
What does Romans 2:22 mean?
Paul presses further: does the one who forbids adultery commit it, and does the one who detests idols rob temples?