Romans 2

God’s Righteous Judgment

1Therefore, any one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.[#Lit Therefore, O man, every one; #Lk 12:14; Rm 9:20; #Rm 1:20; #2Sm 12:5-7; Mt 7:1; Rm 14:22]

2We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth.

3Do you really think — anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same — that you will escape God’s judgment?

4Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?[#Rm 11:22; #Rm 3:25; #Ex 34:6; Rm 9:22; 1Tm 1:16; 1Pt 3:20; 2Pt 3:15; #Or patience, because you do not recognize; #2Pt 3:9]

5But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.[#Dt 32:34; Pr 1:18; #Ps 110:5; 2Co 5:10; 2Th 1:5; Jd 6]

6He will repay each one according to his works:[#Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12, Mt 16:27; #Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12]

7eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality;[#1Co 15:42,50,53; #Lk 8:15; Heb 10:36; #Heb 2:7; 1Pt 1:7; #Mt 25:46]

8but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness;[#2Co 12:20; Gl 5:20; Php 2:3; Jms 3:14,16; #2Th 2:12]

9affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;[#Rm 8:35; #Ac 3:26; Rm 1:16; 1Pt 4:17]

10but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

11There is no favoritism with God.[#Dt 10:17; Ac 10:34]

12All those who sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law.[#1Co 9:21]

13For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.[#Mt 7:21,24; Jn 13:17; Jms 1:22; #Or will be justified or acquitted]

14So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.[#Ac 10:35; Rm 1:19]

15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them[#The code of conduct required by the law; #Rm 2:27; #Internal debate, either in a person or among the pagan moralists]

16on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.[#Ac 10:42; 17:31; Rm 3:6; 14:10; #Rm 16:25; 1Co 15:1; Gl 1:11; 1Tm 1:11; 2Tm 2:8]

Jewish Violation of the Law

17Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rest in the law, boast in God,[#Other mss read Look —; #Mc 3:11; Jn 5:45; Rm 9:4]

18know His will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law,[#Php 1:10]

19and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,

20an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the full expression of knowledge and truth in the law —[#Or the embodiment; #Is 2:1-4; 42:6-7; 49:6]

21you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal” — do you steal?[#Mt 23:3-7]

22You who say, “You must not commit adultery” — do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples?[#Ac 19:37]

23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?[#Mc 3:11; Jn 5:45; Rm 9:4]

24For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.[#Is 52:5; Ezk 36:20-23; 2Pt 2:2; #Is 52:5]

Circumcision of the Heart

25For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.[#Jr 4:4; 9:25]

26Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision?[#Rm 3:30; 1Co 7:19; Eph 2:11; #Rm 8:4]

27A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision.[#Mt 12:41]

28For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.[#Jn 8:39; Rm 9:6; Gl 6:15]

29On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart — by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God.[#Php 3:3; Col 2:11; #Or heart — spiritually, not literally; #Rm 7:6; 2Co 3:6; #In Hb, the words Jew, Judah, and praise are related.; #Jn 5:44; 12:43; 1Co 4:5; 2Co 10:18]

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Published by: LifeWay Christian Resources