Romans 2:1-29

Paul’s letter to the *Romans

Romans

Hilda Bright and Keith Simons

Chapter 2

Paul’s answers to those who *judge other people 2:1-16

1. They cannot avoid God’s judgement 2:1-4

v1 So, you who *judge someone else have no excuse. When you accuse another person for whatever reason, you yourself are guilty. You yourself are doing the same things for which you *judge other people. v2 Now we know that God *judges wrong actions. He *judges people who do evil things. And his judgement is right. v3 Although you are only a man, you *judge other people. But you do the same things. So do not imagine that you will avoid God’s judgement. v4 Do not neglect God’s great kindness and patience. God is kind because he wants to help you to turn away from your *sins. Verse 1 Paul begins to argue in the same way as the writers did at that time. He imagines someone who does not agree with his opinion. Then he answers that person in various ways. In the *Greek of verse 1 and verse 3, Paul speaks as if he is writing to a particular ‘man’. But Paul does not say who that man is. It might be someone who is proud. He is proud that he is not wicked. He is not like the evil *pagans that Paul described before. He might be a *Gentile. He would say that not all *pagans behaved in such wicked ways. But in verses 9-11 Paul shows that he is speaking especially to *Jews. Many *Jews wanted to teach in the first Christian churches. Unlike the *Gentiles, these *Jews knew God’s law. So they were happy to accuse other people. But Paul said that they should be accusing themselves too.

Verses 2-3 God’s judgement is true. He knows all the facts. But a man is very quick to accuse other people. He does not want to think about his own *sin, which may be worse. Jesus spoke about this attitude. He spoke about a man who had a great piece of wood in his eye. This man wanted to remove a tiny bit of dust from another person’s eye (Matthew 7:1-5). A person who quickly blames other people cannot avoid God’s judgement.

Verse 4 The proud person chooses to forget about God’s judgement. He thinks that God’s kindness and patience have no value. But God waits patiently. He wants people to *repent. His time is not the same as human time. But suddenly the time will come when God will *judge everyone (2 Peter 3:8-9).

2. God’s judgement is fair 2:5-11

v5 But you refuse to change. You are not sorry for your *sins. So, you are storing up the experience of God’s *wrath against yourself. The day of God’s *wrath is coming. Then people will see that God’s judgement is fair. v6 God will give to everyone what their actions deserve. v7 Some people patiently continue to do what is right. They desire *glory, honour, and life that never ends. And God will give them *eternal life. v8 But some people are selfish. They do not obey the truth. They follow evil ways. Such people will suffer God’s anger and *wrath. v9 There will be trouble and pain for everyone who does evil things. That will be first for the *Jews, and then for the *Gentiles. v10 But there will be *glory, honour and *peace for everyone who does the right things. That will be first for the *Jews, and then for the *Gentiles. v11 God does not prefer one person or nation to another. He *judges everyone in the same way.

Verse 5 The *Greek word for ‘store up’ usually means to store something precious. But those who will not change their ways are storing up something terrible. They will suffer because of God’s great anger. They will discover that God’s judgement is fair.

Verse 6 Both parts of the Bible record the fact that God *judges human actions. For example, in the *Old Testament, see Psalms 62:12 and Jeremiah 17:10. In the *New Testament there are examples in Matthew 16:27 and Revelation 20:12.

Paul is not saying that a person can earn *eternal life by his good deeds. Only *faith in Jesus will *save that person. But after a person has trusted Jesus, that person will want to please him. So that person will do the right things, because of the *faith that God has given to him. See James 2:17.

Verses 7-11 Paul speaks about people who continue to practise their *faith. He contrasts them with selfish people. Selfish people care only about themselves. He also contrasts what will happen to them. The good people will enjoy *eternal life. They will have close relations with Jesus and the Father (John 17:3). People who continue to do wicked things will suffer God’s judgement. Jesus told a story about this. First, he spoke about a wise person. Such a person practices what Jesus taught. That person is like a man who built his house upon a rock. Even a terrible storm could not damage that house. But a foolish person does not practice what Jesus taught. That person is like a man who built on sand. And the storm destroyed that house (Matthew 7:24-27). A building without a proper base is weak. And a person’s life is weak, if that person does not trust Jesus. That person cannot avoid God’s judgement.

‘First for the *Jews and then for the *Gentiles’ shows that God makes no difference between them. Both *Jews and *Gentiles can know God’s *salvation or God’s judgement. Peter’s *vision and his visit to Cornelius taught Peter this truth. God accepts anyone ‘who respects him’. God accepts anyone ‘who does the right things’ (Acts 10:34-35).

3. God will *judge everyone, both *Jews and *Gentiles 2:12-16

v12 Some people who have *sinned do not know the law. But their *eternal punishment does not depend on law. Other people know the law but they still *sin. God will *judge them by the law. v13 God does not consider as *righteous people who merely listen to the law. He will only consider as *righteous the people who obey the law. v14 *Gentiles do not have the law. Sometimes they do naturally what the law orders. So they have a law in themselves, although they do not have the law. v15 Their hearts know what the law orders. Their consciences tell them what is right. Sometimes their thoughts blame them. At other times, their thoughts excuse their actions. v16 And so, on the day of judgement, God will *judge everyone’s secret life. God’s judgement will happen by Jesus. This is what my good news makes plain.

Verses 12-13 The *Jews had the *written law. So they knew about God’s standards. The *Jews had the opportunity to listen to the law every *Sabbath in the *synagogue. But to hear the law was not enough. They must obey the law. ‘Obey my orders and laws. The man who obeys them will live by them’ (Leviticus 18:5). The *Gentiles did not have the *written law. But God is still their judge. Nobody can avoid God’s judgement.

Verses 14-15 Verse 16 follows verse 13 naturally. But Paul interrupts the thoughts. He explains more about the knowledge that *Gentiles do have. He says twice that the *Gentiles do not have the law. But, they do know something about God’s standards. They have a conscience. This conscience is not as good as the *written law. Sometimes the conscience shows a person about that person’s *sin. But sometimes the conscience does not accuse that person, and the person does not feel guilty. However, the simple fact that the conscience exists shows the truth of God’s law. Because of conscience, people are aware that there is a difference between right and wrong behaviour.

Verse 16 God’s judgement will be fair because he knows every secret in a person’s life. He has a true knowledge about the facts. He also knows the reasons for an action. The writer of Psalms 139 wrote, ‘*Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You see my thoughts... you are familiar with all my ways’ (Psalms 139:1-3).

God will *judge by Jesus. Jesus himself said that the Father had given him authority to *judge (John 5:27). In the story about the sheep and the goats, Jesus is the judge (Matthew 25:31-33). In Athens, Paul said that the *resurrection proved this. Jesus is the judge whom God has appointed (Acts 17:30-31).

It is good news that Jesus is the judge. He knows what it is like to be a man. He will not punish those people who trust him. He has rescued them from *sin by means of his death on the *cross.

The real *Jew 2:17-29

1. The *Jews and the Law 2:17-24

v17 Suppose that you call yourself a *Jew. You trust in the law. You *boast about your *relationship with God. v18 You know what God wants. You approve of right behaviour because the law teaches you. v19 You are sure that you can guide people. Some people cannot see the right way to act. So you have decided to act as a light for people in darkness. v20 You can teach those people who have no *spiritual wisdom. You can teach those who are like mere babies in the Christian life. In the law, you have found the origin of true knowledge. v21 You teach other people. But you ought to be teaching yourself. You *preach that it is wrong to steal. But you steal. v22 You say that husbands and wives must perform their marriage promises. But you are guilty of *adultery. You say that you hate *idols. But you rob *temples. v23 You *boast about the law. But you do not obey it. When you behave in this evil way, you do not respect God. v24 The *scripture says, ‘The *Gentiles say wicked things about the name of God because of you.’

Verses 17-20 When *Gentiles became Christians, often they hardly knew anything about God. So they wanted people to teach them about the Bible. And there were many *Jewish Christians who were pleased to teach them. Because these teachers were *Jewish, they knew much about God’s law. For centuries, their families had followed the law. So these teachers felt well able to teach the *Gentile Christians.

Verses 21-23 However, there was a problem with many of these *Jewish teachers in the churches. Paul often had to warn the churches about teachers who were not sincere (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Acts 20:29-31). Some people were only teaching because they wanted to earn money. They seemed to have great knowledge of the Bible. But they themselves did not know God properly. They thought that they could teach the *Gentile Christians about God. But in fact, the *Gentile Christians already knew God better than these teachers did!

Perhaps these teachers were not actually guilty of the wrong deeds that Paul mentions. Paul is emphasising their wrong attitudes, not their outer physical acts (verse 28). For example, they were teaching that it is wrong to steal. But they themselves only cared about money. And they did not even care whether they obtained that money in an honest way (Titus 1:11).

Paul writes here about people who ‘rob *temples’. People used to give expensive gifts to the *temples of false gods. And these gifts included images of the *temple’s own god. Sometimes a person might steal an image for himself or herself. They wanted to keep that image, so they could *worship that god at home. This was a well-known crime (Genesis 31:19; Acts 19:37). These *Jewish teachers said that they hated *idols. But they had the same attitudes as people who robbed *temples. In public, these teachers were telling people how to serve God. But in private, these same teachers did not even care about God. See Titus 1:16.

Verse 24 In Isaiah (52:5) and Ezekiel (36:22), God says that the nations insulted him. Enemies had defeated the *Jews. So the nations wondered whether God had any power to protect his people. But these terrible things had happened because God’s people were not obeying God. Paul could see that the same things were happening again in the churches. Christians were appointing leaders and teachers who were not sincere. The results would be terrible. And people everywhere would insult God when they saw the behaviour of those Christians.

2. *Circumcision 2:25-29

v25 *Circumcision is a good thing if you obey the law. But if you do not obey the law, *circumcision does not benefit you. In fact, you have become like an *uncircumcised person. v26 But suppose that *uncircumcised people obey the law. God will accept them as if they were *circumcised. v27 Such people will accuse you. They are *uncircumcised, but they obey the law. God has given you the *written law and *circumcision. But you still do not obey God’s law.

v28 A person is not a real *Jew if he is only a *Jew on the outside. Real *circumcision is not just an outer physical act. v29 A person is a real *Jew if he is a *Jew on the inside. Real *circumcision is *circumcision of the heart. It is by the *Holy Spirit. It is not by the *written law. A person who lives as a real *Jew may not receive honour from other people. But God will praise that person.

Verse 25 *Circumcision was the sign that God gave to Abraham. It showed the *covenant between God and his nation (Genesis 17:9-10). Because of the *covenant *relationship, the *Jews needed to obey God’s law. Paul reminded the church in Galatia about this. ‘Everyone who receives *circumcision must obey the whole law’ (Galatians 5:3).

The *Jewish teachers said that *Gentile Christians needed to receive *circumcision. The teachers said that this was God’s law. But really, they were not sincere. Their real aim was to control people by means of the laws and traditions of religion (Galatians 4:17; Galatians 5:1-2). But this is the opposite of the real Christian message. The Bible says that we must trust Christ alone. Our own efforts cannot save us from the punishment for our *sins.

Verses 26-27 Nobody ever had a good *relationship with God because of *circumcision. The act of *circumcision does not free a person from *sin. People who are not *circumcised can serve God loyally. And many people who are *circumcised refuse to obey God. The important question is whether a person obeys God.

Verses 28-29 The *prophets taught that real *circumcision was not something physical. It meant a pure (sincere) heart. Moses told the *Israelites to ‘*circumcise their hearts’ (Deuteronomy 10:16). Jeremiah used the same words (Jeremiah 4:4). The *Holy Spirit changes people’s lives. He gives them power to live in the right manner. The law cannot do this.

A ‘real *Jew’ is anyone who obeys God. That person does not need to belong to the natural families of the *Jewish people. And that person’s body does not need to be *circumcised. But that person’s heart must be *circumcised (see above). And so that person receives the benefit of the promises that God gave to Abraham (Galatians 3:29).

Roman ~ a person from the city called Rome, or a description of anything that has a relationship with Rome. Rome was the most important city in the world at the time when Paul wrote this letter. It was the capital city where the Emperor lived.
Emperor ~ ruler over many countries.
judge ~ to act as a judge; to accuse other people; to pretend to be a judge.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.
pagans ~ people who believe in many gods.
Gentile ~ someone hwo is not a Jew, or, a description of anything that has a relationship to people who are not Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.

'Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
repent ~ to change one’s mind totally; when someone who was doing wrong things begins to obey God.
wrath ~ great anger; God’s anger against sin.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
glory ~ great beauty and honour. Only God (or Christ) has perfect glory.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
eternal ~ without end. When we use the word ‘eternal’ to describe God’s qualities, we mean ‘without beginning or end’.
peace ~ a calm and content attitude.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible. The authors of the books in the Old Testament wrote their books centuries before Christ’s birth.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.

'New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.
faith ~ trust in someone or something; the things that Christians believe about Jesus.
save ~ to rescue from the power of sin.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
salvation ~ rescue from evil things; when God forgives us our evil deeds.
vision ~ picture in the mind; a wonderful sight that God has given.
righteous ~ good, holy.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.'written law ~ God’s law, which Moses wrote down for the Israelites.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Sabbath ~ seventh (7th) day of the week (that is, Saturday); the Jewish day for rest.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
synagogue ~ a local Jewish meeting place for worship.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
worship ~ to show honour to God (or to a false god), alone or with other people.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Lord ~ God; the word that we may use for Jesus when we obey him; someone who rules or who is a master.
resurrection ~ when a dead person becomes alive again.
cross ~ two pieces of wood that people have fixed together in the shape of a cross. Soldiers would attach a criminal to a cross in order to kill that person.
boast ~ to praise oneself.
relationship ~ a friendship; or way in which people know each other.
spiritual ~ a description of something that belongs to the spirit.
preach ~ to tell and to explain the good news about Jesus.
adultery ~ when someone has sex with another person’s wife or husband.
temples ~ places for worship.
worship ~ to show honour to God (or to a false god), alone or with other people.

'Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where Jews worshipped God.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
worship ~ to show honour to God (or to a false god), alone or with other people.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
worship ~ to show honour to God (or to a false god), alone or with other people.
circumcision ~ a sign of the covenant between God and the Jews. When a baby boy is 8 days old, the Jews circumcise that boy. They do this in order to obey the covenant between God and the Jews.
covenant ~ agreement between God and a person or people.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
circumcise ~ cut off the loose skin from the end of the sex part of a boy or man. But the word ‘circumcise’ also has another meaning. By circumcision, the Jews showed that they wanted to obey God. But some people circumcised their boys merely because of tradition. Such people did not really want to obey God. So, the Bible says that these people should ‘circumcise their hearts’. In other words, they should learn how to obey God.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
circumcision ~ a sign of the covenant between God and the Jews. When a baby boy is 8 days old, the Jews circumcise that boy. They do this in order to obey the covenant between God and the Jews.
covenant ~ agreement between God and a person or people.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
circumcise ~ cut off the loose skin from the end of the sex part of a boy or man. But the word ‘circumcise’ also has another meaning. By circumcision, the Jews showed that they wanted to obey God. But some people circumcised their boys merely because of tradition. Such people did not really want to obey God. So, the Bible says that these people should ‘circumcise their hearts’. In other words, they should learn how to obey God.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
uncircumcised ~ a description of someone who has not received circumcision; a Gentile.
circumcision ~ a sign of the covenant between God and the Jews. When a baby boy is 8 days old, the Jews circumcise that boy. They do this in order to obey the covenant between God and the Jews.
Gentile ~ someone hwo is not a Jew, or, a description of anything that has a relationship to people who are not Jews.
covenant ~ agreement between God and a person or people.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
circumcise ~ cut off the loose skin from the end of the sex part of a boy or man. But the word ‘circumcise’ also has another meaning. By circumcision, the Jews showed that they wanted to obey God. But some people circumcised their boys merely because of tradition. Such people did not really want to obey God. So, the Bible says that these people should ‘circumcise their hearts’. In other words, they should learn how to obey God.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
circumcised ~ a description of a boy or man who has received circumcision; a Jew.
circumcision ~ a sign of the covenant between God and the Jews. When a baby boy is 8 days old, the Jews circumcise that boy. They do this in order to obey the covenant between God and the Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
covenant ~ agreement between God and a person or people.
circumcise ~ cut off the loose skin from the end of the sex part of a boy or man. But the word ‘circumcise’ also has another meaning. By circumcision, the Jews showed that they wanted to obey God. But some people circumcised their boys merely because of tradition. Such people did not really want to obey God. So, the Bible says that these people should ‘circumcise their hearts’. In other words, they should learn how to obey God.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.
covenant ~ agreement between God and a person or people.
prophet ~ a person who told the people what God wanted.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
circumcise ~ cut off the loose skin from the end of the sex part of a boy or man. But the word ‘circumcise’ also has another meaning. By circumcision, the Jews showed that they wanted to obey God. But some people circumcised their boys merely because of tradition. Such people did not really want to obey God. So, the Bible says that these people should ‘circumcise their hearts’. In other words, they should learn how to obey God.
circumcision ~ a sign of the covenant between God and the Jews. When a baby boy is 8 days old, the Jews circumcise that boy. They do this in order to obey the covenant between God and the Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
covenant ~ agreement between God and a person or people.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.