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Minnetonka

Monday

Evening

Bible Study

The Apostle

Pauls Letter tothe Romans

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Romans 2:1-29Jews Condemned forDisobedience

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Romans 1:32 anticipates Romans 2:1-29Although they know Gods righteous requirement that

those who practice such things are deserving of death,they not only do these things, but also they give theirapproval to those who practice them.

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone whocondemns; for in that for which you condemn another,you condemn yourself, for you who condemn practicethe same things. And we know that Gods judgment is

according to the truth, against those who practice suchthings. Now do you think, O man who judges those whopractice such things and does them yourself, that you willescape the judgment of God?

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Romans 1:32 anticipates Romans 2:1-29Although they know Gods righteous requirement that

those who practice such things are deserving of death,they not only do these things, but also they give theirapproval to those who practice them.

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone whocondemns; for in that for which you condemn another, youcondemn yourself, for you who condemn practice thesame things. And we know that Gods judgment is

according to the truth, against those who practice suchthings. Now do you think, O man who judges those whopractice such things and does them yourself, that you willescape the judgment of God?

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone whocondemns; for in that for which you condemn another, youcondemn yourself, for you who condemn practice thesame things. And we know that Gods judgment is

according to the truth, against those who practice suchthings. Now do you think, O man who judges those whopractice such things and does them yourself, that you willescape the judgment of God?

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Romans 1:32 anticipates Romans 2:1-29Although they know Gods righteous requirement that

those who practice such things are deserving of death,they not only do these things, but also they give theirapproval to those who practice them.

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone whocondemns; for in that for which you condemn another, youcondemn yourself, for you who condemn practice thesame things. And we know that Gods judgment is

according to the truth, against those who practice suchthings. Now do you think, O man who judges those whopractice such things and does them yourself, that you willescape the judgment of God?

Take note of Pauls wordchoice. Without

excuse connects this

portion with Paulsearlier segment in

1:20ff.

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone whocondemns; for in that for which you condemn another, youcondemn yourself, for you who condemn practice thesame things. And we know that Gods judgment is

according to the truth, against those who practice suchthings. Now do you think, O man who judges those whopractice such things and does them yourself, that you willescape the judgment of God?

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DiatribePaul uses a diatribe format. WhenPaul uses diatribe, he engages animaginary opponent.

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How do we know Paul refers to theJews in particular?

Romans 2:17-24But if you call yourself a Jew and you rely upon the law andboast in God and know his desire and approve the things thatare 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 thefoolish, a teacher of babes, because you have the outwardform of knowledge and truth in the law; you, therefore, whoteach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach notto steal, do you steal? You who speak against adultery, do youcommit adultery? You who detest idols, but do you rob thetemples of idols? You who boast in the law, through yourtransgression of the law, you dishonor God. For the name ofGod is blasphemed among the Gentiles on account of you,

just as it is written.

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Romans 2:1-2 and Matthew 7:1Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who practices

condemning judgment. For in the act when you condemningly judgeanother, you condemningly judge yourself, for you who practicecondemning judgment practice the same things. And we know thatGods judgment is according to the truth, against those who practicesuch things. Now do you think, O man who judges those who practicesuch 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 youwill be judged, and with the measure you mete out will be the

measure you get back. Why do you see the speck in your brotherseye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say toyour brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, while the log isin your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your owneye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of yourbrothers eye.

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HypocrisyPauls indictment is not against

judging others for sins otherscommit. It is against judging otherswhile committing the same sins thatone condemns in others. In otherwords, Paul condemns hypocrisy.

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Rhetorical Questions &

ArraignmentConnections in the text:Romans 2:5Gods righteous judgment.Romans 1:17Gods righteousness.Romans 1:18Gods wrath.

Features of Gods righteous judgment:

Its universalityto everyone (vv. 6, 9 & 10).Its criterionaccording to ones works (vs. 6).Its certaintyGod will render (vs. 6).

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The Chiastic Pattern inRomans 2:6-11

God will judge everyoneequitably (vs 6)

All who do good will receiveeternal life (vs 7)

Glory for those who do good (vs10)

God judges impartially (vs 11)

All who do evil will receivewrath (vs 8)

A

A

B

B

C

Justice

Justice

Eternal Life

Wrath

Eternal Life

C

Wrath for those who do evil (vs9)

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A Question.Does Paul contradict his own gospel

when he announces, To those who bypersevering in a good work seek gloryand honor and incorruptibility, he willgive eternal life (2:7)?

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Two Interpretative Views ofRomans 2:5-11

God would giveeternal life to anyonewho could earn it by persevering in thegood 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 lifeis a reward of gracea giftnot areward of merit.

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Romans 2:16

Judgment is Integral to

Pauls GospelJudge

Plaintiff Defendant

. . . in the day when God shall judge the secrets ofhumans according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus.

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A Question.How should we understand Romans

2:13?For not the hearers of the law arerighteous before God, but the doers

of the law shall be declaredrighteous.

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What is the problem Paul addresses in

Romans 2 concerning the Jews? The interpretive viewpoint of

Martin Luther.

The Jews were trying to achievetheir own righteousness on thebasis of keeping the Law of Moses.

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The whole chapter goes against Luthers interpretation.Paul does not address Jewish attempts at meritingrighteousness before God.

Instead, Paul addresses the notion that possession ofthe Law and of circumcision renders them safe beforeGods righteous judgment.

The Jews error was not trying to achieve righteousnessby obeying the Law. Their error was that they did notobey the Law they possessed.

The Jews regarded possession of the Law as an end initself. Possession, not obedience, saved them, so theythought.

Do Pauls statements in Romans 2

support Luthers interpretation?

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The Race Set Before UsPage 165

Using two sets of designationseternal life and glory and honor and peacePaul affirms twice in this passage that God will reward perseverance in gooddeeds with salvation. This causes no small dilemma for interpreters whowant to avoid the notion that the apostle contradicts his own clear statementthat 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 Gods impartial judgment is integral to his gospel, for he speaksof the day when, according to my gospel, God shall judge the secrets ofhumans, through Christ Jesus (Rom 2:16). So, judgment according to onesdeeds is not alien to his gospel but an essential element of it. Paul echoes theprinciple of Ezekiel 18, for both the apostle and the prophet insist that Godis an impartial judge who will render his judgment in keeping with ones 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 inthe midst of his prosecution of disobedient possessors of the Law, hereaffirms Gods thoroughly impartial principle of justice that holds out hopefor all who do the things the Law requires, because not the hearers of theLaw are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law shall be declaredrighteous (Rom 2:13).

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The Race Set Before UsPage 166

This is not a fictional offer that no one attains, nor is this salvation basedupon ones own works. Though it is true that he speaks of judgment and

justification, here Paul is not speaking of the legal basis or ground ofjustification, 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 ofJudgment. 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 peoplewho, 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 heartscircumcised by the Spirit of God. Therefore, Paul succinctly summarizes hisargument of Romans 2 by reiterating the principle of his gospel that the trueJew 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 heartcircumcised by the Spirit. This person will receive praise from God, whichis another way of saying will be justified (Rom 2:13) or will be reckoned ascircumcision (Rom 2:26).

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Circumcision

Does it have any value? Circumcision has value, if you observethe Law.

Paul enforces a truth from the OldTestament.Circumcision is a sign of a spiritual realitythe circumcision of the heart.

Genesis 17:9-14 Leviticus 26:41 Deuteronomy 10:16 (6:5); 30:6 Jeremiah 4:4

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Gods 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 youand your offspring after you: Every male among you shall becircumcised. 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 becircumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in

your house and the one bought with your money from anyforeigner who is not of your offspring. Both the slave born in

your house and the one bought with your money must becircumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlastingcovenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in theflesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he hasbroken my covenant.

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Who is the True Jew?

Romans 2:28-29For it is not the Jew on displaynor the circumcision on display

in the flesh, but the Jew insecret, and the circumcision of

the heart by the Spirit, not bythe letter, who receives praisenot from men but from God.

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