1DarumG1352, oG5599 MenschG444, kannstG1488 du dich nicht entschuldigenG379, werG3956 du auch bist, der da richtetG2919. DennG1063 worin G1722 G3739 duG2919 einen andernG2087 richtestG2919, verdammstG2632 du dich selbstG4572; sintemalG1063 du eben dasselbeG846 tustG4238, was du richtestG2919. 2DennG1161 wir wissenG1492, daßG3754 GottesG2316 UrteilG2917 istG2076 recht G225 G2596 überG1909 die, soG4238 solchesG5108 tunG4238. 3DenkstG3049 du aberG1161 G5124, oG5599 MenschG444, der du richtestG2919 die, soG4238 solchesG5108 tunG4238, undG2532 tustG4160 auch dasselbeG846, daßG3754 duG4771 dem UrteilG2917 GottesG2316 entrinnenG1628 werdest? 4OderG2228 verachtestG2706 du den ReichtumG4149 seinerG846 GüteG5544, GeduldG463 undG2532 LangmütigkeitG3115? Weißt du nichtG50, daßG3754 dichG4571 GottesG2316 GüteG5543 zurG1519 BußeG3341 leitetG71? 5Du aberG1161 nachG2596 deinemG4675 verstocktenG4643 undG2532 unbußfertigenG279 HerzenG2588 häufestG2343 dir selbstG4572 den ZornG3709 aufG1722 den TagG2250 des ZornsG3709 undG2532 der OffenbarungG602 des gerechten GerichtesG1341 GottesG2316, 6welcherG3739 gebenG591 wird einem jeglichenG1538 nachG2596 seinenG846 WerkenG2041: 7PreisG1391 undG2532 EhreG5092 undG2532 unvergängliches WesenG861 denen, die mit G3303 G2596 GeduldG5281 in gutenG18 WerkenG2041 trachtenG2212 nach dem ewigenG166 LebenG2222; 8aberG1161 denen, die da zänkisch G1537 G2052 sind undG2532 der WahrheitG225 nicht gehorchenG3303 G544, gehorchenG3982 aberG1161 der UngerechtigkeitG93, UngnadeG2372 undG2532 ZornG3709; 9TrübsalG2347 undG2532 AngstG4730 überG1909 alleG3956 SeelenG5590 der MenschenG444, dieG2716 da BösesG2556 tunG2716, vornehmlichG4412 der JudenG2453 undG5037 auchG2532 der GriechenG1672; 10PreisG1391 aberG1161 undG2532 EhreG5092 undG2532 FriedeG1515 allenG3956 denen, dieG2038 da GutesG18 tunG2038, vornehmlichG4412 den JudenG2453 undG5037 auchG2532 den GriechenG1672. 11DennG1063 es istG2076 keinG3756 Ansehen der PersonG4382 vorG3844 GottG2316. 12 Welche G1063 G3745 ohne GesetzG460 gesündigtG264 haben, die werdenG622 auchG2532 ohne GesetzG460 verlorenG622 werden; undG2532 welcheG3745 unterG1722 dem GesetzG3551 gesündigtG264 haben, dieG2919 werden durchsG1223 GesetzG3551 verurteiltG2919 werden 13(sintemalG1063 vorG3844 GottG2316 nichtG3756, die das GesetzG3551 hörenG202, gerechtG1342 sind, sondernG235 die das GesetzG3551 tunG4163, werden gerechtG1344 sein. 14DennG1063 soG3752 die HeidenG1484, dieG3588 das GesetzG3551 nichtG3361 habenG2192, doch von NaturG5449 tunG4160 des GesetzesG3551 WerkG3588, sindG1526 dieselbenG3778, dieweil sie das GesetzG3551 nichtG3361 habenG2192, sich selbstG1438 ein GesetzG3551, 15als dieG3748 da beweisenG1731, des GesetzesG3551 WerkG2041 sei geschriebenG1123 inG1722 ihremG846 HerzenG2588, sintemal ihrG846 GewissenG4893 ihnen zeugtG4828, dazuG2532 auch die GedankenG3053, dieG2723 sich untereinander G3342 G240 verklagenG2723 oder G2228 G2532 entschuldigenG626, 16aufG1722 den TagG2250, daG3753 GottG2316 das VerborgeneG2927 der MenschenG444 durchG1223 JesumG2424 ChristumG5547 richtenG2919 wird lautG2596 meinesG3450 EvangeliumsG2098. 17SieheG2396 aber zu: duG4771 heißestG2028 ein JudeG2453 undG2532 verlässestG1879 dich aufs GesetzG3551 undG2532 rühmest G1722 G2744 dich GottesG2316 18undG2532 weißtG1097 seinen WillenG2307; undG2532 weilG2727 du ausG1537 dem GesetzG3551 unterrichtetG2727 bist, prüfestG1381 du, was das BesteG1308 zu tun sei, 19undG5037 vermissestG3982 dichG4572, zu seinG1511 ein LeiterG3595 der BlindenG5185, ein LichtG5457 derer, dieG1722 in FinsternisG4655 sindG1722, 20ein ZüchtigerG3810 der TörichtenG878, ein LehrerG1320 der EinfältigenG3516, hastG2192 die FormG3446, was zu wissenG1108 undG2532 rechtG225 ist, imG1722 GesetzG3551. 21NunG3767 lehrstG1321 duG3588 andereG2087, und lehrstG1321 dich selberG4572 nichtG3756; du predigstG2784, manG2813 solle nichtG3361 stehlenG2813, und du stiehlstG2813; 22du sprichstG3004, manG3431 solle nichtG3361 ehebrechenG3431, und du brichst die EheG3431; dir greueltG948 vor den GötzenG1497, und du raubestG2416 Gott, was sein istG2416; 23duG3739 rühmestG2744 dich desG1722 GesetzesG3551, und schändestG818 GottG2316 durchG1223 ÜbertretungG3847 des GesetzesG3551; 24dennG1063 «eurethalben G1223 G5209 wird GottesG2316 NameG3686 gelästertG987 unterG1722 den HeidenG1484,« wieG2531 geschrieben stehtG1125. 25DieG1063 BeschneidungG4061 ist wohlG3303 nützG5623, wennG1437 duG4238 das GesetzG3551 hältstG4238; hältstG1437 du aberG1161 das GesetzG3551 nichtG3848, so bistG5600 du aus einemG4675 BeschnittenenG4061 schonG1096 ein UnbeschnittenerG203 gewordenG1096. 26SoG1437 nunG3767 der UnbeschnitteneG203 das RechtG1345 im GesetzG3551 hältG5442, meinstG3049 du nichtG3780, daß da derG846 UnbeschnitteneG203 werdeG3049 fürG1519 einen BeschnittenenG4061 gerechnetG3049? 27UndG2532 wirdG2919 also, der vonG1537 NaturG5449 unbeschnittenG203 ist und das GesetzG3551 vollbringtG5055, dichG4571 richtenG2919, der du unterG1223 dem BuchstabenG1121 undG2532 der BeschneidungG4061 bist und das GesetzG3551 übertrittstG3848. 28DennG1063 das istG2076 nichtG3756 ein JudeG2453, der auswendig G1722 G5318 ein Jude ist, auch ist das nichtG3761 eine BeschneidungG4061, die auswendig G1722 G5318 amG1722 FleischG4561 geschieht; 29sondernG235 das ist ein JudeG2453, der’s inwendigG1722 verborgenG2927 ist, undG2532 die BeschneidungG4061 des HerzensG2588 ist eine Beschneidung, die imG1722 GeistG4151 und nichtG3756 im BuchstabenG1121 geschieht. Eines solchenG3739 LobG1868 ist nichtG3756 ausG1537 MenschenG444, sondernG235 ausG1537 GottG2316.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 4 THE JEW UNDER LIKE CONDEMNATION WITH THE GENTILE. (Rom. 2:1-29)
the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance--that is, is designed and adapted to do so.
5 treasurest up unto thyself wrath against--rather "in."
the day of wrath--that is wrath to come on thee in the day of wrath. What an awful idea is here expressed--that the sinner himself is amassing, like hoarded treasure, an ever accumulating stock of divine wrath, to burst upon him in "the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God!" And this is said not of the reckless, but of those who boasted of their purity of faith and life.
7 To them who, &c.--The substance of these verses is that the final judgment will turn upon character alone.
by patient continuance in well-doing, &c.--Compare
Luke 8:15 : "That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience"; denoting the enduring and progressive character of the new life.
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, &c.--referring to such keen and determined resistance to the Gospel as he himself had too painfully witnessed on the part of his own countrymen. (See
Acts 13:44-
Acts 13:46;
Acts 17:5,
Acts 17:13;
Acts 18:6,
Acts 18:12; and compare
1Thess 2:15-16).
indignation and wrath--in the bosom of a sin-avenging God.
9 Tribulation and anguish--the effect of these in the sinner himself.
10 to the Jew first--first in perdition if unfaithful; but if obedient to the truth, first in salvation (
Rom 2:10).
12 For as many as have sinned--not "as many as have sinned at all," but, "as many as are found in sin" at the judgment of the great day (as the whole context shows).
without law--that is, without the advantage of a positive Revelation.
shall also perish without law--exempt from the charge of rejecting or disregarding it.
and as many as have sinned in the law--within the pale of a positive, written Revelation.
shall be judged by the law--tried and condemned by the higher standard of that written Revelation.
13 For not the hearers, &c.--As touching the Jews, in whose ears the written law is continually resounding, the condemnation of as many of them as are found sinners at the last involves no difficulty; but even as respects the heathen, who are strangers to the law in its positive and written form--since they show how deeply it is engraven on their moral nature, which witnesses within them for righteousness and against iniquity, accusing or condemning them according as they violate or obey its stern dictates--their condemnation also for all the sin in which they live and die will carry its dreadful echo in their own breasts.
15 their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing--that is, perhaps by turns doing both.
16 In the day, &c.--Here the unfinished statement of
Rom 2:12 is resumed and closed.
shall judge the secrets of men--here specially referring to the unfathomed depths of hypocrisy in the self-righteous whom the apostle had to deal with. (See
Eccl 12:14;
1Cor 4:5).
according to my gospel--to my teaching as a preacher of the Gospel.
17 Behold--"But if" is, beyond doubt, the true reading here. (It differs but in a single letter from the received reading, and the sense is the same).
18 approvest the things that are excellent--"triest the things that differ" (Margin). Both senses are good, and indeed the former is but the result of the latter action. (See on
Phil 1:10).
20 hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law--not being left, as the heathen are, to vague conjecture on divine things, but favored with definite and precise information from heaven.
22 thou that abhorrest idols--as the Jews did ever after their captivity, though bent on them before.
dost thou commit sacrilege?--not, as some excellent interpreters, "dost thou rob idol temples?" but more generally, as we take it, "dost thou profane holy things?" (as in
Matt 21:12-
Matt 21:13, and in other ways).
24 as it is written--(See
Isa 52:5, Marginal reference).
25 For circumcision--that is, One's being within the covenant of which circumcision was the outward sign and seal.
verily profiteth, if thou keep the law--if the inward reality correspond to the outward sign.
but if, &c.--that is, "Otherwise, thou art no better than the uncircumcised heathen."
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the . . . law, &c.--Two mistaken interpretations, we think, are given of these words: First, that the case here supposed is an impossible one, and put merely for illustration [HALDANE, CHALMERS, HODGE]; second that it is the case of the heathen who may and do please God when they act, as has been and is done, up to the light of nature [GROTIUS, OLSHAUSEN, &c.]. The first interpretation is, in our judgment, unnatural; the second, opposed to the apostle's own teaching. But the case here put is, we think, such as that of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48), who, though outside the external pale of God's covenant, yet having come to the knowledge of the truths contained in it, do manifest the grace of the covenant without the seal of it, and exemplify the character and walk of Abraham's children, though not called by the name of Abraham. Thus, this is but another way of announcing that God was about to show the insufficiency of the mere badge of the Abrahamic covenant, by calling from among the Gentiles a seed of Abraham that had never received the seal of circumcision (see on
Gal 5:6); and this interpretation is confirmed by all that follows.
28 he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.--In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless.
Note, (1) It is a sad mark of depravity when all that is designed and fitted to melt only hardens the heart (
Rom 2:4, and compare
2Pet 3:9;
Eccl 8:11). (2) Amidst all the inequalities of religious opportunity measured out to men, and the mysterious bearing of this upon their character and destiny for eternity, the same great principles of judgment, in a form suited to their respective discipline, will be applied to all, and perfect equity will be seen to reign throughout every stage of the divine administration (
Rom 2:11-
Rom 2:16). (3) "The law written on the heart" (
Rom 2:14-
Rom 2:15) --or the Ethics of Natural Theology--may be said to be the one deep foundation on which all revealed religion reposes; and see on
Rom 1:19-
Rom 1:20, where we have what we may call its other foundation--the Physics and Metaphysics of Natural Theology. The testimony of these two passages is to the theologian invaluable, while in the breast of every teachable Christian it wakens such deep echoes as are inexpressibly solemn and precious. (4) High religious professions are a fearful aggravation of the inconsistencies of such as make them (
Rom 2:17-
Rom 2:24). See
2Sam 12:14. (5) As no external privileges, or badge of discipleship, will shield the unholy from the wrath of God, so neither will the want of them shut out from the kingdom of heaven such as have experienced without them that change of heart which the seals of God's covenant were designed to mark. In the sight of the great Searcher of hearts, the Judge of quick and dead, the renovation of the character in heart and life is all in all. In view of this, have not all baptized, sacramented disciples of the Lord Jesus, who "profess that they know God, but in works deny Him," need to tremble--who, under the guise of friends, are "the enemies of the cross of Christ?"