Some one interjects: I do not approve, I condemn the sins you describe. Then you condemn yourself, Paul retorts, for you commit them! The Moralist under Condemnation, with the flagitious sinner. Thrice Paul repeats, Thou doest the same (or such-like) things.

Romans 2:1 ; cf. Romans 2:6; Romans 2:9 f., Romans 2:13: not Jews specifically are addressedO man, everyone that judges!

Romans 2:4 f. Whoso thinks to cloak unrighteous doings by his moral creed, is trifling with God's forbearance and laying up a store of wrath.

Romans 2:6. Doom turns on action, not opinion (cf. James 2:14); good work alone stands either Jew or Greek in stead at the Judgment (1 Corinthians 3:14); here lies the proof that one seeks eternal life: the joys and miseries of the future are latent in conduct. Paul's doctrine of judgment by works complements his doctrine of salvation by faith. Faith is the spring of good works; works, the issue and evidence of faith (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Romans 2:12 places Jew and Gentile on equal terms before God's tribunal, judged by their doings; the law he acknowledges is the criterion for the former the mere hearing of which counts for nothing; the latter has a law inscribed in his heart, his conscience along with his action attesting the fact. Evidence from this secret forum will be forthcoming at the Day of Judgment.

Romans 2:16 is continuous with the foregoing; the brackets enclosing Romans 2:13 in AV are properly removed. The words according to my good news, through Christ Jesus (Romans 2:16), intimate the perfect discrimination and sympathy which will mark the coming world-judgment; see in illustration Matthew 25:14, etc.

Romans 2:6 f. The involved clauses are best construed thus: Who will render to each according to his works on the one hand, to the men of perseverance in good work glory and honour and incorruption, since they seek eternal life. The reward is reaffirmed in Romans 2:10 in terms of glory and honour; and the soul's quest is eternal life (see Romans 6:22; Matthew 19:16, etc.), not glory.

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