2:12-16

(12) For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

M -Those without the law refers to the Gentiles and those with the law would refer to the Jews. The idea unfolded in this verse and the following ones seems to be that God will judge people based on what they know. The Gentiles don’t have the law, but will be judged by what they do know, and the Jews, knowing the law will be judged by that.

A –God judges us based on what we know. Chapter 1:20 told us that all men know God is there and powerful from creation, so none of us will have an excuse. Many people would claim more ignorance than they have, but God knows our hearts.

(13) (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

M –Paul speaks as a quick side-note to illustrate his point that having God’s law isn’t enough. The Jews were privileged to have God’s law, but if they didn’t obey it, they are just as guilty before God as anyone.

A –While the Jew’s were God’s chosen people with some great privileges (such as having God’s law), they wouldn’t be judged less justly. Sometimes we assume that because we are around the good things of God (church, bible studies) we’re earning ‘brownie points’ with God, but that doesn’t get us anywhere. He is a righteous judge and pronounces sentence on all of us in justice.

(14) for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

M –The side note continues. Paul says that although Gentiles don’t have the law, they show they still have a law operating in them that shows them right from wrong even if it hasn’t been spelled out to them.

(15) who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.

M –The thought goes on. The non-Jews show that God’s law is written in their hearts…they know right and wrong by their conscience. The word conscience is made up of two words: CON –‘with’ and SCIENCE ‘knowledge.’ They do what they do with knowledge and this is why their conscience bears witness like in a court of law. It knows the truth and so it accuses them by it’s witness, or excuses them.

A –The conscience is a big evidence of the existence of God…why would we have a sense of right and wrong inside of us if there was no one to answer to? This is why we will all be without excuse for our sin when we face God…we can’t claim we didn’t know what was right because He’s written it on our hearts. The courtroom of God will be the only courtroom where not just actions are judged, but the thoughts are also known and judged.

(16) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

M –There is a day coming when the secrets of men’s hearts will be judged. Jesus Christ will be the judge in the courtroom, we will be the accused and our conscience will be a witness that we knew what was right and wrong. The gospel (good news) Paul preached included the warnings of the coming judgment.

A –It’s a good thing to know the judge who will judge you and to be honest about the secret darkness of your heart. If it will be brought into light then, you may as well bring it into the light now.

2:1-11

CHAPTER 2

Next week's verses: 2: 12-16

My apologies for not posting earlier. I have been out of town this last week along with some health problems (got an ulcer in my eye) so things have been a little slow. But here's the next chunk. Hope you're blessed.

Some people could read chapter one’s description of how sinful the world is and agree the world is immoral. But agreeing there is right and wrong isn’t enough, even if people seem more moral than others, they are still just as evil inside. This section seems aimed at the Jews and/or the moralist.

(1) Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

M -Chapter 1:20 pointed out that men are without excuse because of what creation tells them about God. Here, Paul says that men who judge others are without excuse because the very thing they judge others for is the very thing they do. Some people may be willing to call some things wrong, but when they do it means it’s wrong for them as well.

A –It seems like a part of our sinful nature is that it’s easier to see the faults in others than it is to see them in ourselves. Jesus said about judging: ‘For with what judgment you judge you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Mt. 7:2). When you judge, you acknowledge an absolute standard which means it applies to you as well. Judging each other is something we often do but we forget to judge ourselves. Notice this category of person isn’t rebuked for judging, but for failing to judge themselves. (Mt.7:5 says we are to remove the log in our own eye THEN we can see clearly to help others remove their specks.)

(2) But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who do such things.

M –When God judges it is according to truth (fact, reality). Only God’s judgment is perfect because only God sees the heart. His judgment doesn’t condemn himself because He is the standard of righteousness. Paul affirms the sins are wrong, and God is against those who sin…which includes the people He’s talking about.

A –We should judge our own actions. 1 Corinthians 11:31 says that ‘if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.’ God’s standard is the measure we should use, it’s the truth. God opposes the proud and the self-righteous so we are wise to look at ourselves through His standard to see how short we fall of it.

(3) And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

M –People who hypocritically judge others should not think that they will escape being judged by God. He sees that they are willing to condemn others by the same standard that proves they themselves are wicked.

(4) Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

M –Apparently the thought is that people assume that just because God hasn’t judged them yet He isn’t going to. But He is good, and bears with them, and is patient so they can have time to turn from their ways. Repentance means ‘a change of mind’ and here would seem to mean that God’s goodness in being patient with people is with the desire that they would change their mind and direction from evil to serving Him.

A –God is just and will judge, but he is also patient and desires that people would turn to Him instead of having to judge them. But we shouldn’t think that the judgment will never come just because it hasn’t yet.

(5) But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God

M –God is being patient but because their hearts aren’t softening and they aren’t changing their mind and repenting (being impenitent) they should know they are going to be on bad terms with the Lord on the day of wrath when God will stop being patient and judge them.

A –If we never repent we should know that God tells us to expect His wrath in the future.

(6) who “will render to each one according to his deeds”

M -This is a quote of psalm 62:12 / or proverbs 24:12. ‘Render’ can mean to pay, or to give. God is a righteous judge and will give the wages for what’s been done. This is scary since Paul will tell us in 6:23 that the wages of sin is death.

(7) eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

M –“Paul is not teaching salvation by works here, but emphasizing God’s impartiality as between Jew and Gentile.” –F. F. Bruce .

I think the point here is, God doesn’t judge Jews and Gentiles differently, if anyone could be found who was doing good and seeking the things of God (which 3:10-11 makes us question), God would reward them regardless of nationality. Also, a point could be made that while Christians aren’t saved by doing good, they do end up doing good in love and obedience to Christ.

A -I like the phrase ‘by patient continuance’. The Christian life isn’t a sprint but a marathon, it takes patience because for the most part, the rewards of eternal life, glory, honor, and immortality will be realized in a future tense.

(8) but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath,

M –While life is the payment for doing good, indignation (passionate anger) and wrath will be what God gives to the people who have lived their whole life being self focused and refusing to obey the truth. These people obey what’s not right.

A –Everyone is obedient to something, everyone is a slave of something. The world tells us that we should please our self and get everything we want, but here these people are those who should expect God’s wrath. As creatures made to serve God, the greatest insult we can give is to spend our lives serving ourselves. Jesus said ‘I am the way, the TRUTH and the life’ (jn 14:6) –we could rightly trace the conclusion that not obeying Jesus is not obeying the truth.

(9) tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

M –God’s list of payment to the wicked on judgment day continues. Tribulation (‘a pressing together, affliction, distress) and anguish (narrowness of place, extreme affliction) will be on every soul of man who does evil. Again, this goes beyond people groups, Jews or non-Jews alike.

A –Men have souls. The body may die but there is the inner part of us that will still exist and will receive either eternal life or indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish (hard choice of what we’d pick huh?) Our physical death will not mark our end, nor will it lead us to be re-incarnated, it will lead us to be judged by God. We are wise to give time to think about our soul and what this judgment will mean for us. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” –Mt 16:26a.

(10) but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

M –Paul flips back to what God gives the good, he gives them the things verse 7 said they sought for, glory and honor. Also, he gives them peace. And again, this applies first for the Jew and then the non-Jew.

A –It’s a striking picture that God gives the good what they were seeking for, and in a way gave the wicked what they were seeking for…a life against Him and apart from Him.

(11) For there is no partiality with God.

M –This seems to be one of the main points of this section. The Jews were God’s chosen people in the Old Testament times, but this doesn’t mean God judges men with partiality. The Jews had the honor of knowing more about God and so they will be judged and rewarded first apparently.

A –We could stretch the statement to point out that God is not partial in many other ways. He doesn’t care how respected we were on earth, or what our status was, He is a righteous judge.