Romans 2:1-16 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Some one interjects: I do not approve, I condemn the sins you describe. Then you condemn yourself, Paul retorts, for you commit them! The Moralist under Condemnation, with the flagitious sinner. Thrice Paul repeats, Thou doest the same (or such-like) things.

Romans 2:1-3 ; cf. Romans 2:6; Romans 2:9 f., Romans 2:13-15: not Jews specifically are addressedO man, everyone that judges!

Romans 2:4 f. Whoso thinks to cloak unrighteous doings by his moral creed, is trifling with God's forbearance and laying up a store of wrath.

Romans 2:6-11. Doom turns on action, not opinion (cf. James 2:14-26); good work alone stands either Jew or Greek in stead at the Judgment (1 Corinthians 3:14); here lies the proof that one seeks eternal life: the joys and miseries of the future are latent in conduct. Paul's doctrine of judgment by works complements his doctrine of salvation by faith. Faith is the spring of good works; works, the issue and evidence of faith (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Romans 2:12-16 places Jew and Gentile on equal terms before God's tribunal, judged by their doings; the law he acknowledges is the criterion for the former the mere hearing of which counts for nothing; the latter has a law inscribed in his heart, his conscience along with his action attesting the fact. Evidence from this secret forum will be forthcoming at the Day of Judgment.

Romans 2:16 is continuous with the foregoing; the brackets enclosing Romans 2:13-15 in AV are properly removed. The words according to my good news, through Christ Jesus (Romans 2:16), intimate the perfect discrimination and sympathy which will mark the coming world-judgment; see in illustration Matthew 25:14-46, etc.

Romans 2:6 f. The involved clauses are best construed thus: Who will render to each according to his works on the one hand, to the men of perseverance in good work glory and honour and incorruption, since they seek eternal life. The reward is reaffirmed in Romans 2:10 in terms of glory and honour; and the soul's quest is eternal life (see Romans 6:22; Matthew 19:16, etc.), not glory.

Related Commentaries of Romans 2:1

Romans 2:1-16

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;a

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:b

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their consciencec also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.