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:

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:

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)