"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"
Chapter Two
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To see how people without a direct revelation of God's Will can
still be lost
2) To see how people who may have a written Law from God are also in
need of salvation
SUMMARY
Having vividly depicted the condition of the Gentile world in chapter
one, Paul now addresses his comments to those who pass judgment on
others when they themselves are guilty of the same things (1). He
points out that they are in danger of God's righteous judgment, who
"will render to each one according to his deeds" (2-6). This judgment
will offer either eternal life or wrath and indignation, given without
partiality, and the decision is based on whether one does good or evil
(7-11).
To justify the condemnation of Gentiles who did not have a written Law
(like the Jews), Paul affirms that the Gentiles could "by nature do the
things contained in the law" and that their own consciences will bear
witness of their guilt on the day of judgment. In this way Paul
demonstrated the Gentiles' need of salvation (12-16).
Lest the Jews think their having the Law frees them from condemnation,
Paul proceeds to demonstrate that they too are in need of salvation.
Though they have the Law, their failure to keep it perfectly caused
them to dishonor God and blaspheme His Name (17-24). Introducing a
thought he will expand upon later in the epistle, he points out that a
true Jew is one who is circumcised in his heart, and not just in the
flesh (25-29).
OUTLINE (adapted from Jim McGuiggan)
I. THE GENTILES' NEED OF SALVATION (1-16)
A. EVEN THE "JUDGES" WILL BE JUDGED (1-11)
1. The inconsistent judge judges himself (1)
2. The hypocritical judge is judged by truth (2)
3. The foolish judge reasons poorly (3)
4. The presumptuous judge treasures up wrath (4-11)
B. NOT HAVING A "WRITTEN" LAW DOES NOT EXEMPT FROM JUDGMENT (12-16)
1. Those who sin will still perish (12)
2. The Gentiles DO have a law (13-15)
3. Jesus Christ will judge accordingly (16)
II. THE JEWS' NEED OF SALVATION (17-29)
A. THE JEWS CONDEMNED BY THEIR OWN LAW (17-24)
1. The Jewish self-portrait (17-20)
2. The Jewish inconsistency and dishonor of God (21-24)
B. THE LIMITATION OF CIRCUMCISION (25-29)
1. Voided by transgressing the Law (25-27)
2. The true Jew is one circumcised in the heart, in the Spirit
(28-29)
WORDS TO PONDER
judgment - in some places, the idea is "discernment;" in other places
"condemnation" is the idea - the context must determine
wrath - anger (in God's case, a just displeasure in response to sin)
law - when preceded by the definite article "the" (in the Greek) it
usually refers to the Law of Moses, otherwise it may refer to the
principle of law in general; there are exceptions, and the
context must determine
by nature - "a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has
become nature" (THAYER)
conscience - that faculty of thought which makes moral judgments
(either excusing or condemning our actions); developed
through training
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- The Gentiles' Need Of Salvation (1-16)
- The Jews' Need Of Salvation (17-29)
2) Why is one who passes judgment without excuse? (1)
- They are guilty of the same thing and so condemn themselves
3) How does God try to lead one to repentance? (4)
- Through kindness, forbearance, and longsuffering
4) What is the reward given to those who do good? To those who do
evil? (9,10)
- Eternal life to those who do good; wrath and indignation,
tribulation and anguish to those who do evil
5) How will God judge those who do not have a "written" law? (14-16)
- The law of their conscience will condemn them when God judges the
secrets of their hearts by Jesus Christ
6) Without a "written" Law, how did the Gentiles know the difference
between right and wrong? (14,15)
- "by nature" (note the definition above); they are able to do the
things contained in the Law, for they have the "work of the Law"
written in their hearts
7) Why were the Jews in need of salvation? (21-24)
- Through inconsistency and disobedience to the Law, they dishonored
God
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