INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 2 This chapter contains, in general, a vindication of the justice and equity of the divine procedure against men, such as are described in the preceding chapter; and a refutation of the several pleas that might be made by the Gentiles, who had not the law, and by the Jews who... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THOU ART INEXCUSABLE, O MAN,.... Some think, from the connection of these words with the preceding chapter, that the Gentiles are here meant; and particularly those among them who seemed to be virtuous, and took upon them to be the reprovers of others, and yet did the same things themselve... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE ARE SURE THAT THE JUDGMENT OF GOD,.... By "the judgment of God", is not meant what is exercised on and towards men in this life, but what will follow after death; which is called judgment to come, is represented as certain, will be universal as to persons and things, and is here called "the j... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THINKEST THOU THIS, O MAN, THAT JUDGEST THEM WHICH DO SUCH THINGS, AND DOEST THE SAME,.... Some men may be so vain as to imagine, that though they do the same things which they condemn in others, they SHALL ESCAPE THE JUDGMENT OF GOD: but such will find themselves most sadly mistaken; there is... [ Continue Reading ]
OR DESPISEST THOU THE RICHES OF HIS GOODNESS,.... The apostle anticipates an objection against what he had said, taken from the prosperity of these persons; who might conclude from thence, that they were not so wicked as he had represented them; and that they should escape the judgment of God, other... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AFTER THY HARDNESS AND IMPENITENT HEART,.... The apostle goes on to show, that such persons who promise themselves impunity on the score of prosperity, shall not always go unobserved and unpunished; for there is a day of wrath and righteous judgment hastening on, and will take place after they h... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. God will be the Judge, who is righteous, holy, just, and true; every man in particular will be judged; as the judgment will be general to all, it will be special to everyone, and will proceed according to their works; for God will render to wicked... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THEM WHO BY PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN WELL DOING,.... These words are descriptive of one sort of persons, to whom God will render according to their works; and must be understood not of the Gentiles, the best and most moralized among them; for they sought after worldly things, after human wisdom, an... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE CONTENTIOUS,.... This is a description of the other sort of persons to whom God will render according to their deeds, "who are of the contention"; who contend for victory, and not truth; strive about words to no profit; are quarrelsome, and sow discord among men, and in church... [ Continue Reading ]
TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH,.... These, with the foregoing words, are expressive of the second death, the torments of hell, the worm that never dies, and the fire that is not quenched: which will fall UPON EVERY SOUL OF MAN THAT DOTH EVIL; whose course of life and conversation is evil; for "the soul th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GLORY, HONOUR, AND PEACE,.... Which are so many words for the everlasting happiness of the saints; which is a "crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4); an honour exceeding that of the greatest potentates upon earth, since such that enjoy it will be kings and priests, and sit with Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD. It will not come into consideration, at the day of judgment, of what nation men are; or from what parents they are descended; nor of what age and sex persons be; nor in what state and condition they have lived in this world; nor will it be asked to what s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS MANY AS HAVE SINNED WITHOUT LAW,.... This is an instance of the strict justice of God, and proves him to be no respecter of persons; for the Gentiles, who were "without law", the written law of Moses, not without the law of nature in their breasts, nor without some civil laws and statutes of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NOT THE HEARERS OF THE LAW ARE JUST BEFORE GOD,.... The apostle here shows, that the Jews were justly condemned, notwithstanding their having and hearing of the law; since hearing without doing it, will never denominate persons righteous in the sight of God, however it might recommend them in th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN THE GENTILES WHICH HAVE NOT THE LAW,.... The objection of the Gentiles against their condemnation, taken from their being without the law, is here obviated. The apostle owns that they had not the law, that is, the written law of Moses, and yet intimates that they had, and must have a law, a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SHOW THE WORK OF THE LAW WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS,.... Though the Gentiles had not the law in form, written on tables, or in a book, yet they had "the work", the matter, the sum and substance of it in their minds; as appears by the practices of many of them, in their external conversation. The... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAY WHEN GOD SHALL JUDGE,.... These words are to be read in connection with Romans 2:13, and express the time when both Jews and Gentiles will be judged, called a "day", both because of the clearness and evidence of the judgment that will be made, and because a certain time is fixed, though n... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU ART CALLED A JEW,.... From hence to the end of the chapter the Jews are particularly addressed; their several privileges and characters are commemorated, which by an ironical concession are allowed them; several charges are brought against them, even against their principal men; and the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KNOWEST HIS WILL,.... Not the secret will or purpose of God; nor his revealed will in the Gospel, for of this they were ignorant; but his declared will in the law, showing what is to be done, and what is not to be done: to know which in express terms was a privilege, that other people had not; b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ART CONFIDENT THAT THOU THYSELF,.... Being vainly puffed up in, their fleshly minds, they were strongly persuaded that they were very fit persons to be A GUIDE TO THE BLIND: all men are by nature blind, as to the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; the meaner sort of the people among the... [ Continue Reading ]
AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE FOOLISH,.... All men in a state of unregeneracy are foolish, and need instruction; here the common people among the Jews, who knew not the law, are meant; it was very usual to call anyone of their doctors and masters מורה, "an instructor": it follows, A TEACHER OF BABES; either... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU THEREFORE WHICH TEACHEST ANOTHER, TEACHEST THOU NOT THYSELF?.... Several charges are here brought against the Jews, even against their teachers; for though they are put by way of question, they are to be considered as so many assertions and matters of fact; thus, though they taught others, they... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU THAT SAYEST A MAN SHOULD NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,.... Adultery here is to be taken not figuratively for adulterating the word of God, and mixing it with their own inventions; but literally for the sin of adultery, and that not in heart only, but in act: DOST THOU COMMIT ADULTERY? an iniquity which... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU THAT MAKEST THY BOAST OF THE LAW,.... Of their having it, which other nations had not; of their knowledge of it, which many of their own people were without, or had but a small share of; and of their keeping of it even to perfection: THROUGH BREAKING OF THE LAW DISHONOUREST THOU GOD? sin somet... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED,.... The being and perfections of God, such as his holiness, omniscience, and omnipotence, are denied, or evil spoken of; and also the law of God, and the forms of worship instituted by him: AMONG THE GENTILES THROUGH YOU: through their iniquities, who when they ob... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CIRCUMCISION VERILY PROFITETH,.... The plea from circumcision in favour of the Jews, and their acceptance with God, and justification before him, is here, and in the following verses, considered. The apostle allows that circumcision was profitable; which must be understood whilst it was in force... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IF THE UNCIRCUMCISION KEEP,.... These words are spoken hypothetically; if any such persons could be found among the Gentiles who keep the whole law of God; and can only be absolutely understood of such, who from a principle of grace act in obedience to the law; as in the hands of Christ, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHALL NOT UNCIRCUMCISION WHICH IS BY NATURE,.... That is, the Gentiles, who are by nature uncircumcised; for as circumcision was by the command of God, and performed by the art of men, uncircumcision is by nature, and what men naturally have. Now IF IT, such persons, FULFIL THE LAW in Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE IS NOT A JEW WHICH IS ONE OUTWARDLY,.... The apostle removes the plea in favour of the Jews, taken from their name and privilege, by distinguishing between a Jew and a Jew, and between circumcision and circumcision: "he is not a Jew which is one outwardly"; by mere name, nature, nation, relig... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE IS A JEW WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY,.... Who has an internal work of grace upon his soul: who has not only an outward name, but an inward nature; not the law of God in the hand, but in the heart; not an external righteousness only, but internal holiness; and who is not a mere outward court worship... [ Continue Reading ]