Romans 2:20

An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Word Reference
Original Word Definitions
παιδευτὴν
G3810 N-ASM
paideutēs
a trainer, i.e., teacher or (by implication) discipliner
  • an instructor, preceptor, teacher
  • "a chastiser
ἀφρόνων
G878 A-GPM
aphrōn
properly, mindless, i.e., stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specially) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving
  • without reason
  • "senseless, foolish, stupid"without reflection or intelligence, acting rashly
διδάσκαλον
G1320 N-ASM
didaskalos
an instructor (genitive case or specially)
  • a teacher
    • one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so
    • "the teachers of the Jewish religion"of those who by their great power as teachers draw crowds around them i.e., John the Baptist, Jesus"by preeminence used of Jesus by himself, as one who showed men the way of salvation"of the apostles, and of Paul"of those who in the religious assemblies of the Christians, undertook the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit"of false teachers among Christians
    in the New Testament one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man
νηπίων
G3516 A-GPM
nēpios
not speaking, i.e., an infant (minor); figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature Christian
  • an infant, little child
  • "a minor, not of age"metaphorically childish, untaught, unskilled
ἔχοντα
G2192 V-PAP-ASM
echō
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
  • to have, i.e., to hold
    • to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
    to have i.e., own, possess
    • external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
    • "used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
    to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition"to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
    • to be closely joined to a person or a thing
τὴν
G3588 T-ASF
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
μόρφωσιν
G3446 N-ASF
morphōsis
formation, i.e., (by implication), appearance (semblance or (concretely) formula)
  • a forming, shaping
  • "form
    • the mere form, semblance
    • "the form befitting a thing or truly expressing the fact, the very form
τῆς
G3588 T-GSF
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
γνώσεως
G1108 N-GSF
gnōsis
knowing (the act), i.e., (by implication) knowledge
  • knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding
    • the general knowledge of Christian religion
    • "the deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more advanced"especially of things lawful and unlawful for Christians"moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living
καὶ
G2532 CONJ
kai
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
  • and, also, even, indeed, but
τῆς
G3588 T-GSF
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
ἀληθείας
G225 N-GSF
alētheia
truth
  • objectively
    • what is true in any matter under consideration
      • truly, in truth, according to truth
      • "of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
      what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
      • in the greatest latitude
      • "the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
      the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians
    subjectively
    • truth as a personal excellence
      • that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit
ἐν
G1722 PREP
en
___%___in,___%___ at, (up-)on, by, etc
  • in, by, with
τῷ
G3588 T-DSM
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
νόμῳ·
G3551 N-DSM
nomos
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
  • anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
    • of any law whatsoever
      • a law or rule producing a state approved of God
        • by the observance of which is approved of God
        a precept or injunction"the rule of action prescribed by reason
      of the Mosaic law, and referring, according to the context, either to the volume of the law or to its contents"the Christian religion: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, especially the precept concerning love"the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch), is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of the Old Testament

παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων διδάσκαλον νηπίων ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ·
20
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Cross References

2 Timothy 3:5

ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι· καὶ τούτους ἀποτρέπου
5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from turn such away.

Titus 1:16

θεὸν ὁμολογοῦσιν εἰδέναι τοῖς δὲ ἔργοις ἀρνοῦνται βδελυκτοὶ ὄντες καὶ ἀπειθεῖς καὶ πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἀδόκιμοι
16
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

2 Timothy 1:13

ὑποτύπωσιν ἔχε ὑγιαινόντων λόγων ὧν παρ' ἐμοῦ ἤκουσας ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ·
13
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:17

χάρις δὲ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι ἦτε δοῦλοι τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὑπηκούσατε δὲ ἐκ καρδίας εἰς ὃν παρεδόθητε τύπον διδαχῆς
17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

1 Corinthians 3:1

Καὶ ἐγώ ἀδελφοί οὐκ ἠδυνήθην λαλῆσαι ὑμῖν ὡς πνευματικοῖς ἀλλ' ὡς σαρκικοῖς ὡς νηπίοις ἐν Χριστῷ
1
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Hebrews 5:13

πᾶς γὰρ μετέχων γάλακτος ἄπειρος λόγου δικαιοσύνης νήπιος γάρ ἐστιν·
13
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

1 Peter 2:2

ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε
2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Matthew 11:25

Ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἀποκριθεὶς Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν Ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι πάτερ κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς ὅτι απέκρυψας ταῦτα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν καὶ ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις·
25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.