Romans 2

Romans 2 is the second chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, but written by an amanuensis, Tertius, while Paul was in Corinth, in winter of AD 57-58.^[1] Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in order to give them a substantial resume of his theology.^[2] Although "the main theme of the Epistle [is] the doctrine of justification by faith", in verse 6 Paul "lays down with unmistakable definiteness and precision the doctrine that works, what a man has done, the moral tenor of his life, will be the standard by which he will be judged at the last day".^[3]

Text

• The original text is written in Koine Greek.
• Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:
  • Papyrus 40 (ca. AD 250; extant: 1-3)
  • Papyrus 113 (3rd century; extant: verses 12-13, 29)
  • Codex Vaticanus (AD 325-350)
  • Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330-360)
  • Codex Alexandrinus (ca. AD 400-440)
  • Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (ca. AD 450; extant: verses 1-4)
• This chapter is divided into 29 verses.

Romans 2:12-13 on Papyrus 113 (3rd century).

Structure

The New King James Version organises this chapter as follows:

• Romans 2:1-16 = God’s Righteous Judgment
• Romans 2:17-23 = The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles
• Romans 2:24-29 = Circumcision of No Avail

The New International Version treats Romans 2:17-29 as a single section entitled "The Jews and the Law".

Cross references

• Romans 2:6 = Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12
• Romans 2:24 = Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22
• Romans 2:29 = Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 30:6

No partiality with God

New King James Version

For there is no partiality with God.^[4]

Cross reference: Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34

Circumcision

Paul refers to circumcision as a physical mark of Jewish identity, but for a Jew who breaks the law it becomes a sign of contradiction: "your circumcision has become uncircumcision" (Romans 2:25). The prophet Jeremiah had spoken of those who were "circumcised yet uncircumcised" (Jeremiah 9:25, Holman Christian Standard Bible translation). Paul reiterates the teaching of Moses that:

He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter (Romans 2:25),

drawing on Moses' words in Deuteronomy 30:6:

The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

See also

• Torah
• Other related Bible parts: Deuteronomy 10, Psalm 62, Proverbs 24, Isaiah 52, Ezekiel 36, Acts 10

References

1. ↑ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary. 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
2. ↑ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
3. ↑ Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers on Romans 2, accessed 5 September 2016
4. ↑ Romans 2:11

External links

• Romans 2 NIV