Romans 2

1. Paul confutes on oblection of those that thought they were thereby righteous, because they did not openly commit such abominable sins, but condemned the same in others. 3 and who thought that they stood in the favour of God, because he did them good and blessed them in this world. 5 Contrarily declares that God shall judge all men without respect of persons, not according to their outward appearance or condition, but according to their works as well inward as outward. 12 And that as well the Jews who had the Law as the Gentiles who had not the written Law. 17 He takes from the Jews the opinion that they should be justified by the knowledge of the Law, and instructing the others in the same. 25 Or by circumcision and other outward advantages which the Jews had above the Gentiles, 27 teaching which are the right Jews, and the right circumcision.

1. There fore [Namely, seeing thou knowest Gods O man, whosoever thou art judges (others)[that is, reprehends, rebukes, or else punishes. Hereby the Apostle understand such among the Heathens, who were Judges among them, or those that held a stricter life, as some Philosophers did, and thereby seemed to condemn the doings of others: whereas not withstanding they were inwardly full of hatred, envy, pride, etc. and in secret committed the same sins, when they could hide from men, as also the Pharisees (did) amongst condemn thy self: for thou that judges (others) dost the same. [namely, inwardly or secretly.]

2. And we know [That is, it is evident, even according to the common opinion of all men] that the judgment of God is according to truth, [that is, upright, not according to the outward show, but according as the thing is indeed] upon them that do such things.

3. And thinkest thou O man who judges them that do such things, and dost the same [Namely, albeit that thou dost them secretly, or not as imputently as others] that thou shall escape the judgment of God?

4. Or despisest thou the riches [That is, the greatness and multiplicity. Here he confutes those that thought their matters stood not ill with God, because God did them good, and blessed them as the world, as he did the Romans in an especial manner at that time] of his goodness [this is a property of God, whereby he blessed and doth good, yea even to them that are evil, Mat.5.45.] and forbearance, [namely, whereby he with connivance overlooks the sins of men for a time, (to see) whether they will yet repent, Luke 3:7,8, etc.] and long suffering, [whereby he defers the punishment which they deserve until the measure of the same is fulfilled, Rom. 9.ver.22.] not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. [that is, gives thee time and reason to repent.]

5. But after thy hardness [That is, being hardened in thy sins] and impenitent heart, gatherest thou to thy self wrath as a treasure, [that is, provokes more and more the wrath and judgement of God, as a treasure to which men always daily add more and more] in the day of wrath, and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God: [that is, against the last day, when God shall make manifest before every one, and punish the sins of men, even those that are secret, v.16. 2 Thes. 1.7. Rev. 20 v12, 13.]

6. Who shall recompense every one according to his works: [He speaketh here of recompensing according to the promises and threatening of the Law, which were known to the Gentiles also by nature, v. 15, for of justification by faith he begins first to speak, Romans 3:21. However this may well be applied also to recompensing according to the promises and threatening of the gospel, as 2 Cor. 5.10. it is so said in general: for as much as good works as fruits of faith, of grace, for Christ’s sake shall also be rewarded.]

7. To them indeed, who by perseverance, [The Greek word signifies also patience, but is here more fitly taken for perseverance or constancy, as Matthew 10:22. Luke 8:15.] in doing good [gr. Of a good work] seek glory and honour and incorruption, [that is, a blessed immortality] eternal life.

8. But to them who are contentious, [Gr. Contention, i.e. contentious or desirous of contention, as of faith, Romans 3:26. i.e. circumcised] and who are disobedient to the truth, namely , which by God is made known to them by nature, Rom, 1 ver. 19.] but are obedient to unrighteousness, and indignation and wrath [namely, of God, who is justly incensed to judgement by reason of sin] (shall be recompensed.)

9. Tribulations and distress [That is, hellish pains and torments, which by Gods righteous wrath shall be sent unto them] upon every soul of man which worketh good, first to the Jews and (also) to the Greek.

10. But glory, and honour and peace [That is, eternal salvation which they have sought in their life, shall be given to them, ver.7.] to every one that worketh good, first to the Jews and (also) to the Greeks.

11. For there is no accepting of the person with God. [Gr. Of the face, of the see more at large, the annotations on Matthew 22:16. and Acts 10:34.]

12. For as many as have sinned without Law [That is, the Gentiles, who had not the written Law of Moses.] shall also perish without Law: [That is, be condemned by the testimony of their own conscience ver.15.] and as many as have sinned under the Law [that is, the Jews, to whom the Law was given by Moses, Gr. In the Law] shall be judged by the Law. [That is, shall be judged , i.e. condemned according to the threatening of the Law.]

13. For the hearers of the Law [That is, who only know the Law, and boast thereof] are not righteous before God [that is, are not acknowledged for righteous in Gods judgment, declared to be such Psalms 143:2. Matthew 12:37. Romans 8:33.] but the doers of the Law [that is, the fulfillers of the Law, Galatians 3:10. James 2:10.] shall be justified [namely, by the Law, or according to the promises of the Law, Romans 10:5. But seeing no man perfectly keeps the Law by reason of the corruption that is in man, Romans 8:3. Galatians 3:10. there no man is justified by the Law, or through his own works, but only by the righteousness of Christ imputed unto us by faith, Rom.3 ver. 21.22.23.]

14. For when the Gentiles who have not the Law, [Namely, the written Law] by nature doe the things, which God hath commanded in his Law] which are of the Law, these not having the Law, are a Law to themselves. [Namely, in commanding or forbidding of that which Gods Law commands or forbids; or else in some parts of their lives.]

15. (As) who show [Namely, by their Laws, and also sometimes by an outward observation of the same] the work of the Law [that is, a part of the contents of the Law of God] written in their hearts, their conscience witnessing together, and the thoughts one another accusing (them) [namely, when they do evil against their judgement] or else excusing. [Namely, when according to their conscience they do good.

16. In the day [These words must be joined with the 12 verse, yet may also follow the 15 verse, if it be translated against that day, for then the testimonies of mens consciences, even concerning their secret sins shall serve to justify Christs judgment before the whole world, yea even before to those to whom the Gospel was never preached, Revel. 20.12.] when God shall the hidden things of men, even over to those to whom the Gospel was not preached ver.12.]

17. Behold, thou art called [From henceforward he deals especially against the Jews, who boasted of and relied upon their pedigree, the knowledge of Gods Law, circumcision, and other outward advantages; and he proved that they shall thereby be no more righteous before God, then the Gentiles by the Law of nature] a Jew [Gr. Surnamed a Jew. Namely, by reason of your descent from Israel and Judah, from who the Messiah was proceed, whereof also the Jews were willing to be named after him, Revel.2.9.] and rests on the Law, [that is, puttest thy trust in the Law, which was given you by Moses as the Tables of Gods, Covenant] and boasts in God. [that is, boast yourselves that God is your God, and that ye are his people, John 8.ver.33.41.]

18. And thou knowest (his) will and provest the the things which differ (from it) [Or which are excellent, choice, For the Greek word signified both, Mat.12.12. Phil.1.10.] being instructed, out of the Law, [Gr. catechized, i.e. from thy youth up, and diligently from mouth to mouth instructed Acts 18:25. 1 Cor.14.19.]

19. And thou art confident, that thou thy self art a guide of the blind, a light of those that are in darkness.

20. An instructor of the unwise, (and) a teacher of the ignorant, [Gr. Of infants or children i.e. those that are of small knowledge like children. Matthew 11:25. 1 Cor. 13.11.] having the form of knowledge [Gr. Morphosin, i.e. a set manner or form of knowledge: or a show and not a true being of knowledge. See 2 Tim. 3. ver. 5.] and of the truth in the Law.

21. Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thy self? [Namely, to obey and doe that which teachest another, as appears from what follows] thou that preacheth that men shall not steal, stealeth thou? [that is, dost thou draw another’s goods to thy selves by legerdemain, and naughty practices, as the Jews have always been very infamous for this and still are, Matth. 23.14.]

22. Thou that says that men shall not commit adultery, dost thou commiteth adultery? Thou that abominates Idols, dost thou not rob the Holy place? [Or, dost thou commit sacrilege? Namely, by taking a way Gods honour, or by withholding from him in his Temple, that which he will have consecrated or offered up unto him. See hereof Matthew 1:6. etc.]

23. Thou that boastest of the Law, dishonourest thou God by the transgression of the Law.

24. For the name of God is blasphemed because of you, [That is, because of your, and your forefathers] among the Gentiles, as it is written;

25. For circumcision is profitably indeed, if thou dost the Law: [He speaketh to the Jews who sought their righteousness in the observation of circumcision, and other ceremonies. They that 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 worshipping avail not a salvation, if they not be accompanied with a true godly life. Isa.1.ver.11.12. etc. Jer.6.20.etc.] but if thou art a transgressor of the Law, thy circumcision has become uncircumcision. [that is, thou art, though thou are circumcised, in the same condition with an unbelieving uncircumcised person.]

26. If therefore the uncircumcision [That is, those that are uncircumcised] keep the rights of the Law [or justifications i.e. that which the Law requires to justification] shall not his uncircumcision [that is, the seal of an uncircumcised person] be reckoned for a circumcision?[that is, be so accounted as he were circumcised as may be seen in Abraham before he was circumcised, who not withstanding was justified, not by the Law but by faith Rom.4.10.11. whereby he doth not at once rejects 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 it self was a sign and a 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.]

27. And shall (not) the uncircumcision which is by nature, [That is, the man which by nature is without circumcision] if it fulfill the Law, [that is, if he fulfill the Law: not that there is any man, who hath fulfilled the Law in all things, Romans 2:9. but this he saith to convince the Jews, that they as well as the Gentiles, must seek their righteousness out of themselves in Christ, who only hath fulfilled the Law, Acts13.v.38.39, etc] judge thee, [namely, by his example, as Mat.12 41.42.] who by the letter and circumcision [that is, the outward and literal circumcision: or which is done only according to the outward letter of command, 2 Cor.3.v6,7.] art Transgressor of the Law?

28. For he is not a Jew [That is, a right or true Jew, which is heir of promise of the Covenant made to the fathers] who is so open: [that is, descendent from Abraham by Judah, and who makes an outward profession of Judaism] neither is that circumcision [that is, the right or true circumcision which God in his word principally requires, and is acceptable to him unto salvation] which is so openly in the flesh.

29. But he is a Jew [That is, a right and a true Jew, as before] which is so in secret, and the circumcision of the heart [that is, true conversion and renovation of the heart, Colk2.v.11.] in the spirit, [that is, in heart and mind: or by the holy Ghost, who only circumciseth the hearts, which best agrees with the following word letter] not (in the) letter [thereby Paul understands the outward commands of the Law only: as by the spirit the inward operation of the Holy Ghost in the preaching of the Gospel. See 2 Cor. 3.6.] (is the circumcision) whose praise [namely, which Jews praise, whereby he boasteth , but whereby he is rightly praised or commended] is not of men, [that is, hath not its original from mans abilities or works] but of God. [namely, who hath wrought this in him by his spirit, Romans 9:16. 1 Cor.3.7. and 2 Cor. 4.6.]