Romans 2:27 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

And shall [not] uncircumcision which is by nature - or, 'the natural uncircumcision,'

If it fulfill the law, judge thee. If this verse is but a continuation of the question in the preceding verse (which the Greek most naturally suggests, and which several good critics prefer), the whole question will run thus: 'shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision, and the natural uncircumcision, fulfilling the law, judge thee,' etc. But it is fully more agreeable to New Testament usage to regard them (with our version) as two distinct questions, of which the latter is certainly an advance upon the former.

Who by (or 'through') the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law - that is, in spite of those two fences, "the letter" of Revelation, "and circumcision," the badge of it, dost break 'through' both, and live inconsistently.

Romans 2:27

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?