Romans 2NIV
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Romans2

New International Version

1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

2Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

3So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?

4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

6God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;

10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

11For God does not show favoritism.

12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.

15They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

16This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;

18if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;

19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,

20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

22You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

24As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

26So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?

27The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.

29No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Romans 2.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The Jews could not be justified by the law of Moses, any more than the Gentiles by the law of nature. (1–16). The sins of the Jews confuted all their vain confidence in their outward privileges. (17–29).

vv1-16

The Jews thought themselves a holy people, entitled to their privileges by right, while they were unthankful, rebellious, and unrighteous. But all who act thus, of every nation, age, and description, must be reminded that the judgment of God will be according to their real character. The case is so plain, that we may appeal to the sinner's own thoughts. In every wilful sin, there is contempt of the goodness of God. And though the branches of man's disobedience are very various, all spring from the same root. But in true repentance, there must be hatred of former sinfulness, from a change wrought in the state of the mind, which disposes it to choose the good and to refuse the evil. It shows also a sense of inward wretchedness. Such is the great change wrought in repentance, it is conversion, and is needed by every human being. The ruin of sinners is their walking after a hard and impenitent heart. Their sinful doings are expressed by the strong words, “treasuring up wrath.” In the description of the just man, notice the full demand of the law. It demands that the motives shall be pure, and rejects all actions from earthly ambition or ends. In the description of the unrighteous, contention is held forth as the principle of all evil. The human will is in a state of enmity against God. Even Gentiles, who had not the written law, had that within, which directed them what to do by the light of nature. Conscience is a witness, and first or last will bear witness. As they nature. Conscience is a witness, and first or last will bear witness. As they kept or broke these natural laws and dictates, their consciences either acquitted or condemned them. Nothing speaks more terror to sinners, and more comfort to saints, than that Christ shall be the Judge. Secret services shall be rewarded, secret sins shall be then punished, and brought to light.

vv17-24

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.

vv25-29

No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking an interest in the righteousness of God by faith. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a willing following of truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized, not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of men, but of God.

Cross References

Romans 2
v24Isaiah 52:5quotation

Direct Old Testament quotation regarding God's name being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of hypocrites.

Supported by JFB

v1Matthew 7:1-5thematic

Jesus' warning against self-condemnation through judging others while practicing the same sins.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Verbal and thematic parallel to God bringing every secret work and thought into judgment.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v21Psalms 50:16-20thematic

Parallels God's indictment of the hypocrite who preaches His statutes but commits theft and adultery.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v29Deuteronomy 30:6thematic

The foundational Old Testament promise of the circumcision of the heart in the spirit.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v29Jeremiah 4:4thematic

Old Testament call to take away the foreskin of the heart, contrasting outward and inward circumcision.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v4Psalms 50:21thematic

Sinner mistakenly thinks God's silence and forbearance mean approval of their wicked deeds.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v42 Peter 3:9thematic

Confirms that God's longsuffering and delay are designed to lead sinners to repentance.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Proverbs 24:12thematic

Classic wisdom text affirming that God renders to every man according to his works.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Old Testament declaration that God is impartial and accepts no bribes or respect of persons.

Supported by John Calvin

v16John 5:22-29thematic

Affirms that the Father has committed all judgment of humanity to Jesus Christ.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v28Romans 9:6-8thematic

Clarifies that not all of physical Israel are true children of God's promise.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v291 Samuel 16:7thematic

Stresses that God looks at the heart, not outward appearance, matching inward Jewish identity.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v9Luke 12:47contrast

Shows greater stripes for those who knew God's will (the Jew first) but disobeyed.

Supported by JFB

v11Acts 10:34thematic

Peter's realization that God is no respecter of persons but judges with equity.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13James 1:22-25thematic

Matches Paul's assertion that not hearers, but doers of the law are justified.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v17Isaiah 48:1thematic

Prophetic critique of those who call themselves by Israel's name but not in truth.

Supported by JFB

v21Matthew 23:3thematic

Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees who teach others but do not obey themselves.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v29Jeremiah 9:26thematic

Contrasts nations uncircumcised in flesh with Israel, who is uncircumcised in heart.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Contrasts the dead letter of the law with the life-giving Spirit.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

Addresses the historical division and reconciliation of circumcision and uncircumcision in Christ.

Supported by JFB

v13Romans 2:25thematic

Connects the necessity of keeping the law to make outward circumcision of any value.

Supported by John Calvin

v19Proverbs 26:12thematic

Warns against the spiritual pride of being wise in one's own eyes.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v22Matthew 21:12-13thematic

Example of temple desecration and robbery, illuminating the charge of committing sacrilege.

Supported by JFB