“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?”
You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? The rhetorical exposure intensifies: the one who teaches theft (klepto) may himself be guilty of stealing. This is likely metaphorical—Paul may reference idolatry (stealing from God), greed, or hypocrisy. The gap between teaching and practice reveals the law's incapacity to transform the heart unless it produces genuine repentance.
Church Fathers on Romans 2:21
“You therefore who teaches another, do you not teach yourself?” But there he frames his speech with more of sharpness, here with more of gentleness. For he does not say, However on this score you deserve greater punishment, because though entrusted with so great things you have not made a good use of any of them, but he carries his discourse on by way of question, turning them on themselves (ἐ ντρέπων), and saying, “Thou that teachest another, do you not teach yourself?” And…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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