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Romans 2

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.

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

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?

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

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;

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

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

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

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

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

For there is no respect of persons with God.

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;

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

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:

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;)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

What does Romans 2:16 mean?

Explanation

Romans 2:16 speaks to a core Christian belief about the final judgment.

This verse conveys the idea that God will judge the hidden aspects of human beings that are often concealed from the world.

It emphasizes the role of Jesus Christ in judgment and associates it with the "gospel" that the Apostle Paul preached.

Literally, the verse means that a time will come when God will sit in judgment over the hearts and secrets of all people, and He will do so through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Deeper meanings involve the understanding of God's omniscience, His concern with inner moral integrity, and the Christian assertion that Christ is the mediator through whom divine judgments are dispensed.

Paul also claims authority and authenticity for his message by labeling the judgment through Christ as "my gospel," indicating it is the message he has been entrusted to proclaim.

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Paul's Epistle to the Romans was likely written around 56-58 AD, when he was in Corinth.

At that time, the Roman Christian community was composed of both Gentile and Jewish believers.

There was tension between Jewish Christians who had a background in the Law of Moses and Gentile Christians who came from a polytheistic background.

Paul's letter aims to address such tensions and lay a theological foundation for Christian faith that transcends ethnic and cultural lines.

This verse fits into his broader argument concerning the impartiality of God and the universality of sin and salvation.

Theological Insights

This verse touches on several significant theological concepts.

Firstly, it reinforces the idea that God is omniscient and aware of the innermost thoughts and secrets of humanity.

Secondly, it speaks to the Christian doctrine of the final judgment, which holds that all people will be held accountable for their actions and thoughts.

Thirdly, the mention of Jesus Christ points to His role as the judge, which is a fundamental part of Christology.

Lastly, when Paul refers to "my gospel," he is not only asserting his apostolic authority but also defining the core of Christian belief, salvation and judgment through Christ.

Practical Applications

The practical implications of Romans 2:16 are significant for Christians.

It calls believers to live with integrity, knowing that God is aware of their actions and the motivations behind them.

It also serves as a reminder of accountability, prompting individuals to seek forgiveness and live according to the values of the gospel.

For non-Christians, it poses a challenge to consider the claims of the Christian faith concerning ultimate truth and judgment.

Cross-References

Ecclesiastes 12:14: "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
Matthew 12:36: "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Matthew 25:31-32: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats."
Acts 17:31: "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."
2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Language Study

The key Greek words in this verse include:

"krinei" (κρινεῖ): future tense of "krino," meaning "judge" or "decide."
"krypta" (κρυπτά): from "krupto," meaning "hidden" or "secret."
"kata to euangelion mou" (κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου): meaning "according to my gospel," where "euangelion" is the Greek word for "gospel" or "good news."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, the idea that the gods could see into the hearts of humans and judge them accordingly was common.

The ancient Egyptians believed in the judgment of the dead, where the heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at.

There is a parallel here in that both belief systems emphasize an ultimate judgment based on the morality and truthfulness of individuals' lives.

Scientific Perspectives

While scientific perspectives do not directly engage with questions of divine judgment, the realm of the metaphysical rather than the physical, they can explore the effects of belief in judgment on human behavior.

Psychological studies may indicate that belief in a watching, judging deity can influence moral behavior and group cohesion.

Additionally, neuroscience might explore the physiological basis of secrecy and truth-telling, though this does not bear directly on the truth of theological claims.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have interpreted Romans 2:16 as reinforcing the universality of the Christian message of salvation through Christ.

For example, John Stott remarks on the impartiality of God's judgment, which is irrespective of one's background or status.

Douglas Moo comments on the "gospel" as being Paul's own way of formulating the message of Christ, highlighting its centrality to understanding judgment.

N.T.

Wright speaks of this verse as part of Paul's larger argument that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin, establishing the need for a single mode of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Romans 2

Romans 2

What does Romans 2:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Romans 2:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Romans Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?