Romans 2

King James Version

Full text for Romans Chapter 2

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11For there is no respect of persons with God.

12For 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.

14For 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:

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

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

17¶ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18And knowest [his] will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

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

28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul declares that those who judge others are inexcusable, for they often commit the same sins, and God's righteous judgment is based on truth and deeds. He emphasizes that God shows no partiality, judging both Jew and Gentile according to their actions and their understanding of the law. Ultimately, true righteousness and identity before God are not found in outward observance or heritage, but in an inward transformation of the heart.

Medium Summary

The apostle begins by condemning those who judge others, asserting their inexcusability as they themselves are guilty of similar transgressions. He warns against despising God's goodness and forbearance, which are intended to lead to repentance, noting that a hardened heart only stores up wrath for the day of judgment. God will render to every person according to their deeds: eternal life for those who patiently do good, and tribulation for those who obey unrighteousness, applying equally to Jew and Gentile without partiality. Paul explains that those without the written law are judged by their conscience, which reveals the law written on their hearts, while those under the law are judged by it. He then challenges the Jew who boasts in the law but dishonours God by breaking it, causing His name to be reviled among the Gentiles. The chapter concludes by defining a true Jew as one inwardly, and true circumcision as a matter of the heart, in the spirit, not merely an outward physical sign.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with a stern rebuke to any individual who judges others, declaring them inexcusable because they themselves commit the very same sins they condemn. Paul asserts that God's judgment is based on truth and will surely come upon those who persist in such actions, warning against despising God's goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, which are intended to lead to repentance. Instead, a hardened heart only stores up wrath for the day of God's righteous judgment. God will render to every person according to their deeds: eternal life for those who patiently seek glory through well-doing, but indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish for those who are contentious and obey unrighteousness. This principle applies universally, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, for God shows no partiality. Paul clarifies that those who sin without the written law will perish without it, while those under the law will be judged by it, emphasizing that mere hearers of the law are not justified, but its doers. He notes that Gentiles, though without the law, often perform its requirements by nature, demonstrating that the law's essence is written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness. The apostle then turns his attention to the Jew, who boasts in the law, claims to know God's will, and acts as a guide to the blind, yet hypocritically breaks the very law they teach. Such transgression dishonours God and causes His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles. Finally, Paul explains that outward circumcision profits only if the law is kept; otherwise, it becomes meaningless. He concludes by stating that a true Jew is one inwardly, and true circumcision is a spiritual transformation of the heart, not merely an external ritual, whose praise comes from God, not from men.

Core Concepts

  • Hypocritical JudgmentThe chapter begins by condemning those who judge others, highlighting that they are inexcusable because they often commit the very same sins they condemn, thus judging themselves.
  • God's Righteous JudgmentGod's judgment is according to truth and will be rendered to every person according to their deeds, without partiality, whether Jew or Gentile, based on their actions and obedience.
  • Law Written in the HeartGentiles, who do not possess the written Mosaic Law, are shown to have the work of the law written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness, either accusing or excusing their actions.
  • Doers of the Law JustifiedIt is not merely the hearers of the law who are just before God, but the doers of the law who shall be justified, emphasizing active obedience over passive knowledge.
  • Jewish HypocrisyPaul addresses the Jew who boasts in the law and claims to be a guide, yet through breaking the law, dishonours God and causes His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles.
  • Inward vs. Outward CircumcisionTrue Jewish identity and circumcision are defined not by outward physical signs or adherence to the letter of the law, but by an inward transformation of the heart, in the spirit, whose praise is from God.