Romans 2:27

uncircumcision which is by nature Better, the uncircumcision, &c.; a phrase not easy to explain exactly. Perhaps (though the Gr. of the two passages is not quite parallel) we may illustrate by Galatians 2:15: "Jews by nature," Jews born and bred. Here thus the sense would be "Gentiles born and bred, with no physicalsuccession to Jewish privilege."

if it fulfil Lit. fulfilling; as e.g. Cornelius did in the sense pointed out above.

judge criticize and condemn. Perhaps the phrase arises from the solemn words of the Saviour Himself, Matthew 12:41-42. A stronger Gr. verb is used in that passage, however.

by the letter and circumcision The phrase is a verbal paradox. The "letter and circumcision" are properly the meansto a knowledge of the law, to obligation to it, and obedience under it; here they are, by paradox, the meansto the wilful breaking of it, and not mere obstacles overcomeby the transgressor. "The letter" is the "letter of the law" of circumcision: q. d., "thou usest thy literal circumcision as a means to transgression," a salve to thy conscience.