Romans 2:25-29

Text

Romans 2:25-29. For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law; but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. Romans 2:26If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision? Romans 2:27 and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: Romans 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 2:25-29

89.

In what sense would circumcision be of any profit? I thought we were answerable to the gospel.

50.

What phrase contains the crux of the whole matter? Explain.

90.

Either a man is circumcised or not, After being circumcised, how could he be uncircumcised?

91.

Paul seems to understand circumcision in an entirely new light. Does this have any application to Christian baptism? cp. Colossians 2:12-14. If so, what?

92.

What is the meaning of the word judge in Romans 2:27?

93.

What is the letter of Romans 2:27?

94.

Do outward forms have any significance at all?

95.

In this section a good synonym for circumcision would be ____?

96.

Could we as Christians keep the spirit of the Faith and not the letter, and yet still be acceptable with God? Explain.

Paraphrase

Romans 2:25-29. Whilst ye continue wicked, it is foolish to expect salvation because ye are circumcised; for circumcision, indeed, as the sign of God's covenant, will profit thee, if thou keepest the law of faith enjoined in the covenant; but if thou be a transgressor of that law, thou are in the condition of a wicked Gentile.

Romans 2:26 And if a heathen, instructed by right reason, and by the grace of God, perform the precepts of the law of faith, will not God treat him as a person circumcised, by bestowing on him justification, the blessing promised to Abraham's seed?

Romans 2:27 And will not every uncircumcised Gentile, who, under the direction of reason and conscience, without revelation, practices the faith and obedience enjoined in the covenant with Abraham, condemn thee as a transgressor of that covenant, though a Jew by the circumcision which is according to the letter of Moses's precept?

Romans 2:28 For he is not a son of Abraham, and an heir of the promises, who is one by natural descent only; neither is true circumcision that which is outward in the flesh:

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew who is one in the temper of his mind; and circumcision is that of the heart, by cutting off evil desires, according to the spirit, not according to the letter of the law. Of such a real Jew, the praise will not be from the Jews, who will disown him if he is uncircumcised, but it will come from God, who, knowing his heart, will acknowledge him as one of Abraham's spiritual seed.

Summary

Circumcision is of no value unless the law is kept. The Gentile who keeps the law, though not circumcised, will be accepted. The Jew who breaks the law, though circumcised, will be condemned. The Judaism and circumcision which save men are in the heart and spirit, and not outward in literal fleshly marks.

51.

What means of special approval did the Jew attempt to use?

Comment

Properly humbled, the Jew now searches for some way to bolster his deflated ego. He harkens back to the old prejudice of special favor supposedly found in circumcision. Paul speaks of the true meaning of circumcision after this fashion: Circumcision is indeed of profit if you are a doer of the law, but if you are not, of what value is your circumcision? You had just as well be uncircumcised. And speaking of the matter of circumcision, that person who does not bear this rite, if he keeps the ordinance of the law, will he not be considered as if he were circumcised? And would not such a person judge and shame you who have the law and circumcision, yet are a transgressor? As shocking as it may sound, being a Jew is not a matter of outward form, nor circumcision a mere physical rite, for God recognizes a man as a Jew from the condition of his heart. Likewise with circumcision, it also is of the heart and not of the letter. The circumstances are thus constituted so God may do the praising (since the name Jew means praise) and not man. Romans 2:25-29.