Epistle to the Romans Chapter 2

In this chapter, the Apostle seems to have received news that the newly converted Christians both Jew and Gentile were seeing some slight trouble wherein the Jews had a clearer understanding of God’s Commandments and old testament writings that pointed to Christ and perhaps became looked up to by the Gentiles for information. The Jews (I assume Rom 2:17-24) let this get to their head and started to oppress the Gentiles along with reintroducing customs “written code” such as circumcision back into Christianity.

Paul corrects them as follows:

• Not hearers but those who obey God’s Law are just – Rom 2:13
• Although Gentile Christians were not of the Law originally, through faith in Christ, confirm to it naturally – Rom 2:12-15
• Practices such as circumcision are not a requirement in the new covenant – Rom 2:26-29

Rom 2:12:  For 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; 

Rom 2:13:  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 

Rom 2:14:  For 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: 

Rom 2:15:  Which 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;) 

Rom 2:26:  So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 

Rom 2:12 – Sinned without law shall also perish without law

Rom 2:12 – Sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.

God’s Righteous Judgment
Rom 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. 
Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 
Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 
Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 
Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 
Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 
Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 
Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 
Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 
Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God. 

God’s Judgment and the Law
Rom 2:12  For 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; 
Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 
Rom 2:14  For 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: 
Rom 2:15  Which 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;) 
Rom 2:16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 
Rom 2:17  Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 
Rom 2:18  And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 
Rom 2:19  And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 
Rom 2:20  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 
Rom 2:21  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 
Rom 2:22  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 
Rom 2:23  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 
Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 
Rom 2:25  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 
Rom 2:26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 
Rom 2:27  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? 
Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 
Rom 2:29  But 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.