rwp - Romans:2:1-16

rwp@Romans:2:1 @{Wherefore} (\dio\). See strkjv@1:24,26| for this relative conjunction, "because of which thing." {Without excuse} (\anapologtos\). See on ¯1:21|. {Whosoever thou art that judgest} (\pas ho krinn\). Literally, "every one that judgest," vocative case in apposition with \anthrpe\. Paul begins his discussion of the failure of the Jew to attain to the God-kind of righteousness (2:1-3:20|) with a general statement applicable to all as he did (1:18|) in the discussion of the failure of the Gentiles (Lightfoot). The Gentile is readily condemned by the Jew when he sins and equally so is the Jew condemned by the Gentile in like case. \Krin\ does not of itself mean to condemn, but to pick out, separate, approve, determine, pronounce judgment, condemn (if proper). {Another} (\ton heteron\). Literally, "the other man." The notion of two in the word, one criticizing the other. {Thou condemnest thyself} (\seauton katakrineis\). Note \kata\ here with \krin\, to make plain the adverse judgment. {For} (\gar\). Explanatory reason for the preceding statement. The critic {practises} (\prasseis\, not single acts \poie\, but the habit \prass\) the same things that he condemns.

rwp@Romans:2:2 @{Judgment} (\krima\). Decision rendered whether good or bad. {According to} (\kata\ with accusative). As the rule of measure. Cf. strkjv@John:7:24|.

rwp@Romans:2:3 @{And doest the same} (\kai poin auta\). "And doest them occasionally." {That thou shalt escape} (\su ekpheuxi\). Emphasis on \su\, "thou conceited Jew expecting to escape God's \krima\ because thou art a Jew." Cf. strkjv@Matthew:3:8f|. Paul justifies the bitter words of the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees. The future middle of the old verb \ekpheug\ (cf. strkjv@1Thessalonians:5:3|). The Jew posed as immune to the ordinary laws of ethics because a Jew. Alas, some Christians affect the same immunity.

rwp@Romans:2:4 @{Or despiseth thou?} (\ kataphroneis?\). Another alternative, that of scorn of God's kindness (\chrstottos\, strkjv@2Corinthians:6:6|) and forbearance (\anochs\, old word, holding back from \anech\, only here in N.T.) and longsuffering (\makrothumias\, late word for which see strkjv@2Corinthians:6:4,6|). \Kataphrone\ is old verb to think down on (\kata, phrone\) as in strkjv@Matthew:6:24; strkjv@1Corinthians:11:22|. This upstart Jew actually thinks down on God. And then "the riches" (\tou ploutou\) of all that comes from God. {Leadeth thee to repentance} (\eis metanoian se agei\). The very kindness (\to chrston\, the kindly quality) of God is trying to lead (conative present \agei\) thee to a right-about face, a change of mind and attitude (\metanoian\) instead of a complacent self-satisfaction and pride of race and privilege.

rwp@Romans:2:5 @{After thy hardness} (\kata tn sklrotta sou\). "According to thy hardness (old word from \sklros\, hard, stiff, only here in N.T.) will God's judgment be." {And impenitent heart} (\kai ametanoton kardian\). See \metanoian\ just before. "Thy unreconstructed heart," "with no change in the attitude of thy heart." {Treasurest up for thyself} (\thsaurizeis seauti\). See for \thsauriz\ on strkjv@Matthew:6:19f.; strkjv@Luke:12:21; strkjv@2Corinthians:12:14|. Dative case \seauti\ (for thyself) with a touch of irony (Vincent). {Wrath} (\orgn\). For such a Jew as already stated for the Gentile (1:18|). There is a revelation (\apokalupses\) of God's wrath for both in the day of wrath and righteous judgment (\dikaiokrisias\, a late compound word, in LXX, two examples in the Oxyrhynchus papyri, only here in N.T.). See strkjv@2Thessalonians:1:5| for \dikaias krises\. Paul looks to the judgment day as certain (cf. strkjv@2Corinthians:5:10-12|), the day of the Lord (2Corinthians:1:14|).

rwp@Romans:2:6 @{Who will render} (\hos apodsei\). Paul quotes strkjv@Proverbs:24:12| as in strkjv@2Timothy:4:14|. See also strkjv@Matthew:16:27; strkjv@Revelation:22:12|. The rendering will be in accord with the facts.

rwp@Romans:2:7 @{To them that seek} (\tois men--ztousin\). Dative plural of the articular present active participle of \zte\ with \men\ on the one hand. {Eternal life} (\zn ainion\). Accusative case object of \apodsei\ above.

rwp@Romans:2:8 @{But unto them that are factious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness} (\tois de ex eritheias kai apeithousin ti altheii peithomenois de adikii\). The other side with \de\ and the articular present participles in the dative again, only with \ex eritheias\, there is no participle \ousin\. But the construction changes and the substantives that follow are not the object of \apodsei\ like \zn ainnion\ above, but are in the nominative as if with \esontai\ (shall be) understood (anger and wrath, both \org\ and \thumos\, tribulation and anguish, again a pair \thlipsis kai stenochria\ on which see strkjv@2Corinthians:5:4; strkjv@12:10|).

rwp@Romans:2:9 @{Every soul of man} (\pasan psuchn anthrpou\). See strkjv@13:1| for this use of \psuch\ for the individual. {Of the Jew first and also of the Greek} (\Ioudaiou te prton kai Hellnos\). See on ¯1:16|. First not only in penalty as here, but in privilege also as in strkjv@2:11; strkjv@1:16|.

rwp@Romans:2:11 @{Respect of persons} (\prospolmpsia\). Milligan (_Vocabulary_) considers this word (in N.T. only here, strkjv@Colossians:3:25; strkjv@Ephesians:6:9|) and \prospolmpts\ (Acts:10:34|) and \prospolmpte\ (James:2:9|) the earliest definitely known Christian words, not in LXX or non-Christian writings. See on ¯Acts:10:34| for the formation in imitation of the Hebrew to take note of the face (\prospon, lamban\), to judge by the face or appearance.

rwp@Romans:2:12 @{Have sinned} (\hmarton\). Constative aorist active indicative, "sinned," a timeless aorist. {Without law} (\anoms\). Old adverb "contrary to law," "unjustly," but here in ignorance of the Mosaic law (or of any law). Nowhere else in N.T. {Shall also perish without law} (\anoms kai apolountai\). Future middle indicative of \apollumi\, to destroy. This is a very important statement. The heathen who sin are lost, because they do not keep the law which they have, not because they do not have the Mosaic law or Christianity. {Under law} (\en nomi\). In the sphere of the Mosaic law. {By the law} (\dia nomou\). The Jew has to stand or fall by the Mosaic law.

rwp@Romans:2:13 @{Not the hearers--but the doers} (\ou gar hoi akroatai--all' hoi poitai\). The law was read in the synagogue, but there was no actual virtue in listening. The virtue is in doing. See a like contrast by James between "hearers" and "doers" of the gospel (James:1:22-25|). {Before God} (\para ti thei\). By God's side, as God looks at it. {Shall be justified} (\dikaithsontai\). Future passive indicative of \dikaio\, to declare righteous, to set right. "Shall be declared righteous." Like strkjv@James:1:22-25|.

rwp@Romans:2:14 @{That have no law} (\ta m nomon echonta\). Better, "that have not the law" (the Mosaic law). {By nature} (\phusei\). Instrumental case of \phusis\, old word from \phu\, to beget. The Gentiles are without the Mosaic law, but not without some knowledge of God in conscience and when they do right "they are a law to themselves" (\heautois eisin nomos\). This is an obvious reply to the Jewish critic.

rwp@Romans:2:15 @{In that they} (\hoitines\). "The very ones who," qualitative relative. {Written in their hearts} (\grapton en tais kardiais autn\). Verbal adjective of \graph\, to write. When their conduct corresponds on any point with the Mosaic law they practise the unwritten law in their hearts. {Their conscience bearing witness therewith} (\sunmarturouss autn ts suneidses\). On conscience (\suneidsis\) see on ¯1Corinthians:8:7; strkjv@10:25f.; strkjv@2Corinthians:1:12|. Genitive absolute here with present active participle \sunmarturouss\ as in strkjv@9:1|. The word \suneidsis\ means co-knowledge by the side of the original consciousness of the act. This second knowledge is personified as confronting the first (Sanday and Headlam). The Stoics used the word a great deal and Paul has it twenty times. It is not in the O.T., but first in this sense in Wisdom strkjv@17:10. All men have this faculty of passing judgment on their actions. It can be over-scrupulous (1Corinthians:10:25|) or "seared" by abuse (1Timothy:4:12|). It acts according to the light it has. {Their thoughts one with another accusing or also excusing them} (\metaxu allln tn logismn katgorountn kai apologoumenn\). Genitive absolute again showing the alternative action of the conscience, now accusing, now excusing. Paul does not say that a heathen's conscience always commends everything that he thinks, says, or does. In order for one to be set right with God by his own life he must always act in accord with his conscience and never have its disapproval. That, of course, is impossible else Christ died for naught (Galatians:2:21|). Jesus alone lived a sinless life. For one to be saved without Christ he must also live a sinless life.

rwp@Romans:2:16 @{According to my gospel} (\kata to euaggelion mou\). What Paul preaches (1Corinthians:15:1|) and which is the true gospel