Romans 2:16

in the day, &c. This sentence is often connected with the close of Romans 2:12. But the parenthesis is thus, even in the style of St Paul, highly difficult and peculiar; and Romans 2:13 stands in close natural connexion with Romans 2:12. Meanwhile the sequence of Romans 2:16 on Romans 2:15 is not hard to trace; the allusion to the Great Day is anticipatory;q. d., "These moral convictions and verdicts have their good and final confirmation in the day, &c.;" "all that was true in them will be recognized and carried out in Divine action then."

the secrets of men i.e. of men in general, heathens as well as Jews. The "secretthings" are here named, as implying also of course the judgment of all that is "openbeforehand." Perhaps the word alludes too to the "cloke" of Jewish formality, and faith in privileges.

by Jesus Christ according to my gospel The word "Gospel" is here used (a deeply significant use) of the entire contents of the Apostle's teaching; of holy principles and threats of condemnation as well as holy promises of life. "MyGospel:" same word as Romans 16:25. The original of the phrase is not strongly emphatic, but certainly not without point. It indicates on one hand St Paul's deep certainty of his direct Divine commission and its precise import, and on the other his consciousness (much more strongly expressed in the Galatian Epistle) of oppositionto his position and doctrine. Cf. e.g. Galatians 1:6-12. "By Jesus Christ:" the words emphatically close the sentence; perhaps with implicit reference to the rejection, by the unbelieving Jews whom the Apostle now more distinctly addresses, of Him who is to judge the world.