Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey

Paul’s second chapter in Romans addresses the issue of spiritual pride. Paul here is continuing a detailed argument, begun at Romans 1:18, which will take him all the way through chapter 11. It must be said that while the argument is detailed it is not completely structured. Paul seems to digress and even interrupt himself at points. This epistle was probably dictated by him, having the nature at times of a conversation or a lecture without notes (cf. Romans 16:22). Paul’s perspective however seems to be always on God’s final purpose. His point here is no one, certainly not the Jews, have any special claim on God. God shows “no partiality” (Romans 2:11).

1. Paul’s first word in this chapter is “therefore,” a key word throughout the epistle as he draws his various conclusions (in our translation it occurs sixteen times). What he is saying is that, given the pervasive sinfulness he detailed in chapter one, no one, Jew or Gentile, is in any position to pass judgment on another. Jesus said essentially the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1-5). We are certainly called to discern (Romans 12:2; I Corinthians 2:15) and even to test the spirits (I John 4:1) but that’s different from passing judgment. This is one of the most difficult lessons for us to learn and is a major proof of our sinfulness (cf. John 8:7).
2. Paul has in mind, I believe, God’s final judgment. This judgment is “in accordance with truth” (Romans 2:2). The fact that we are invariably guilty of those things about which we judge others shows that we have not embraced God’s “kindness and forbearance and patience” (Romans 2:4). Our judgmental attitude is a sign of having a “hard and impenitent heart” (Romans 2:5). Paul’s critique here is devastating since this is often so true of us as Christians.
3. Many people find Paul’s statement in vs. 6, “For he will repay according to each one’s deeds,” puzzling in the light of what he later says about works being inadequate for salvation (Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:16). Paul here is speaking of God’s justice. That justice will repay everyone according to their deeds. This truth is affirmed throughout Scripture (Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12;; John 5:28-29; II Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7-9; Ephesians 6:7-8; II Timothy 4:14; I Peter 1:17). We can never say that works are unimportant. It is not the case here, or anywhere else, that we can earn salvation by our works. This is not a question of human merit. Nevertheless, God does judge what we do and he shows no partiality. Our works are often a mirror of our faith (Matthew 7:21, 25:31-46).
4. Paul goes on to say that those “who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” Those who do not obey the truth and are self-seeking will face “wrath and fury.” There will be “glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek” (Romans 2:7-11). It is important to see what Paul is doing here. He is building his argument in a way that is similar to his message to the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill (Acts 17:22-34). He affirms general truths which no one in his audience would refute. On Mars Hill he states that in God we live and move and have our being, that we are his offspring (Acts 17:28). He is actually quoting Greek poets. In Romans 2 he is saying things that are in accord with both Jewish prophets and Greek philosophers. At this point however he has not defined what he means by “doing good,” obeying the truth (cf. Romans 1:5) or seeking for glory, honor and immortality. He is speaking in the language of his audience. He is however saying something very important which is consistent with his affirmation that God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11).
5. He is affirming that God can speak to anyone’s heart. God’s kindness can lead anyone to repentance (Romans 2:4). Gentiles, even without the law, may show that the law has been written on their hearts and will be excused (or accepted) on the day when Jesus will judge the hearts of all (Romans 2:14-16). We are in no position to judge these individuals or cases. God however is free to judge and accept. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus had already established that people could be serving him without knowing it (Matthew 25:37-39). This vindication or validation is always a work of grace not of human pride or achievement. Paul is really saying, how does anyone, Jew or Greek, really do “good” (not just good works) or seek for glory, honor and immortality without the Holy Spirit guiding him or her. After all, as Paul affirms later, we do not even know how to pray (Romans 8:26). Paul is establishing here what he will develop in greater detail in chapters 3-5. Everyone is on an equal footing before God. No one, not even the Jews who have the Law and the Covenant, is spiritually superior to anyone else. The judgment of God stands over everyone. At the same time God’s kindness, what he will later define as grace, works freely in human hearts.
6. Paul drives home this point by addressing the standing of the Jews. The Jews have the Law. However, having the Law is of no benefit unless one keeps the Law. Yet the Jews have not kept the Law. The Law, he will show, is far more extensive that simply an outward code of behavior. Jesus already established this in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). God’s standards are so high and so demanding that we cannot look at others and accuse them of stealing, adultery or idolatry without seeing that we are ultimately guilty of the same things in our thoughts if not our deeds (Matthew 5:27-30). The Law is not in itself an impossible standard (“Lust,” for example, means more than sexual attraction). It is however a high standard. Paul acknowledges that even some Gentiles can “keep the law” (Romans 2:26-27). But what does he mean by keeping the law? He is not talking about the “deeds prescribed by the law” (Romans 3:20). These are not the same as the “deeds” of doing good or seeking glory (Romans 2:7). He is talking about a faith which alone can fulfill the law through love, love of Christ (Romans 13:8-10; I Corinthians 13). Apart from faith, we will learn, the Law can only be a source of death (Romans 7:11-13).
7. Paul points out that circumcision, the outward sign of being a Jew, is only of value if one obeys the Law (Romans 2:25). This applies to any religious sign or practice. It is not the outward appearance that is important. God looks on the heart (I Samuel 16:7). Circumcision, even in the Old Testament, was ultimately a matter of the heart (Romans 2:29; Deuteronomy 30:6).
8. Paul’s argument in chapter 2 then can be summarized as follows:
   1. No one has any basis for passing judgment on someone else.
   2. Read no. 1 above again.
   3. God’s kindness (grace) can reach across to anyone, Jew or Greek, whatever their circumstance.
   4. Our deeds matter, not as achieving merit or acceptance before God, but rather as an indication of the longing of our hearts. This raises the question (which Paul will answer), how do our hearts become right before God?
   5. God may be working in the hearts of those who are outside the community of faith (i.e. Gentiles without the law, Romans 1).
9. Questions for Discussion –
   1. Why do you think we fall so easily into the trap of passing judgment on others? What steps can we begin to take to free us from this practice?
   2. Why do you think our deeds are so important? How can we know they truly come from our heart?
   3. What are some examples of God’s kindness which can lead anyone to repentance even without a religious background?

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