Romans 2

Romans 2:1

THerefore thou] Or, Wherefore thou. He convinceth them which would seeme to be exempt out of the number of other mens faults, and saith, that they are least of all to be excused; for if they were well and narrowly scatched, as God surely will search them, they themselves will be found guilty in those things which they reprehend and punish in others: so that in condemning others, they pronounce sentence against themselves.

that judgest] That dost check, correct and punish others. Here the Apostle taxeth such among the Gentiles as either were lawgivers and Judges amongst them; or led a more strict and austere life then the rest, as some of the Philosophers did; whereby they seemed to judge and condemne the practice of others, when as yet they were inwardly full of hatred, envie, arrogancie, &c. and committed the same sinnes in secret when they thought they could hide them from the eye of man: all these mens seeming wisdome and justice serves but to condemn them; and therefore though they thought themselves exempted from the ordinarie sort of men, yet they are in the same, or a worse condition with them: and if they will be saved, must have recourse to the onely righteousnesse of the Gospel, seeing that their own is nothing but a vizard or false shew.

for wherein thoujudgest another, &c.] Matthew 7:2.

Romans 2:2

we are sure] Gr. we know.

truth] That is, uprightly and justly; not according to the outward appearance, but as things are indeed. God regardeth not the outward shew and profession of leading a vertuous and commendable life, but strictly examineth the heart and the thoughts, words and works, proceeding from thence, John 7:24. Luke 16:15.

Romans 2:4

despisest thou] Hast no care at all to imploy the same to the right and proper use, which is to give thee space of repentance, and afford thee many inducements thereunto; but contrarily thou dost profane them, and drawest occasions from them to strengthen thy self in evill as if thou shouldest never be punished, because God hath so long tolerated thee.

riches] That is, the multiplicity and varietie of Gods outward blessings. A phrase used by the heathen, also, as we may see in Simplicius his Disputation de bono &malo.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Here the Apostle especially argueth against those who were of opinion that their case stood not ill with God forasmuch as God blessed them many wayes in this world, and gave them abundance of wealth and honour, as he did to the Romanes above other people, who had the command over all nations.

repentance] Sith the Apostle speaketh as yet of men under the law of nature, without the light of the word of God, and the efficacie of the spirit of regeneration, amongst whom there could be no true or saving conversion unto God: it semeth that repentance here signifieth onely an outward forbearing of grossr sinnes, and changing their vitious courses into such as were morally honest and commendable. Or it may be meant also of true repentance: For the favours of God allure men to their duty to God; Hosea 11:4.

Romans 2:5

treasurest up] See James 5:3. Heapest up Gods judgements upon thee in manner of a treasure, which encreaseth still by daily addition.

wrath] That is, punishment, which shall be at the last day inflicted to the full.

day] and the day of. The last day, when God shall reveale and judge the sinnes of all men, even those which are most secret, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8. Revelation 20:12. 13.

revelation] Gr. Tee the retribution.

Romans 2:6

Who will render, &c.] Psalms 62:12. Matthew 16:27. Revelation 22:12.

Romans 2:7

by patient continuance] Gr. according to patient continuance, That is perseverance with an equall and constant tenour of holinesse and righteousnesse according to the commandement, Deuteronomy 27:26.

glory] Which followeth good works: which he layeth not out before us as though there were any that could attain to salvation by his own strength; but by laying this condition of salvation before us, which no man can performe; to bring men to Christ, who alone justifieth beleevers, as he himselfe concludeth, Chap. 2. 21, 22. following.

Romans 2:8

contentious] Gr. them of contentiousnesse. Kicking and striving against the righteousnesse of God, Hosea 4:4. chiefly by alleadging and objecting their own righteousnesse, and outward observing of discipline, which is usual with hypocrites.

truth] The light and knowledge of morall good imprinted in their souls by nature, Romans 1:18-19.

indignation, and wrath] Gr. Tec. wrath and indignaiton.

Romans 2:9

Tribulation] Or, affliction.

doth evil] Gr. worketh out evil.

Jew first] Though God inflicteth punishment indifferently upon all transgressors, without distinction of either nation or person: yet for all that the judgement of God begins at his own house; and those that have had more knowledge and do not accordingly, shall receive the heavier punishment: Amos 3:2. Luke 12:47. Matth. 11. 22 1 Peter 4:17.

Gentile] Gr. Greek.

Romans 2:10

peace] By peace he meaneth according to the Hebrew signification of the word, happinesse, health, and salvation.

worketh good] Or, doth good.

Gentile Gr. Greek.

Romans 2:11

there is no respect, &c.] Deuteronomy 10. 17. 2 Chron. 19. 7. Job 34:19. Acts 10:34. Gal. 2. 6 Ephesians 6:9. Coloss 3. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 17.

respect of persons] That is, he regardeth not the qualitie or outward condition; he measureth not men by their countrey, nation, power, riches, or honour; either to receive them, or to cast them away. The Greek word signifieth as well countenance, as person, and the sense comes all to one; for by countenance we are to understand the outward appearance of men in the world, or those things by which men are outwardly valued and esteemed: Acts 10:34. 1 Samuel 16:7.

Romans 2:12

perish without law] Be judged and condemned by the testimonie of their own conscience.

Romans 2:13

not the hearers, &c.] Matthew 7:21. James 1:22.

hearers] Not those who onely know the law, and boast of it, and fulfill it not For as much then as the law cannot bring salvation to man by the knowledge and profession of it, as the Jews do beleeve; and none among them can be found who liveth answerable to his knowledge: it followeth that the Jews are comprehended in the same malediction with the Gentiles, and have as much need to seek to Christ for righteousnesse as they.

justified] Shall be pronounced just before Gods judgement seat, which is true indeed if any such could be found that had fulfilled the law; but seeing Abraham himself was not justified by the law, but by faith; it followeth that no man can be justified by works.

Romans 2:14

not the law] That is, the written law; for they have the law of nature imprinted in their souls.

things contained in the law] Gr. the things of the law. To wit, to restrain the outward man, and stirre up in him a desire of vertue and morall honestie, and prescribe and follow some things which God commands in his law.

law unto themselves] In commanding or forbidding that which the law of God commands and forbids.

Romans 2:15

their conscience also bearing witnesse] Or, the conscience witnessing with them. Because the conscience is nothing else but the correspondencie of the spirit of man unto the law, to bind or loose him; to accuse or excuse him; to condemn or absolve him; therefore since the Gentiles have a conscience, they must have a law also.

their thoughts] Or, their reasonings. Chap. 1. 21.

the mean while &c] Or, between themselves.

excusing one another] Gr. defending.

Romans 2:16

when God] Gr. Tec. in which God.

my gospel] As my doctrine witnesseth which I am appointed to preach. From this text of Saint Paul it seemed that the ancients namely, Clemens in his Epistle to the Corinthians: Take blessed Pauls Epistle into your hands; mark what he writeth in the beginning of his gospel: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Romans 2:17

Behold, thou] Gr. Tec. But if thou. From hence forward the Apostle deals espcially against the Jews that boasted still of their off-spring, their knowledge of the law of God, their circumcision, and other outward advantages whereon they relyed; and proveth that they are not more to be justified by these before God, then the Gentiles are by the law of nature.

makest thy boast of God] Or, gloriest in God.

Romans 2:18

approvest the things that are more excellent] Or, triest the things that differ. Or different: that is, thou art able to judge what things are commanded, what things are forbidden, or what is truly good, which thou art to follow, in stead of that false good which carnall reason or sense doth present unto thee, Phil. 1. 10.

instructed out of the law] Gr. catechised out of Luk 1:4. Galatians 6:6 Word for word according to the Greek; catechised from a child; carefully taught and tutored.

Romans 2:19

guide of the blind] Wise men onely in Scripture are tearmed Seers 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (Exodus 23:8. The gift blindeth the wise, (Hebrew) the Seers) and all fools blind.

Romans 2:20

babes] Those that have little or no knoweldge, like children, Matthew 11:25. 1 Corinthians 13:11. In this sense the word is also taken by the heathen, as in that proverbiall speech delivered by Hesiod. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

forme of knowledge] The way to teach and enforme others in the knowledge of the truth; for the word in the originall is not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifieth a pattern to work by; or a perfect frame; not onely of what belongeth unto the true service of God in it self; but likewise of all that which we comprehend and judge of it in our selves; it may be rendred a set manner or modell of knowledge.

Romans 2:21

dost thou steal] That is, by subtile and smister wayes and practises draw the goods of others unto thy self; which the Jews were ever much taxed withall, and still are at this day.

Romans 2:22

commit sacriledge] Some here make a question, why the Apostle changeth the word, and saith not as before; Thou which saist a man shall not steal, dost thou steal? Thou which saist a man shall not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? So here, thou which abhorrest idols, dost thou commit idolatry? he saith not so, but, Dost thou commit sacriledge? varying the crime: Hereunto a double answer may be given, first, that the Apostle useth an aggravation, as if he should say, Thou which abhorrest idols dost thou commit a worse sinne, to wit, sacriledge? Secondly, it may be answered, That idolatry is spirituall sacriledge, because it robbeth God of his honour; for if by the Imperiall law in the Code, titulo de crimine sacrilegii, it is defined sacriledge, IMperatori eripere quodejus est, to take away from the Emperour anything that is his; it ought to be much more accounted sacriledge to take away from God that which is his.

Romans 2:23

breaking] Gr. transgressing.

among the Gentiles] Or, in the Gentiles.

through you] For your sake, by your sinnes and the sinnes of your forefathers.

as it is written] Isaiah 52:5. Ezekiel 36:20. 23.

Romans 2:25

keep the law] Gr. do the law.

breaker] Gr. transgresser.

Romans 2:26

righteousnesse of the law] Gr. righteous ordinances of the law.

counted for circumcision] Shall not the uncircumcised be in as good state as if he were circumcised? Not that the Apostle doth absolutely reject circumcision before it was abolished, but he here dealeth with the Jews that followed the doctrine of the Pharisees, and placed their righteousnesse in keeping the outward and ceremoniall worship of God; otherwise circumcision was a signe and seal of the justification by faith, Romans 4:11. and was fulfilled, and consequently abolished by Christ, together with other ceremonies and shadows.

Romans 2:27

fulfill the law] He speaketh not as if there were any that had fulfilled in all respects, for that is expressely denyed, Romans 3:9. but this he saith to convince the Jews, that they must as well as the Gentiles seeke for righteousnesse out of themselves, in Christ, who alone hath fulfilled the law.

Romans 2:28

outwardly] Gr. openly.

outward in the flesh] Gr. openly in the flesh.

Romans 2:29

inwardly] Gr. in secret.

not the letter] In any outward signe or ceremonie, which are like unto some writing or picture, without any power, life, or motion, Romans 7:6. 2 Corinthians 3:6. 7.

not of men, but of God] That is, hath not its originall from the abilities or works of men, but from God, who wrought the same in them by his Spirit, Romans 9:16. 1 Corinthians 3:7. 2 Corinthians 4:6. or which hath the approbation, not of man, but of God, 2 Corinth 10. 18.