An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the {o} form of knowledge and of the truth in the {p} law.

(o) The way to teach and to form others in the knowledge of the truth.

(p) As though he said that the Jews under a pretence of an outward serving of God, attributed all to themselves, when in reality they did nothing less than observe the Law.

People's New Testament

2:20 Which hast the form of knowledge. In the law they had the form, the pattern, of knowledge and of the truth. The truth in its fullness came with Jesus Christ (Joh 1:17), but the law was the pattern, the typical form, of this truth.

Wesley's Notes

2:20 Having the form of knowledge and truth - That is, the most accurate knowledge of the truth.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law-not being left, as the heathen are, to vague conjecture on divine things, but favored with definite and precise information from heaven.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:17-24 The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the sins professors is, the dishonour done to God and religion, by their not living according to their profession. Many despise their more ignorant neighbours who rest in a dead form of godliness; yet themselves trust in a form of knowledge, equally void of life and power, while some glory in the gospel, whose unholy lives dishonour God, and cause his name to be blasphemed.