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Romans 2 Commentary

Please choose a passage:

Romans 2:1-2

When we judge and condemn others for sins that we are also committing, God sees that and will judge us accordingly.

Paul is reminding the audience that God’s judgment cannot be avoided, both for the good and the bad things we do. When we pass judgment on others for things we are also guilty of, we are incurring God’s judgment on that action.

Romans 2:5-6

The further we go without repenting and turning to God, the more wrath is in store for us

Romans 2:7

God’s rewards in heaven await believers who seek to walk with Him and pursue His will.

Romans 2:8

God’s judgment comes for both the good and the bad things we do on this earth. For the believer, this is not a judgment related to heaven and hell, but concerns our place in heaven based on how we lived and pursued righteousness on earth.

Romans 2:9-11

As believers, we have the choice to follow God and earn rewards for ourselves in heaven. Or, we can do the opposite and incur tribulation on our soul.

Romans 2:12-13

If someone depends on the law, they will be judged by the law. So, if you have disobeyed the law (e.g. sinned) you will be condemned by the law. But if we place our faith in Christ and follow God’s will, glory and honor await us in heaven.

Romans 2:14-16

When people without knowledge of the scripture follow the teaching of scripture, it validates that God has written His law within the heart of man.

Romans 2:17-21

Paul is pointing out the hypocrisy of those who teach the law but do not obey it.

Romans 2:22-24

he hypocrisy of those who teach the law but do not follow it not only dishonors God but it harms the witness of God and his word because those who claim to be followers are, instead, sinful hypocrites who judge others for actions they themselves also do.

Romans 2:25-27

Just and righteous living comes through living by faith. The Jewish people, who break the law and are circumcised, are the same as those who are uncircumcised. Circumcision is of no value if you do not keep the law.

Romans 2:28-29

Just because someone appears to be following God outwardly, through circumcision and other outward actions, does not mean that he or she is following God and pursuing righteous living.

Additional Resources

Book Theme

The Apostle Paul writes to the world-renowned believers in Rome, the center of the world at that time, in order to answer a slanderous charge made to them against Paul and his message. Paul’s detractors claim his emphasis on faith overturns the law. Paul says that ” just living by the law” does not achieve personal justice before God, while “just living by faith” does. Paul then demonstrates what a just life looks like: harmonious living with Jesus as the leader. Paul also makes clear the choice a believer has: to walk in faith and the power of the resurrection and experience resurrection life, or walk in sin and unnecessarily experience the negative consequences.

Chapter Context

Paul refutes the slander from competing Jewish “authorities” and makes clear that doing what is right pleases God, whereas simply asserting we are right or judging others for being wrong does not. What matters is faith: trusting and doing what God asks. What does not matter is religious labels or practice (if it varies from God’s way).