Rom 2:19, 1Ti 1:7 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 19. And art confident . This expression denotes the full assurance of the Jew that he was superior in knowledge to all other people. It is a remarkable fact, that the Jews put the fullest confidence in their religion. Though proud, wicked, and hypocritical, yet they were not speculative infidels. It was one of their characteristics, evinced through all their history, that they had the fullest assurance that God was the Author of their institutions, and that their religion was his appointment. A guide of the blind . A guide of the blind is a figurative expression to denote an instructer of the ignorant. The blind here properly refers to the Gentiles, who were thus regarded by the Jews. The meaning is, that they esteemed themselves qualified to instruct the heathen world, . A light . Another figurative expression to denote a teacher. Comp. . In darkness . A common expression to denote the ignorance of the Gentile world. .

Romans 2:19

Verse 19. And art confident. This expression denotes the full assurance of the Jew that he was superior in knowledge to all other people. It is a remarkable fact, that the Jews put the fullest confidence in their religion. Though proud, wicked, and hypocritical, yet they were not speculative infidels. It was one of their characteristics, evinced through all their history, that they had the fullest assurance that God was the Author of their institutions, and that their religion was his appointment.

A guide of the blind. A guide of the blind is a figurative expression to denote an instructer of the ignorant. The blind here properly refers to the Gentiles, who were thus regarded by the Jews. The meaning is, that they esteemed themselves qualified to instruct the heathen world, Mt 15:14, 23:16.

A light. Another figurative expression to denote a teacher. Comp. Isa 49:6, Jn 1:4,5,8,9.

In darkness. A common expression to denote the ignorance of the Gentile world. Mt 4:16.

1 Timothy 1:7

Verse 7. Desiring to be teachers of the law. That is, to have the credit and reputation of being well versed in the law of Moses, and qualified to explain it to others. This was a high honour among the Jews, and these teachers laid claim to the same distinction.

Understanding neither what they say. That is, they do not understand the true nature and design of that law which they attempt to explain to others. This was true of the Jewish teachers, and equally so of those in the church at Ephesus, who attempted to explain it. They appear to hare explained the law on the principles which commonly prevailed among the Jews, and hence their instructions tended greatly to corrupt the faith of the gospel. They made affirmations of what they knew nothing of, and though they made confident asseverations, yet they often pertained to things about which they had no knowledge. One needs only a slight acquaintance with the manner of teaching among Jewish Rabbies, or with the things found in their traditions, to see the accuracy of this statement of the apostle. A sufficient illustration of this may be found in Allen's "Modern Judaism."

(d) "understanding neither" Rom 1:22