Respect of persons. — Regard for the external circumstances of a man as opposed to his internal condition; here, especially, “regard for the circumstances of birth and race.” (Comp. Acts 10:34; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1; James 2:9.) It is interesting to observe the phrase appearing in such different quarters. The great result of the Christian revelation was to break down the belief in race-religions — the “middle wall of partition,” as St. Paul calls it.
The essential equality of Jew and Gentile before God is not affected by the precedence of the former in point of time or order, whether as regards punishment or reward.