THE EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
ROMANS

Romans 2

1They that condemn sin in others, and are guilty of the same themselves, cannot escape God's judgment; 6which will be according to every man's deserts, without distinction of Jew or Gentile. 14The Gentiles are not left without a rule of conduct. 17The Jew, who boasteth of greater light, is doubly criminal in sinning against it; 25nor will circumcision profit him, except he keep the law.


1THEREFORE1 thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art 2that judgest: fora wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest 3doest the same things.

1 Namely, seeing thou knowest God’s justice, Rom. 1:32.

2 That is, reprehends, rebukes, or also punishes. Hereby the apostle understands such among the heathen, who were judges among them, or those who led a stricter life, as some philosophers did, and thereby seemed to condemn the doing of others; whereas notwithstanding they were inwardly full of hatred, envy, pride, etc. and in secret committed the same sins, when they were able to hide them from people, as also the Pharisees amongst the Jews.

a2 Sam. 12:5; Mat. 7:1; 1 Cor. 4:5.

3 Namely, inwardly or secretly.

2But 4we are sure that the judgment of God is according 5to truth against them which commit such things.

4 That is, it is evident, even according to the common opinion of all people.

5 That is, upright, not according to the outward show, but according as the thing is indeed.

3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest 6the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

6 Namely, albeit that thou dost them secretly, or not so impudently as others.

4Or despisest thou 7the riches of his 8goodness and 9forbearance and 10longsuffering;b notc knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee 11to repentance?

7 That is, the greatness and multiplicity. Here he confutes those who thought their matters stood not amiss with God, because God did them good, and blessed them as to the world, as He did the Romans in an especial manner at that time.

8 This is an attribute of God, whereby He blesses and does good, yea even to them who are evil, Mat. 5:45

9 Namely, whereby He, with connivance, overlooks the sins of men for a time (to see) if they will yet repent, Luke 3:7, 8.

10 Whereby He defers the punishment which they deserve, until the measure of the same is filled, Rom. 9:22.

b2 Peter 3:15.

cIsa. 30:18.

11 That is, gives time and reasons to repent.

5But after thy 12hardness and impenitent heart 13treasurestd up unto thyself wrath 14against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

12 That is, being hardened in your sins.

13 That is, provokes more and more the wrath and the punishment of God, as a treasure to which one always daily adds more and more.

dRom. 9:22.

14 That is, against the last day, when God shall make manifest before everyone, and punish the sins of people, even those that are secret, verse 16; 2 Thes. 1:7; Rev. 20:12, 13.

6Whoe will 15render to every man according to his deeds:

ePsalm 62:12; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Mat. 16:27; Rom. 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:5; Rev. 2:23; 22:12.

15 He speaks here of recompensing according to the promises and threatenings of the law, which were known to the Gentiles also from nature, verse 15; for, of justification by faith he begins first to speak in Rom. 3:21. Howsoever this may well be applied also to the recompensing according to the promises and threatenings of the Gospel, as 2 Cor. 5:10 it is so said in general; forasmuch as good works as fruits of faith, of grace, for Christ’s sake shall also be rewarded.

7To them who by patient 16continuance 17in well doing seek for glory and honour and 18immortality, eternal life:

16 The Greek word signifies also endurance, but is here more suitably taken for perseverance or constancy, as Mat. 10:22; Luke 8:15.

17 Gr. of a good work.

18 That is, the blessed immortality.

8Butf unto them 19that are contentious, and do not obey 20the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and 21wrath,

f2 Thes. 1:8.

19 Gr. of contention; that is, contentious or desirous of contention, as of faith, Rom. 3:26; that is, believers, and of the circumcision, Rom. 4:12; that is, circumcised.

20 Namely, which by God is made known to them by nature, Rom. 1:19.

21 Namely of God, which is justly incensed to punishment by reason of sin.

922Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

22 That is, hellish pains and torments, which shall be sent unto them by God’s righteous wrath.

10But 23glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

23 That is, eternal salvation, which they have sought in their life, shall be given to them, verses 7, 27.

11Forg there is no respect 24of persons with God.

gDeut. 10:17; 2 Chron. 19:7; Job 34:19; Acts 10:34; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17.

24 Gr. of the face, of this phrase, see more at large the annotations on Mat. 22 on verse 16, and Acts 10 on verse 34.

12For as many as have sinned 25without law shall also perish 26without law: and as many as have sinned 27in the law shall be judged 28by the law;

25 That is, the Gentiles, who had not the written law of Moses.

26 That is, be condemned by the testimony of their own conscience, verse 15.

27 That is, the Jews, to whom the law was given by Moses. Gr. in the law.

28 That is, shall be judged according to the threats of the law, that is, be condemned.

13(Forh not 29the hearers of the law are 30just before God, but 31the doers of the law 32shall be justified.

hMat. 7:21; James 1:22; 1 John 3:7.

29 That is, who only know the law, and boast thereof.

30 That is, are not acknowledged for righteous in God’s judgment, nor declared to be such; Psalm 143:2; Mat. 12:37; Rom. 8:33.

31 That is, performers of the law, Gal. 3:10; James 2:10.

32 Namely, by the law, or according to the promises of the law, Rom.10:5. But seeing no one perfectly keeps the law by reason of the corruption that is in man, Rom. 8:3; Gal. 3:10, therefore no one is justified by the law or through one’s own works, but only by the righteousness of Christ imputed unto us by faith, Rom. 3:20, 21, 22.

14For when the Gentiles, which have not 33the law, do by nature 34the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, 35are a law unto themselves:

33 Namely, the written law.

34 That is, prescribe and follow some things, which God has commanded in His law.

35 Namely, in commanding or forbidding of that which God’s law commands or forbids, or else in some parts of their life.

15Which 36shew 37the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while 38accusing or else 39excusing one another;)

36 Namely, by their laws, and also sometimes by an outward observation of the same.

37 That is, a part of the contents of the law of God.

38 Namely, when they do evil against their mind.

39 Namely, when according to their conscience they do good.

1640Ini the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ 41according to my gospel.

40 These words must be joined with the 12th verse, yet may also follow upon the 15th, if it be translated against that day, for then the testimonies of men’s conscience, even concerning their secret sins, shall serve to justify Christ’s judgment for the entire world, yea even for those to whom the Gospel was never preached, Rev. 20:12.

iMat. 25:31.

41 Namely, which testifies that Christ shall hereafter be Judge over all men, even over those to whom the Gospel was not preached, verse 12.

17Behold, 42thou art called 43a Jew, 44andj restest in the law, and 45makest thy boast of God,

42 From hence forward he deals especially against the Jews, who boasted of and relied upon their pedigree, the knowledge of God’s laws, circumcision, and other outward advantages, and he proves that they shall thereby be no more righteous before God than the Gentiles by the law of nature.

43 Gr. surnamed a Jew, namely, by reason of your descent from Israel and Judah, from whom the Messiah was to proceed, wherefore also the Jews were willing to be named after him, Rev. 2:9.

44 That is, put your trust in the law, which was given you by Moses, as the tables of God’s covenant.

jRom. 9:4.

45 That is, boast yourselves that God is your God, and that ye are His people, John 8:33, 41.

18And knowest his will, and approvest the things 46that are more excellent, 47being instructed out of the law;

46 Or, that are excellent, to differ from. For the Greek word signifies both, Mat. 12:12; Philip. 1:10.

47 Gr. catechized, that is, from your youth on, and diligently instructed from mouth to mouth, Acts 18:25; 1 Cor. 14:19.

19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher 48of babes, which hast 49the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

48 Gr. of infants or minor children; that is, those who be of small knowledge, like children. Mat. 11:25; 1 Cor. 13:11.

49 Gr. morphosin; that is, a set manner or form of knowledge; or, a show and not a true being of knowledge. See 2 Tim. 3:5.

21Thou therefore which teachest another, 50teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, 51dost thou steal?

50 Namely, to obey and do what you teach another, as appears from what follows.

51 That is, dost thou draw another’s goods to thyself by legerdemain, and naughty practices? As the Jews have always been very infamous for this, and still are, Mat. 23:14.

22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, 52dost thou commit sacrilege?

52 Or, dost thou commit temple robbery? Namely, by taking away God’s honor, or by withholding from Him in His temple, that which He will have consecrated or offered up unto Him. See hereof Mal. 1:6.

23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles 53through you, ask it is written.

53 That is, because of your, and your forefathers’ sins.

kIsa. 52:5; Ezek. 36:23.

25For circumcision verily profiteth, 54if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made 55uncircumcision.

54 He speaks to the Jews who sought their righteousness in the observation of circumcision and other ceremonies. They, who are such, must keep the whole law, or circumcision cannot avail them, Gal. 5:3. Although it may also be understood in general that outward worships of God avail not to salvation, if they be not accompanied with a true godly life. Isa. 1:11, 12, etc.; Jer. 6:20, etc.

55 That is, you are as such, though you be circumcised, in the same condition with an unbelieving, uncircumcised person.

26Therefore if 56the uncircumcision keep the 57righteousness of the law, shall not 58his uncircumcision be counted 59for circumcision?

56 That is, those who are uncircumcised.

57 Or, justifications, that is, what the law requires to justification.

58 That is, the status of an uncircumcised person.

59 That is, be so accounted as if he were circumcised, as may be seen in Abraham before he was circumcised, who notwithstanding was justified, not by the law but by faith, Rom. 4:10, whereby he does not at once reject circumcision, while it was not yet abolished, but he deals here with the Jews who followed the doctrine of the Pharisees, and placed their righteousness in the observation of the outward worship of God. Otherwise circumcision in itself was a sign and seal of the justification of faith, Rom. 4:11, and is, together with the other ceremonies and shadows, fulfilled and done away by Christ, Col. 2:17.

27And shall not 60uncircumcision which is by nature, 61if it fulfil the law, 62judge thee, who by 63the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

60 That is, the man, who by nature is without circumcision.

61 That is, if he fulfills the law; not that there is any man, who has fulfilled the law in all things, Rom. 3:9, but this he says to convince the Jews, that they, as well as the Gentiles, must seek their righteousness outside of themselves in Christ, Who only has fulfilled the law, Acts 13:38, 39, etc.

62 Namely, by his example, as Mat.12:41, 42.

63 That is, the outward and literal circumcision; or, which is done only according to the outward letter of the commandment, 2 Cor. 3:6, 7.

28Forl he 64is not a Jew, which is one 65outwardly; neither is that 66circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

lJohn 8:39; Rom. 9:7.

64 That is, a right or true Jew, who is heir of the promises of the covenant made to the fathers.

65 That is, descended from Abraham by Judah, and who makes an outward profession of Judaism.

66 That is, the right or true circumcision, which God in His Word principally requires, and is acceptable to Him unto salvation.

29But he is 67a Jew, which is one inwardly; andm68circumcision is that of the heart, 69in the spirit, and not 70in the letter; 71whose praise is 72not of men, 73but of God.

67 That is, a right and true Jew, as before.

mDeut. 10:16; Jer. 4:4; Philip. 3:2, 3; Col. 2:11.

68 That is, true conversion and renewing of the heart, Col. 2:11.

69 That is, in the heart and mind; or, by the Holy Ghost, Who only circumcises the hearts, which best agrees with the following word letter.

70 Thereby Paul understands the outward commandments of the law only; as by the spirit the inward operation of the Holy Ghost in the preaching of the Holy Gospel. See 2 Cor. 3:6.

71 Namely, which Jews praise, not whereby he boasts, but wherewith he is rightly praised and commended.

72 That is, has not its source from man’s abilities or works.

73 Namely, Who has wrought this in him by His Spirit, Rom. 9:16; 1 Cor. 3:7, and 2 Cor. 4:6.