Romans — Chapter 2
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1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11For there is no respect of persons with God.
12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14For 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:
15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
1Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.
2And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that practise such things.
3And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6who will render to every man according to his works:
7to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:
8but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [shall be] wrath and indignation,
9tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;
10but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:
11for there is no respect of persons with God.
12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;
13for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified:
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;
15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing [them]);
16in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
17But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God,
18and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,
20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;
21thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
23thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?
24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.
25For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
26If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?
27and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?
28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:
29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
1Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things.
2Now we know that God’s judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things.
3And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment?
4Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed!
6He will reward each one according to his works:
7eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality,
8but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.
9There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek,
10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek.
11For there is no partiality with God.
12For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous.
14For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves.
15They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them,
16on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God
18and know his will and approve the superior things because you receive instruction from the law,
19and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth—
21therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
22You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law!
24For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27And the physically uncircumcised man, by keeping the law, will judge you to be the transgressor of the law, even though you have the letter and circumcision!
28For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh,
29but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the letter. This person’s praise is not from people but from God.
1Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
2We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;
6who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”
7to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
8but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
9oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
10But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
11For there is no partiality with God.
12For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
13For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified
14(for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.
17Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God,
18and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.
21You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?
22You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law?
24For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
25For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?
27Won’t the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law?
28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
Summary
Paul silences the self-righteous judge: God shows no partiality, and having the Law does not exempt Jews from judgment — for it is not the hearers but the doers of the Law who will be justified, and true circumcision is of the heart.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the moralist's guilt, God's patience, the Jew's privilege and responsibility, and true circumcision of the heart.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Goodness of God Leads to Repentance" on v.4 (MTP Vol. 10) "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance — not His wrath, not His threats, not His punishments — His goodness. Every day you wake up alive is God's kindness giving you another chance to repent. Don't mistake His patience for approval." Sermon: "Circumcision of the Heart" on v.29 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1361) "Circumcision is that of the heart — not the knife on the flesh but the Spirit on the heart. External religion without internal transformation is worthless. God looks at the heart, not the ritual."
Videos
The Bible Project — Romans Overview
Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
Reflection
- 1. "Thou that judgest doest the same things" (v.1). It's easy to condemn others' sins while excusing your own. Where are you judging others for sins you also commit (perhaps in different forms)? Hypocrisy is the sin of the "good" person.
- 2. "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (v.4). Every good thing in your life — health, relationships, provision, another day alive — is God's kindness designed to lead you to repentance. Are you responding to His goodness with gratitude and repentance, or taking it for granted?
- 3. "Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers" (v.13). You can know the Bible cover to cover and still be unjustified. Knowledge without obedience is worthless. What do you know that you're not doing?
- 4. "He is a Jew, which is one inwardly" (v.29). True religion is internal — heart transformation, not external performance. Is your faith primarily external (church attendance, religious activity) or internal (genuine love for God, transformed desires)?
- 5. Paul says the moralist "doest the same things" (v.1) as the pagans he condemns. How? Perhaps not the same outward sins, but the same root sins — pride, selfishness, lust, greed — in more "respectable" forms. Where are your "respectable" sins?
- 6. "Despisest thou the riches of his goodness?" (v.4). To "despise" God's kindness is to take it for granted — to assume His patience means He doesn't care about your sin. Are you presuming on God's grace?
- 7. "God shall judge the secrets of men" (v.16). Not just your public behavior but your secret thoughts, motives, and desires. If God judged your secret life today, what would He find?
- 8. The Jews had the Law but broke it (vv.21-23). Having truth is not the same as living truth. Where is there a gap between what you know and how you live?
- 9. "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you" (v.24). Hypocrisy in believers causes unbelievers to reject God. Is your life causing people to honor God or to blaspheme Him?