Romans 2:1-16 Lesson 287

Romans 2:1-16
Lesson 287

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

The case against the self-righteous.

Man's judgment versus God's judgment.
Are we all guilty (2:1-10)?
Is God impartial (2:11)?

God's judgment.

By German artist Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1797-1872).

Study Tip:

Ask God to open your heart as you study the Bible.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Romans

The King James Bible

Romans 2:1-16
No excuse for sin

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.

Margin notes:

"Whosoever thou art that judgest." (2:1) - Don't we all judge others?

"Thou that judgest doest the same things." (2:1) - Be careful judging others; we are all sinners in need of God's grace.

"We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth." (2:2) - God will certainly judge us (John 12:48), and His punishment is a "second death" (Revelation 20:11-15).

"Thinkest thou this...that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?" (2:3) - The wicked will not escape God's judgment (Proverbs 11:21).

"Goodness and forbearance and longsuffering." (2:4) - "Goodness, tolerance, and patience." Why is God so patient with us? See 2 Peter 3:9.

"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath." (2:5) - "But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself."

"Who will render to every man according to his deeds." (2:6) - "God will reward or punish everyone according to their deeds." Paul knows the Scriptures well, here he paraphrases the Old Testament (Job 34:11; Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12) and Jesus in Matthew 16:27.  God will reward everyone according to how they lived (Ecclesiastes 3:17).

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." (2:7) - "To those who patiently do God's will, glory, honor and eternal life await (Matthew 25:46; 1 Corinthians 15:58)."

"Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first." (2:9) - Because Jews are God's chosen people and had the advantage of His teachings and blessings, unbelieving Jews will be punished first.

"Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first." (2:10) - Deserving Jews will be the first to receive God's eternal blessings.

"For there is no respect of persons with God." (2:11) - Means, "God doesn't play favorites." (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19; Acts 10:34; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:25).  A fair judge is never partial or prejudiced.

"For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law." (2:12) - Sinners are lost, even if they never heard of the Mosaic Law or Christianity. They will be judged for violating their innate understanding, given to them by God, of right and wrong. Knowing the difference between right and wrong are the "laws" written in all our hearts and consciences (1:19; 2:14-15).

"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." (2:13) - This verse tells us that to hear God's law is not enough. We must apply it to our lives, as proclaimed in Jeremiah 11:6 and reinforced in James 1:22 and 1 John 3:7.  This is the principal reason to study the Bible, to learn the truth, and to apply it. To do otherwise is "foolish" (Matthew 7:26).

"Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts." (2:15) - "Which shows in their hearts what is right and wrong."

"God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." (2:16) - God will judge, via Jesus, all of us.

New Living Translation

Romans 2:1-16
God's Judgment of Sin

1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.

3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things?

4 Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done.

7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.

9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil-for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good-for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

11 For God does not show favoritism.

12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God's written law. And the Jews, who do have God's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.

13 For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.

14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.

15 They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

16 And this is the message I proclaim-that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. Can performing good deeds earn a spot in heaven? (2:6)

"The people who hear God's voice best are the ones who know his word most."

(Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch)

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. No, performing good deeds can not earn salvation. If it could, every philanthropist would go right to heaven. Salvation is a gift from God (6:23), a free pardon from all our sins. Once you've acknowledged you need Jesus in your life and have placed your faith in Him, you will naturally want to do what is right in order to please Him. But it is our faith in Christ that earns our salvation, not our deeds.

Application thought for the day:

When tempted to judge others, read Galatians 6:1-5 and Hebrews 3:12-13.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2022 evolke

Subscribe for Free Bible Lessons