A point-based study of the book of Romans 2.
I must admit that this chapter gave me problems to the extent of staying away from studying it for two days. I struggled to understand why the same Paul who, in chapter 1, is eager to visit the Roman believers and benefit from their faith, would then address them with the indignation in chapter 2. Thankfully, I have cracked the nut.
Who wrote the book of Romans 2?
The apostle Paul wrote the Book of Romans 2 and every other chapter therein.
Who is Paul addressing in the book of Romans 2?
Based on a closer analysis of the wording and message, Paul is speaking to non-Christian Jews.
What is Paul saying in Romans 2?
No one is exempted from the punishment of sin on account of tribe or social status–
The wording in chapter 2 confirms that Paul is addressing non-Christian Jews. No wonder those who divided the Bible settled on this section as the start of the second chapter. Paul opens the part by saying, “no matter who you are…..you, too, are guilty of the same kind of things.” It becomes clear that Paul is speaking to non-Christian Jews in verse 8, where he says that God’s wrath is coming upon those who are “unresponsive to God’s truth and who’d rather embrace unrighteousness.” In verse 9, he confirms that anyone engaged in evil will face distress- “to the Jew first and non-Jew.”
No one can feign ignorance of sin
Paul says that even those who have never received the Mosaic law will still perish because their hearts and thoughts tell them when they do good or bad. This is profound because it means that man has instincts to know what is sinful, even without a law in place.
The law of Moses has no power to transform anyone
In verse 29, Paul says something very critical. “’But you are Jewish because of the inward act of spiritual circumcision—a radical change that lays bare your heart. It’s not by the principle of the written code but by the power of the Holy Spirit.” In the preceding verses, Paul challenges the Jews to stop taking pride in knowing the law and, instead, go further and keep it in full. Paul is simply taunting and telling them breaking just one part of the law amounts to full violation.
Continue to another study of Romans chapter 3 here.
