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Romans 2:1-3:20
Christian Standard Bible

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore, every one of you[a](A) who judges is without excuse.(B) For when you judge another,(C) you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. 3 Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness,(D) restraint,(E) and patience,(F) not recognizing[b] that God’s kindness(G) is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath(H) for yourself in the day of wrath,(I) when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. 6 He will repay each one according to his works:[c](J) 7 eternal life(K) to those who by persistence in doing good(L) seek glory, honor,(M) and immortality;(N) 8 but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking(O) and disobey the truth(P) while obeying unrighteousness. 9 There will be affliction and distress(Q) for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;(R) 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no favoritism with God.(S)

12 For all who sin without the law(T) will also perish without the law, and all who sin under[d] the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law(U) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.[e] 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law,(V) do[f] what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[g] is written on their hearts.(W) Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them[h] 16 on the day when God judges(X) what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.(Y)

Jewish Violation of the Law

17 Now if[i] you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,(Z) and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,(AA) being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth(AB) in the law— 21 you then, who teach another,(AC) don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?(AD) 23 You who boast in the law,(AE) do you dishonor God by breaking the law?[j] 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.[k](AF)

Circumcision of the Heart

25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.(AG) 26 So if an uncircumcised(AH) man keeps the law’s requirements,(AI) will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you(AJ) who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,(AK) and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,(AL) and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.[l](AM) That person’s praise is not from people but from God.(AN)

Paul Answers an Objection

3 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted(AO) with the very words of God.(AP) 3 What then? If some were unfaithful,(AQ) will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Absolutely not!(AR) Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar,(AS) as it is written:

That you may be justified in your words
and triumph when you judge.[m](AT)

5 But if our unrighteousness highlights[n] God’s righteousness,(AU) what are we to say?(AV) I am using a human argument:[o](AW) Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath? 6 Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?(AX) 7 But if by my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?(AY) 8 And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”?(AZ) Their condemnation is deserved!

The Whole World Guilty before God

9 What then? Are we any better off?[p] Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews(BA) and Greeks(BB) are all under sin,[q](BC) 10 as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.[r](BD)
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.[s](BE)
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.[t](BF)
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[u](BG)
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.[v](BH)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.[w](BI)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(BJ) it speaks to those who are subject to the law,[x](BK) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[y](BL) 20 For no one will be justified[z] in his sight by the works of the law,(BM) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(BN)

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Lit Therefore, O man, every one
  2. 2:4 Or patience, because you do not recognize
  3. 2:6 Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12
  4. 2:12 Lit in
  5. 2:13 Or acquitted
  6. 2:14 Or who do not have the law, instinctively do
  7. 2:15 The code of conduct required by the law
  8. 2:15 Internal debate, either in a person or among the pagan moralists
  9. 2:17 Other mss read Look—
  10. 2:23 Or you dishonor God by breaking the law.
  11. 2:24 Is 52:5
  12. 2:29 Or heart—spiritually, not literally
  13. 3:4 Ps 51:4
  14. 3:5 Or shows, or demonstrates
  15. 3:5 Lit I speak as a man
  16. 3:9 Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles?
  17. 3:9 Under sin’s power or dominion
  18. 3:10–12 Ps 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Ec 7:20
  19. 3:13 Ps 5:9
  20. 3:13 Ps 140:3
  21. 3:14 Ps 10:7
  22. 3:15–17 Is 59:7–8
  23. 3:18 Ps 36:1
  24. 3:19 Lit those in the law
  25. 3:19 Or become guilty before God, or may be accountable to God
  26. 3:20 Or will be declared righteous, or will be acquitted
Listen to Romans 2:1-3:20
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Romans 2:1-3:20
New International Version

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 You, therefore, have no excuse,(A) you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.(B) 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches(C) of his kindness,(D) forbearance(E) and patience,(F) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?(G)

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath(H), when his righteous judgment(I) will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a](J) 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor(K) and immortality,(L) he will give eternal life.(M) 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,(N) there will be wrath and anger.(O) 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil:(P) first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;(Q) 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.(R) 11 For God does not show favoritism.(S)

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law(T) will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey(U) the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,(V) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets(W) through Jesus Christ,(X) as my gospel(Y) declares.

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;(Z) 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?(AA) 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?(AB) 23 You who boast in the law,(AC) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[b](AD)

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law,(AE) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.(AF) 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,(AG) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?(AH) 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you(AI) who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,(AJ) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.(AK) 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,(AL) by the Spirit,(AM) not by the written code.(AN) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.(AO)

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way!(AP) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.(AQ)

3 What if some were unfaithful?(AR) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?(AS) 4 Not at all! Let God be true,(AT) and every human being a liar.(AU) As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”[d](AV)

5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,(AW) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)(AX) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?(AY) 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,(AZ) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(BA) 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?(BB) Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(BC) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(BD) 10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”[e](BE)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”[f](BF)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[g](BG)
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[h](BH)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[i](BI)
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[j](BJ)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(BK) it says to those who are under the law,(BL) so that every mouth may be silenced(BM) and the whole world held accountable to God.(BN) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(BO) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(BP)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:6 Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:12
  2. Romans 2:24 Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22
  3. Romans 2:27 Or who, by means of a
  4. Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4
  5. Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
  6. Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
  7. Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
  8. Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
  9. Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
  10. Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
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