Rom 2:14  (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; ASV

Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: KJV

Rom 2:14  For when nations not having Law do by nature the things of the Law, they not having Law are a law to themselves,
ASV
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                                       COMMENTARY

  When human beings "do by nature" things that pertain to the law they show that they are moral creatures by nature. The grand question that this passage addresses is; What is the true nature of Man? The unregenerate person cannot correctly answer this question, while at the same time he -Demonstrates- the true answer by his behavior! Men are, by nature, moral beings. This necessarily involves both responsibility and accountability. This is what morality is all about. Men are responsible for their actions and men must also give an account of their actions. This is one of the great divides that separates us from brute beasts. Animals have no sense of right and wrong; they have no concept of responsibility or accountability. They live by instinct. They kill to survive and when they do no one puts them on trial in a court of law! Man is the only creature who operates on principles of morality. Paul tells us in this passage that all men do so by nature. This is what makes man man!  Yet this is not to say that all men operate on the same standard of morality. Paul is not teaching that in this passage at all. In fact he is saying the exact opposite as he tells us that the Gentiles do -not-  have the law of God either in their heads or written in the heart. Not having that law they become a "law unto themselves". They must do so because they are by nature moral creatures who -must- operate on a given standard of morality. In this case that standard is themselves. All human beings are little "mini judges". This is what it means to be a moral being that is involved in moral accountability.

Romans

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