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God’s Righteous Judgment

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) Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 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? 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)

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. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a](J) To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor(K) and immortality,(L) he will give eternal life.(M) But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,(N) there will be wrath and anger.(O) 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)

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

Therefore dio you are eimi without excuse anapologētos, whoever you are ō, when you ho judge krinō someone else, for gar in en that hos which you judge krinō · ho another heteros, you condemn katakrinō yourself seautou, for gar you ho who judge krinō are practicing prassō the ho same things autos. And de we know oida that hoti the ho judgment krima of ho God theos is eimi according kata to truth alētheia with epi respect to those ho who practice prassō · ho such toioutos things . Do you suppose logizomai, · de this houtos, whoever you are ō, when you ho judge krinō those ho who practice prassō · ho such toioutos things yet kai do poieō them autos yourself, that hoti you sy will escape ekpheugō the ho judgment krima of ho God theos? Or ē do you hold in contempt kataphroneō the ho riches ploutos of ho his autos kindness chrēstotēs and kai · ho forbearance anochē and kai · ho patience makrothumia, not agnoeō knowing that hoti · ho God’ s theos kindness chrēstos · ho is meant to lead agō you sy to eis repentance metanoia? But de because kata of · ho your sy stubbornness sklērotēs and kai your unrepentant heart kardia, you are storing thēsaurizō up wrath orgē for yourself seautou on en the day hēmera of wrath orgē, when kai God’ s theos righteous judgment dikaiokrisia will be revealed apokalypsis, · ho who hos will give apodidōmi to each hekastos person according kata to what ho he autos has done ergon: to those ho who zēteō by kata patiently hypomonē doing good agathos works ergon seek for zēteō glory doxa and kai honor timē and kai immortality aphtharsia, he will give eternal aiōnios life zōē; but de to those ho who are self-seeking ek and kai do not obey apeitheō the ho truth alētheia but de obey peithō · ho unrighteousness adikia, there will be wrath orgē and kai fury thumos. There will be tribulation thlipsis and kai distress stenochōria for epi every pas human anthrōpos being psychē who ho does katergazomai · ho evil kakos, for the Jew Ioudaios first prōton and kai also for the Greek Hellēn, 10 but de glory doxa and kai honor timē and kai peace eirēnē for everyone pas who ho does ergazomai · ho good agathos, for the Jew Ioudaios first prōton and kai also for the Greek Hellēn.

11 For gar there is eimi no ou favoritism prosōpolēmpsia with para · ho God theos: 12 for gar all hosos who have sinned hamartanō apart from the law anomōs will apollymi also kai perish apollymi apart from the law anomōs, and kai all hosos who have sinned hamartanō under en the law nomos will be judged krinō by dia the law nomos; 13 for gar it is not ou the ho hearers akroatēs of the law nomos who are righteous dikaios before para · ho God theos, but alla the ho doers poiētēs of the law nomos who will be declared dikaioō righteous . 14 For gar whenever hotan the Gentiles ethnos, who ho do echō not have echō the law nomos, do poieō by nature physis the ho things required by the ho law nomos, these houtos, although they do not have echō the law nomos, are eimi a law nomos to themselves heautou. 15 They hostis show endeiknymi that the ho work ergon of the ho law nomos is written graptos on en · ho their autos hearts kardia, their autos conscience syneidēsis bearing symmartyreō witness · ho and kai their allēlōn conflicting metaxy · ho thoughts logismos accusing katēgoreō or ē else kai defending apologeomai them , 16 on en the day hēmera when hote God theos judges krinō · ho the ho secrets kryptos of ho everyone anthrōpos according kata to · ho my egō gospel euangelion through dia Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous.

17 But de if ei you sy call yourself eponomazō a Jew Ioudaios, and kai rely epanapauomai on the law nomos, and kai boast kauchaomai in en God theos, 18 and kai know ginōskō his ho will thelēma, and kai approve dokimazō the ho things that excel diapherō because you are instructed katēcheō by ek the ho law nomos, 19 and te are convinced peithō that you yourself seautou are eimi a guide hodēgos of the blind typhlos, a light phōs for those ho who are in en darkness skotos, 20 a corrector paideutēs of the foolish aphrōn, a teacher didaskalos of little nēpios children , having echō in en the ho law nomos the ho embodiment morphōsis of ho knowledge gnōsis and kai of ho truth alētheia 21 you ho, then oun, who teach didaskō others heteros, will you not ou teach didaskō yourself seautou? You ho who preach kēryssō against stealing kleptō, do you steal kleptō? 22 You ho who tell legō others not to commit moicheuō adultery , do you commit moicheuō adultery ? You ho who abhor bdelyssomai · ho idols eidōlon, do you rob temples hierosyleō? 23 You who hos boast kauchaomai in en the law nomos, by dia your ho breaking parabasis of the ho law nomos you dishonor atimazō · ho God theos! 24 For gar as kathōs it is written graphō, “ On account of dia you hymeis the ho name onoma of ho God theos is being blasphemed blasphēmeō among en the ho Gentiles ethnos.” 25 For gar to be sure men, circumcision peritomē is of value ōpheleō if ean you practice prassō the law nomos, but de if ean you are eimi a transgressor parabatēs of the law nomos, · ho your sy circumcision peritomē has become ginomai uncircumcision akrobystia. 26 Therefore oun if ean the ho uncircumcised akrobystia man keeps phylassō the ho righteous dikaiōma requirements of the ho law nomos, will logizomai not ou · ho his autos uncircumcision akrobystia be counted logizomai as eis circumcision peritomē? 27 And kai will krinō not the ho one who teleō by ek nature physis is uncircumcised akrobystia yet fulfills teleō the ho law nomos judge krinō you sy who ho have dia the written gramma code and kai circumcision peritomē yet are a transgressor parabatēs of the law nomos? 28 For gar that person is not ou a ho Jew Ioudaios who is eimi one outwardly en ho, · ho nor oude is · ho circumcision peritomē that which is outward en ho · ho in en the flesh sarx. 29 But alla a person is a Jew Ioudaios who ho is one inwardly en ho, · ho and kai circumcision peritomē is a matter of the heart kardia, by en the Spirit pneuma and not ou by the written gramma code . That person’ s hos · ho praise epainos comes not ou from ek man anthrōpos but alla from ek · ho God theos.

The Righteous Judgment of God

Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.(A) We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth. Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?(B) But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.(C) He will repay according to each one’s deeds:(D) to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life, while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but injustice, there will be wrath and fury.(E) There will be affliction and distress for everyone who does evil, both the Jew first and the Greek,(F) 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, both the Jew first and the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.(G)

12 All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged in accordance with the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight but the doers of the law who will be justified.(H) 14 When gentiles, who do not possess the law, by nature do[a] what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, as their own conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God through Christ Jesus judges the secret thoughts of all.(I)

The Jews and the Law

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God(J) 18 and know his will and determine what really matters because you are instructed in the law, 19 and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,(K) 21 you, then, who teach others, will you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?(L) 22 You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by your transgression of the law? 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed[b] among the gentiles because of you.”(M)

25 Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law your circumcision has become uncircumcision.(N) 26 So, if the uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then the physically uncircumcised person who keeps the law will judge you who, though having the written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something external and physical.(O) 29 Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not the written code. Such a person receives praise not from humans but from God.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 2.14 Or law by nature, do
  2. 2.24 Or despised

God’s coming judgment will be impartial, the same for all

So you have no excuse—anyone, whoever you are, who sits in judgment! When you judge someone else, you condemn yourself, because you, who are behaving as a judge, are doing the same things. We know that God’s judgment falls, in accordance with the truth, on those who do such things. But if you judge those who do them and yet do them yourself, do you really suppose that you will escape God’s judgment?

Or do you despise the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance and patience? Don’t you know that God’s kindness is meant to bring you to repentance? But by your hard, unrepentant heart you are building up a store of anger for yourself on the day of anger, the day when God’s just judgment will be unveiled— the God who will “repay everyone according to their works.”

When people patiently do what is good, and so pursue the quest for glory and honor and immortality, God will give them the life of the age to come. But when people act out of selfish desire, and do not obey the truth, but instead obey injustice, there will be anger and fury. There will be trouble and distress for every single person who does what is wicked, the Jew first and also, equally, the Greek— 10 and there will be glory, honor and peace for everyone who does what is good, the Jew first and also, equally, the Greek. 11 God, you see, shows no partiality.

How God’s impartial judgment will work

12 Everyone who sinned outside the law, you see, will perish outside the law—and those who sinned from within the law will be judged by means of the law. 13 After all, it isn’t those who hear the law who are in the right before God. It’s those who do the law who will be declared to be in the right!

14 This is how it works out. Gentiles don’t possess the law as their birthright; but whenever they do what the law says, they are a law for themselves, despite not possessing the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their conscience bears witness as well, and their thoughts will run this way and that, sometimes accusing them and sometimes excusing them, 16 on the day when (according to the gospel I proclaim) God judges all human secrets through Messiah Jesus.

The claim of the Jew—and its problems

17 But supposing you call yourself a “Jew.” Supposing you rest your hope in the law. Supposing you celebrate the fact that God is your God, 18 and that you know what he wants, and that by the law’s instruction you can make appropriate moral distinctions. 19 Supposing you believe yourself to be a guide to the blind, a light to people in darkness, 20 a teacher of the foolish, an instructor for children—all because, in the law, you possess the outline of knowledge and truth.

21 Well then: if you’re going to teach someone else, aren’t you going to teach yourself? If you say people shouldn’t steal, do you steal? 22 If you say people shouldn’t commit adultery, do you commit adultery? If you loathe idols, do you rob temples? 23 If you boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 This is what the Bible says: “Because of you, God’s name is blasphemed among the nations!”

The badge, the name and the meaning

25 Circumcision, you see, has real value for people who keep the law. If, however, you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 Meanwhile, if uncircumcised people keep the law’s requirements, their uncircumcision will be regarded as circumcision, won’t it? 27 So people who are by nature uncircumcised, but who fulfill the law, will pass judgment on people like you who possess the letter of the law and circumcision but who break the law.

28 The “Jew” isn’t the person who appears to be one, you see. Nor is “circumcision” what it appears to be, a matter of physical flesh. 29 The “Jew” is the one in secret; and “circumcision” is a matter of the heart, in the spirit rather than the letter. Such a person gets “praise,” not from humans, but from God.

God’s Judgment of Sin

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.[a] 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

The Jews and the Law

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?[b] 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”[c]

25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise[d] from God, not from people.

Footnotes

  1. 2:9 Greek also for the Greek; also in 2:10.
  2. 2:22 Greek do you steal from temples?
  3. 2:24 Isa 52:5 (Greek version).
  4. 2:29 Or receives praise.