THEREFORE - Διὸ Dio. The force of this word here has been the subject of much discussion. The design of this and the following chapter is to show that the Jews were no less guilty that the Gentiles, and that they needed the benefit of the same salvation. This the apostle does by showing that they h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE ARE SURE - Greek, “We know.” That is, it is the common and admitted sentiment of mankind. It is known and believed by people generally that God will punish such crimes. It is implied in this declaration that this was known to the Jews, and it was particularly to the purpose of the apostle so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THINKEST THOU ... - This is an appeal to their common sense, to their deep and instinctive conviction of what was right. If they condemned those who practiced these things; if, imperfect and obscure as their sense of justice was; if, unholy as they were, they yet condemned those who were guffey... [ Continue Reading ]
OR DESPISEST - This word properly means to contemn, or to treat with neglect. It does not mean here that they professedly treated God’s goodness with neglect or contempt; but that they perverted and abused it; they did not make a proper use of it; they did not regard it as suited to lead them to rep... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AFTER THY HARDNESS - The word “after” here κατά kata means in respect to, or you act according to the direct tendency of a hard heart in treasuring up wrath. The word “hardness” is used to denote insensibility of mind. It properly means what is insensible to the touch, or on which no impression... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WILL RENDER - That is, who will make retribution as a righteous Judge; or who will give to every man as he deserves. TO EVERY MAN - To each one. This is a general principle, and it is clear that in this respect God would deal with the Jew as he does with the Gentile. This general principle the... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THEM - Whoever they may be. PATIENT CONTINUANCE - Who by perseverance in well doing, or in a good work. It means that they who so continue, or persevere, in good works as to evince that they are disposed to obey the Law of God. It does not mean those who perform one single act, but those who so l... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ARE CONTENTIOUS - This expression usually denotes those who are of a quarrelsome or litigious disposition; and generally has reference to controversies among people. But here it evidently denotes a disposition toward God, and is of the same signification as rebellious, or as opposing God. They w... [ Continue Reading ]
TRIBULATION - This word commonly denotes affliction, or the situation of being pressed down by a burden, as of trials, calamities, etc.; and hence, to be pressed down by punishment or pain inflicted for sins. As applied to future punishment, it denotes the pressure of the calamities that will come u... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR - This particle is used here to confirm what is said before, particularly that this punishment should be experienced by the Jew as well as the Gentile. For God would deal with both on the principles of justice. RESPECT OF PERSONS - The word thus rendered means “partiality,” in pronouncing judgme... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR - This is used to give a reason for what he had just said, or to show on what principles God would treat man, so as not to be a respecter of persons. AS MANY - Whosoever. This includes all who have done it, and evidently has respect to the Gentile world. It is of the more importance to remark t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NOT THE HEARERS ... - The same sentiment is implied in James 1:22; Matthew 7:21, Matthew 7:24; Luke 6:47. The apostle here doubtless designed to meet an objection of the Jews; to wit, that they had the Law, that they manifested great deference for it, that they heard it read with attention, and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN - The apostle, in Romans 2:13, had stated a general principle, that the doers of the Law only can be justified, if justification is attempted by the Law. In this verse and the next, he proceeds to show that the same principle is applicable to the pagan; that though they have not the written... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SHOW - Who thus evince or show. THE WORK OF THE LAW - The design, purpose, or object which is contemplated by the revealed Law; that is, to make known to man his duty, and to enforce the obligation to perform it. This does not mean, by any means, that they had all the knowledge which the Law... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAY - This verse is doubtless to be connected with Romans 2:12, and the intermediate verses are a parenthesis, and it implies that the pagan world, as well as the Jews, will be arraigned at the bar of judgment. At that time God will judge all in righteousness, the Jew by the Law which he had,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD - Having thus stated the general principles on which God would judge the world; having shown how they condemned the Gentiles; and having removed all objections to them, he now proceeds to another part of his argument, to show how they applied to the Jews. By the use of the word “behold,” he c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KNOWEST HIS WILL - The will or commands of God. This knowledge they obtained from the Scriptures; and of course in this they were distinguished from other nations. AND APPROVEST - The word used here is capable of two interpretations. It may mean either to distinguish, or to approve. The word is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ART CONFIDENT - This expression denotes the full assurance of the Jew that he was superior in knowledge to all other people. It is a remarkable fact that the Jews put the fullest confidence in their religion. Though proud, wicked, and hypocritical, yet they were not speculative infidels. It was... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE FOOLISH - The word “foolish” is used in the Scriptures in two significations: to denote those who are void of understanding, and to denote the wicked. Here it is clearly used in the former sense, signifying that the Jew esteemed himself qualified to instruct those without knowledge. OF BABES... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU THEREFORE ... - He who is a teacher of others may be expected to be learned himself. They ought to be found to be possessed of superior knowledge; and by this question the apostle impliedly reproves them for their ignorance. The form of a question is chosen because it conveys the truth with gre... [ Continue Reading ]
DOST THOU COMMIT ADULTERY? - There is no doubt that this was a crime very common among the Jews; see the Matthew 12:39 note; John 8:1 notes. The Jewish Talmud accuses some of the most celebrated of their Rabbies, by name, of this vice. (Grotius.) Josephus also gives the same account of the nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKEST THY BOAST ... - To boast in the Law implied their conviction of its excellence and obligation, as a man does not boast of what he esteems to be of no value. DISHONOUREST THOU GOD - By boasting of the Law, they proclaimed their conviction that it was from God. By breaking it, they denied it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NAME OF GOD - The name and character of the true God. IS BLASPHEMED - Note, Matthew 9:3. That is, your conduct is such as to lead the pagan world to blaspheme and reproach both your religion and its Author. By your hypocrisy and crimes the pagan world is led to despise a religion which is obser... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CIRCUMCISION - John 7:22 note; Acts 7:8 note. This was the special rite by which the relation to the covenant of Abraham was recognised; or by which the right to all the privileges of a member of the Jewish commonwealth was acknowledged. The Jews of course affixed a high importance to the rite.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, IF THE UNCIRCUMCISION - If those who are not circumcised, that is, the pagan. KEEP THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW - Keep what the Law of Moses commands. It could not be supposed that a pagan would understand the requirements of the ceremonial law; but reference is had here to the moral law... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS BY NATURE - Which is the natural state of man; his condition before he is admitted to any of the unique rites of the Jewish religion. IF IT FULFIL THE LAW - If they who are uncircumcised keep the Law. JUDGE THEE - Condemn thee as guilty. As we say, the conduct of such a man condemns us. H... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE IS NOT A JEW ... - He who is merely descended from Abraham, and is circumcised, and externally conforms to the Law only, does not possess the true character, and manifest the true spirit, contemplated by the separation of the Jewish people. Their separation required much more. NEITHER IS THA... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE IS A JEW - He comes up to the design of the Jewish institution; he manifests truly what it is to be a Jew. WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY - Who is “in heart” a Jew. Who has the true spirit, and fulfils the design of their being separated as a special people. This passage proves that the design of sepa... [ Continue Reading ]