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Romans 2.1-29

The document summarizes Paul's letter to the Romans, focusing on chapter 2. Paul condemns Jews for disobeying the law despite possessing it. He argues they are hypocritical for judging others for sins they also commit. While God will judge all people impartially based on their deeds, Paul's gospel is that eternal life is a gift of grace through Jesus, not earned through works.

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Ardel B. Caneday
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© © All Rights Reserved
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267 views

Romans 2.1-29

The document summarizes Paul's letter to the Romans, focusing on chapter 2. Paul condemns Jews for disobeying the law despite possessing it. He argues they are hypocritical for judging others for sins they also commit. While God will judge all people impartially based on their deeds, Paul's gospel is that eternal life is a gift of grace through Jesus, not earned through works.

Uploaded by

Ardel B. Caneday
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF or read online on Scribd
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Minnetonka

Monday
Evening
Bible Study
The Apostle
Paul’s Letter to
the Romans
Romans 2:1-29
Jews Condemned for
Disobedience
Romans 1:32 anticipates Romans 2:1-29
“Although they know God’s righteous requirement that
those who practice such things are deserving of death,
they not only do these things, but also they give their
approval to those who practice them.”

“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who


condemns; for in that for which you condemn another,
you condemn yourself, for you who condemn practice
the same things. And we know that God’s judgment is
according to the truth, against those who practice such
things. Now do you think, O man who judges those who
practice such things and does them yourself, that you will
escape the judgment of God?”
Romans 1:32 anticipates Romans 2:1-29
“Although they know God’s righteous requirement that
those who practice such things are deserving of death,
they not only do these things, but also they give their
approval to those who practice them.”

“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who


condemns; for in that for which you condemn another, you
condemn yourself, for you who condemn practice the
same things. And we know that God’s judgment is
according to the truth, against those who practice such
things. Now do you think, O man who judges those who
practice such things and does them yourself, that you will
escape the judgment of God?”
Take note of Paul’s word
Romans 1:32
choice. anticipates Romans 2:1-29
“Without
“Although theyconnects
excuse” know God’s
this righteous requirement that
those who practice
portion with such
Paul’sthings are deserving of death,
they notearlier
only do these in
segment things, but also they give their
approval to those who practice them.”
1:20ff.

“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who


condemns; for in that for which you condemn another, you
condemn yourself, for you who condemn practice the
same things. And we know that God’s judgment is
according to the truth, against those who practice such
things. Now do you think, O man who judges those who
practice such things and does them yourself, that you will
escape the judgment of God?”
Diatribe
Paul uses a diatribe format. When
Paul uses diatribe, he engages an
imaginary opponent.
How do we know Paul refers to the
Jews in particular?
Romans 2:17-24
But if you call yourself a “Jew” and you rely upon the law and
boast in God and know his desire and approve the things that
are excellent, because you have been instructed from the law;
and if you are confident that you yourself are a guide to the
blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the
foolish, a teacher of babes, because you have the outward
form of knowledge and truth in the law; you, therefore, who
teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach not
to steal, do you steal? You who speak against adultery, do you
commit adultery? You who detest idols, but do you rob the
temples of idols? You who boast in the law, through your
transgression of the law, you dishonor God. For “the name of
God is blasphemed among the Gentiles on account of you,”
just as it is written.
Romans 2:1-2 and Matthew 7:1
“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who practices
condemning judgment. For in the act when you condemningly judge
another, you condemningly judge yourself, for you who practice
condemning judgment practice the same things. And we know that
God’s judgment is according to the truth, against those who practice
such things. Now do you think, O man who judges those who practice
such things and does them yourself, that you will escape the
judgment of God?”

“Do not judge, lest you be judged. For with the verdict you judge you
will be judged, and with the measure you mete out will be the
measure you get back. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s
eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to
your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is
in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own
eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your
brother’s eye.”
Hypocrisy
Paul’s indictment is not against
judging others for sins others
commit. It is against judging others
while committing the same sins that
one condemns in others. In other
words, Paul condemns hypocrisy.
The Righteousness of God
& The Hebrew Law Court
Judge

Plaintiff Defendant

Paul’s Imagery
Rhetorical Questions &
Arraignment
Connections in the text:
•Romans 2:5—God’s righteous judgment.
•Romans 1:17—God’s righteousness.
•Romans 1:18—God’s wrath.

Features of God’s righteous judgment:


•Its universality—“to everyone” (vv. 6, 9 & 10).
•Its criterion—“according to one’s works” (vs. 6).
•Its certainty—“God will render” (vs. 6).
The Chiastic Pattern in
Romans 2:6-11
Justice A God will judge everyone
equitably (vs 6)

Eternal Life B All who do good will receive


eternal life (vs 7)
C All who do evil will receive
Wrath wrath (vs 8)
C Wrath for those who do evil (vs
9)
Eternal Life
’
B’ Glory for those who do good (vs
10)

Justice A’ God judges impartially (vs 11)


A Question.
Does Paul contradict his own gospel
when he announces, “To those who by
persevering in a good work seek glory
and honor and incorruptibility, he will
give eternal life” (2:7)?
Two Interpretative Views of
Romans 2:5-11
• God would give eternal life to anyone
who could earn it by “persevering in the
good work,” if it were possible for
anyone to “persevere in the good work.”
• God will give eternal life to everyone
who “perseveres in the good work,” but
not according to merit, for eternal life
is a reward of grace—a gift—not a
reward of merit.
Judgment is Integral to
Paul’s Gospel
Judge

Romans 2:16
Plaintiff Defendant

“. . . in the day when God shall judge the secrets of


humans according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus.”
A Question.
How should we understand Romans
2:13?
“For not the hearers of the law are
righteous before God, but the doers
of the law shall be declared
righteous.”
What is the problem Paul addresses in
Romans 2 concerning the Jews?
• The interpretive viewpoint of
Martin Luther.
• The Jews were trying to achieve
their own righteousness on the
basis of keeping the Law of Moses.
Do Paul’s statements in Romans 2
support Luther’s interpretation?
• The whole chapter goes against Luther’s interpretation.
Paul does not address Jewish attempts at meriting
righteousness before God.
• Instead, Paul addresses the notion that possession of
the Law and of circumcision renders them safe before
God’s righteous judgment.
• The Jews’ error was not trying to achieve righteousness
by obeying the Law. Their error was that they did not
obey the Law they possessed.
• The Jews regarded possession of the Law as an end in
itself. Possession, not obedience, saved them, so they
thought.
The Race Set Before Us
Page 165

Using two sets of designations–“eternal life” and “glory and honor and peace”–
Paul affirms twice in this passage that God will reward perseverance in good
deeds with “salvation.” This causes no small dilemma for interpreters who
want to avoid the notion that the apostle contradicts his own clear statement
that “no flesh will be justified by the works of the law” (Rom 3:20). However,
the dilemma is in the eye of the reader, for Paul plainly affirms that the
principle of God’s impartial judgment is integral to his gospel, for he speaks
of “the day when, according to my gospel, God shall judge the secrets of
humans, through Christ Jesus” (Rom 2:16). So, “judgment according to one’s
deeds” is not alien to his gospel but an essential element of it. Paul echoes the
principle of Ezekiel 18, for both the apostle and the prophet insist that God
is an impartial judge who will render his judgment in keeping with one’s deeds.
Paul confronts the same problem Ezekiel faced: Israelites who possess the
Law but fail to obey the Law. This is what Paul denounces in Romans 2. But in
the midst of his prosecution of disobedient possessors of the Law, he
reaffirms God’s thoroughly impartial principle of justice that holds out hope
for all who do the things the Law requires, because “not the hearers of the
Law are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law shall be declared
righteous” (Rom 2:13).
The Race Set Before Us
Page 166

This is not a fictional offer that no one attains, nor is this salvation based
upon one’s own works. Though it is true that he speaks of judgment and
justification, here Paul is not speaking of the legal basis or ground of
justification, for the basis is the obedience of Christ alone (Rom 5:12-19).
Rather, he speaks of the kind of person whom God will justify in the Day of
Judgment. It is the obedient, not the disobedient person. It is the doers of
the Law, not the possessors of the Law. Who are these “doers of the Law”?
At the close of chapter two Paul explains their identity. They are people
who, though they may not even have the Law, do the things the Law requires.
They are ones who, though perhaps not circumcised in the flesh, have hearts
circumcised by the Spirit of God. Therefore, Paul succinctly summarizes his
argument of Romans 2 by reiterating the principle of his gospel that the true
Jew is not one who possesses the Law and who is circumcised in the flesh;
but the true Jew is one who keeps the requirements of the Law from a heart
circumcised by the Spirit. This person “will receive praise from God,” which
is another way of saying “will be justified” (Rom 2:13) or “will be reckoned as
circumcision” (Rom 2:26).
Circumcision
Does it have any value?
• Circumcision has value, if you observe
the Law.
• Paul enforces a truth from the Old
Testament.
Circumcision is a sign of a spiritual reality—
the circumcision of the heart.
– Genesis 17:9-14
– Leviticus 26:41
– Deuteronomy 10:16 (6:5); 30:6
– Jeremiah 4:4
God’s Covenant Sign
Genesis 17:9-14
God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant,
you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you
and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be
circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins,
and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
Throughout your generations every male among you shall be
circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in
your house and the one bought with your money from any
foreigner who is not of your offspring. Both the slave born in
your house and the one bought with your money must be
circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting
covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the
flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has
broken my covenant.”
Who is the True Jew?
Romans 2:28-29
For it is not the Jew on display
nor the circumcision on display
in the flesh, but the Jew in
secret, and the circumcision of
the heart by the Spirit, not by
the letter, who receives praise
not from men but from God.

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