13 (For G1063 not G3756 the hearers G202 of the law G3551 are just G1342 before G3844 God, G2316 but G235 the doers G4163 of the law G3551 shall be justified. G1344
But G1161 be ye G1096 doers G4163 of the word, G3056 and G2532 not G3361 hearers G202 only, G3440 deceiving G3884 your own selves. G1438 For G3754 if any G1536 be G2076 a hearer G202 of the word, G3056 and G2532 not G3756 a doer, G4163 he G3778 is like G1503 unto a man G435 beholding G2657 his G846 natural G1078 face G4383 in G1722 a glass: G2072 For G1063 he beholdeth G2657 himself, G1438 and G2532 goeth his way, G565 and G2532 straightway G2112 forgetteth G1950 what manner of man G3697 he was. G2258 But G1161 whoso looketh G3879 into G1519 the perfect G5046 law G3551 of liberty, G1657 and G2532 continueth G3887 therein, he G3778 being G1096 not G3756 a forgetful G1953 hearer, G202 but G235 a doer G4163 of the work, G2041 this man G3778 shall be G2071 blessed G3107 in G1722 his G846 deed. G4162
Was G1344 not G3756 Abraham G11 our G2257 father G3962 justified G1344 by G1537 works, G2041 when he had offered G399 Isaac G2464 his G846 son G5207 upon G1909 the altar? G2379 Seest thou G991 how G3754 faith G4102 wrought G4903 with his G846 works, G2041 and G2532 by G1537 works G2041 was G5048 faith G4102 made perfect? G5048 And G2532 the scripture G1124 was fulfilled G4137 which saith, G3004 G1161 Abraham G11 believed G4100 God, G2316 and G2532 it was imputed G3049 unto him G846 for G1519 righteousness: G1343 and G2532 he was called G2564 the Friend G5384 of God. G2316 Ye see G3708 then G5106 how that G3754 by G1537 works G2041 a man G444 is justified, G1344 and G2532 not G3756 by G1537 faith G4102 only. G3440 Likewise G3668 G1161 also G2532 was G1344 not G3756 Rahab G4460 the harlot G4204 justified G1344 by G1537 works, G2041 when she had received G5264 the messengers, G32 and G2532 had sent them out G1544 another G2087 way? G3598
But G1161 that G3754 no man G3762 is justified G1344 by G1722 the law G3551 in the sight G3844 of God, G2316 it is evident: G1212 for, G3754 The just G1342 shall live G2198 by G1537 faith. G4102 And G1161 the law G3551 is G2076 not G3756 of G1537 faith: G4102 but, G235 The man G444 that doeth G4160 them G846 shall live G2198 in G1722 them. G846
For G1063 if G1487 Abraham G11 were justified G1344 by G1537 works, G2041 he hath G2192 whereof to glory; G2745 but G235 not G3756 before G4314 God. G2316 For G1063 what G5101 saith G3004 the scripture? G1124 G1161 Abraham G11 believed G4100 God, G2316 and G2532 it was counted G3049 unto him G846 for G1519 righteousness. G1343 Now G1161 to him that worketh G2038 is G3049 the reward G3408 not G3756 reckoned G3049 of G2596 grace, G5485 but G235 of G2596 debt. G3783 But G1161 to him that worketh G2038 not, G3361 but G1161 believeth G4100 on G1909 him that justifieth G1344 the ungodly, G765 his G846 faith G4102 is counted G3049 for G1519 righteousness. G1343
And, G2532 behold, G2400 a certain G5100 lawyer G3544 stood up, G450 and G2532 tempted G1598 him, G846 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 what G5101 shall I do G4160 to inherit G2816 eternal G166 life? G2222 G1161 He said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 What G5101 is written G1125 in G1722 the law? G3551 how G4459 readest thou? G314 And G1161 he answering G611 said, G2036 Thou shalt love G25 the Lord G2962 thy G4675 God G2316 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 heart, G2588 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 soul, G5590 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 strength, G2479 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 mind; G1271 and G2532 thy G4675 neighbour G4139 as G5613 thyself. G4572 And G1161 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou hast answered G611 right: G3723 this G5124 do, G4160 and G2532 thou shalt live. G2198 But G1161 he, willing G2309 to justify G1344 himself, G1438 said G2036 unto G4314 Jesus, G2424 And G2532 who G5101 is G2076 my G3450 neighbour? G4139
Not G3756 every one G3956 that saith G3004 unto me, G3427 Lord, G2962 Lord, G2962 shall enter G1525 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of heaven; G3772 but G235 he that doeth G4160 the will G2307 of my G3450 Father G3962 which is in G1722 heaven. G3772 Many G4183 will say G2046 to me G3427 in G1722 that G1565 day, G2250 Lord, G2962 Lord, G2962 have we G4395 not G3756 prophesied G4395 in thy G4674 name? G3686 and G2532 in thy G4674 name G3686 have cast out G1544 devils? G1140 and G2532 in thy G4674 name G3686 done G4160 many G4183 wonderful works? G1411 And G2532 then G5119 will I profess G3670 unto them, G846 G3754 I never G3763 knew G1097 you: G5209 depart G672 from G575 me, G1700 ye that work G2038 iniquity. G458 Therefore G3767 whosoever G3956 G3748 heareth G191 these G5128 sayings G3056 of mine, G3450 and G2532 doeth G4160 them, G846 I will liken G3666 him G846 unto a wise G5429 man, G435 which G3748 built G3618 his G846 house G3614 upon G1909 a rock: G4073 And G2532 the rain G1028 descended, G2597 and G2532 the floods G4215 came, G2064 and G2532 the winds G417 blew, G4154 and G2532 beat upon G4363 that G1565 house; G3614 and G2532 it fell G4098 not: G3756 for G1063 it was founded G2311 upon G1909 a rock. G4073 And G2532 every one G3956 that heareth G191 these G5128 sayings G3056 of mine, G3450 and G2532 doeth G4160 them G846 not, G3361 shall be likened G3666 unto a foolish G3474 man, G435 which G3748 built G3618 his G846 house G3614 upon G1909 the sand: G285 And G2532 the rain G1028 descended, G2597 and G2532 the floods G4215 came, G2064 and G2532 the winds G417 blew, G4154 and G2532 beat upon G4350 that G1565 house; G3614 and G2532 it fell: G4098 and G2532 great G3173 was G2258 the fall G4431 of it. G846
Also, thou son H1121 of man, H120 the children H1121 of thy people H5971 still are talking H1696 against H681 thee by the walls H7023 and in the doors H6607 of the houses, H1004 and speak H1696 one H2297 to another, H259 every one H376 to his brother, H251 saying, H559 Come, H935 I pray you, and hear H8085 what is the word H1697 that cometh forth H3318 from the LORD. H3068 And they come H935 unto thee as the people H5971 cometh, H3996 and they sit H3427 before H6440 thee as my people, H5971 and they hear H8085 thy words, H1697 but they will not do H6213 them: for with their mouth H6310 they shew H6213 much love, H5690 but their heart H3820 goeth H1980 after H310 their covetousness. H1215 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely H5690 song H7892 of one that hath a pleasant H3303 voice, H6963 and can play well H2895 on an instrument: H5059 for they hear H8085 thy words, H1697 but they do H6213 them not. And when this cometh to pass, H935 (lo, it will come,) H935 then shall they know H3045 that a prophet H5030 hath been among H8432 them.
It is not in heaven, H8064 that thou shouldest say, H559 Who shall go up H5927 for us to heaven, H8064 and bring H3947 it unto us, that we may hear H8085 it, and do H6213 it? Neither is it beyond H5676 the sea, H3220 that thou shouldest say, H559 Who shall go H5674 over H5676 the sea H3220 for us, and bring H3947 it unto us, that we may hear H8085 it, and do H6213 it? But the word H1697 is very H3966 nigh H7138 unto thee, in thy mouth, H6310 and in thy heart, H3824 that thou mayest do H6213 it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Romans 2
Commentary on Romans 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Ro 2:1-29. The Jew under Like Condemnation with the Gentile.
From those without, the apostle now turns to those within the pale of revealed religion, the self-righteous Jews, who looked down upon the uncovenanted heathen as beyond the pale of God's mercies, within which they deemed themselves secure, however inconsistent their life may be. Alas! what multitudes wrap themselves up in like fatal confidence, who occupy the corresponding position in the Christian Church!
4. the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance—that is, is designed and adapted to do so.
5. treasurest up unto thyself wrath against—rather "in."
the day of wrath—that is wrath to come on thee in the day of wrath. What an awful idea is here expressed—that the sinner himself is amassing, like hoarded treasure, an ever accumulating stock of divine wrath, to burst upon him in "the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God!" And this is said not of the reckless, but of those who boasted of their purity of faith and life.
7-10. To them who, &c.—The substance of these verses is that the final judgment will turn upon character alone.
by patient continuance in well-doing, &c.—Compare Lu 8:15: "That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience"; denoting the enduring and progressive character of the new life.
8. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, &c.—referring to such keen and determined resistance to the Gospel as he himself had too painfully witnessed on the part of his own countrymen. (See Ac 13:44-46; 17:5, 13; 18:6, 12; and compare 1Th 2:15, 16).
indignation and wrath—in the bosom of a sin-avenging God.
9. Tribulation and anguish—the effect of these in the sinner himself.
10. to the Jew first—first in perdition if unfaithful; but if obedient to the truth, first in salvation (Ro 2:10).
12. For as many as have sinned—not "as many as have sinned at all," but, "as many as are found in sin" at the judgment of the great day (as the whole context shows).
without law—that is, without the advantage of a positive Revelation.
shall also perish without law—exempt from the charge of rejecting or disregarding it.
and as many as have sinned in the law—within the pale of a positive, written Revelation.
shall be judged by the law—tried and condemned by the higher standard of that written Revelation.
13-15. For not the hearers, &c.—As touching the Jews, in whose ears the written law is continually resounding, the condemnation of as many of them as are found sinners at the last involves no difficulty; but even as respects the heathen, who are strangers to the law in its positive and written form—since they show how deeply it is engraven on their moral nature, which witnesses within them for righteousness and against iniquity, accusing or condemning them according as they violate or obey its stern dictates—their condemnation also for all the sin in which they live and die will carry its dreadful echo in their own breasts.
15. their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing—that is, perhaps by turns doing both.
16. In the day, &c.—Here the unfinished statement of Ro 2:12 is resumed and closed.
shall judge the secrets of men—here specially referring to the unfathomed depths of hypocrisy in the self-righteous whom the apostle had to deal with. (See Ec 12:14; 1Co 4:5).
according to my gospel—to my teaching as a preacher of the Gospel.
17-24. Behold—"But if" is, beyond doubt, the true reading here. (It differs but in a single letter from the received reading, and the sense is the same).
18. approvest the things that are excellent—"triest the things that differ" (Margin). Both senses are good, and indeed the former is but the result of the latter action. (See on Php 1:10).
20. hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law—not being left, as the heathen are, to vague conjecture on divine things, but favored with definite and precise information from heaven.
22. thou that abhorrest idols—as the Jews did ever after their captivity, though bent on them before.
dost thou commit sacrilege?—not, as some excellent interpreters, "dost thou rob idol temples?" but more generally, as we take it, "dost thou profane holy things?" (as in Mt 21:12, 13, and in other ways).
24. as it is written—(See Isa 52:5, Marginal reference).
25-29. For circumcision—that is, One's being within the covenant of which circumcision was the outward sign and seal.
verily profiteth, if thou keep the law—if the inward reality correspond to the outward sign.
but if, &c.—that is, "Otherwise, thou art no better than the uncircumcised heathen."
26. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the … law, &c.—Two mistaken interpretations, we think, are given of these words: First, that the case here supposed is an impossible one, and put merely for illustration [Haldane, Chalmers, Hodge]; second that it is the case of the heathen who may and do please God when they act, as has been and is done, up to the light of nature [Grotius, Olshausen, &c.]. The first interpretation is, in our judgment, unnatural; the second, opposed to the apostle's own teaching. But the case here put is, we think, such as that of Cornelius (Ac 10:1-48), who, though outside the external pale of God's covenant, yet having come to the knowledge of the truths contained in it, do manifest the grace of the covenant without the seal of it, and exemplify the character and walk of Abraham's children, though not called by the name of Abraham. Thus, this is but another way of announcing that God was about to show the insufficiency of the mere badge of the Abrahamic covenant, by calling from among the Gentiles a seed of Abraham that had never received the seal of circumcision (see on Ga 5:6); and this interpretation is confirmed by all that follows.
28. he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.—In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless.
Note, (1) It is a sad mark of depravity when all that is designed and fitted to melt only hardens the heart (Ro 2:4, and compare 2Pe 3:9; Ec 8:11). (2) Amidst all the inequalities of religious opportunity measured out to men, and the mysterious bearing of this upon their character and destiny for eternity, the same great principles of judgment, in a form suited to their respective discipline, will be applied to all, and perfect equity will be seen to reign throughout every stage of the divine administration (Ro 2:11-16). (3) "The law written on the heart" (Ro 2:14, 15)—or the Ethics of Natural Theology—may be said to be the one deep foundation on which all revealed religion reposes; and see on Ro 1:19, 20, where we have what we may call its other foundation—the Physics and Metaphysics of Natural Theology. The testimony of these two passages is to the theologian invaluable, while in the breast of every teachable Christian it wakens such deep echoes as are inexpressibly solemn and precious. (4) High religious professions are a fearful aggravation of the inconsistencies of such as make them (Ro 2:17-24). See 2Sa 12:14. (5) As no external privileges, or badge of discipleship, will shield the unholy from the wrath of God, so neither will the want of them shut out from the kingdom of heaven such as have experienced without them that change of heart which the seals of God's covenant were designed to mark. In the sight of the great Searcher of hearts, the Judge of quick and dead, the renovation of the character in heart and life is all in all. In view of this, have not all baptized, sacramented disciples of the Lord Jesus, who "profess that they know God, but in works deny Him," need to tremble—who, under the guise of friends, are "the enemies of the cross of Christ?"