Romans 2

Romans 2 is the second chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, while he was in Corinth in the mid-50s AD,[1] with the help of an amanuensis (secretary), Tertius, who adds his own greeting in Romans 16:22.[2] Although "the main theme of the Epistle [is] the doctrine of justification by faith", in verse 6 Paul "lays down with unmistakable definiteness and precision the doctrine that works, what a man has done, the moral tenor of his life, will be the standard by which he will be judged at the last day".[3]

Romans 2
Fragment c to h containing parts of the Epistle to the Romans in Papyrus 40, written about AD 250.
BookEpistle to the Romans
CategoryPauline epistles
Christian Bible partNew Testament
Order in the Christian part6

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 29 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Romans 2:12–13 on Papyrus 113 (3rd century).

Old Testament references
  • Romans 2:6 references Psalm 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12
  • Romans 2:24 references Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:22
  • Romans 2:29 references Deuteronomy 10:16 and Deuteronomy 30:6

Analysis

Paul's rhetoric style here and other parts of the epistle (cf. Romans 3:1-9; 3:27–4:25; 9:19–21; 10:14–21; 11:17–24; 14:4–12) resembles the diatribe, a form of argumentation by 'debating' an imaginary opponent (as common among Cynic or Stoic philosophers), such as responding to objections using the expression "by no means!" (me genoito; cf. Romans 3:4, 6, 31; 6:2,15; 7:7,13; 9:14; 11:1, 11) to 'pull' the reader into the 'conversation' on Paul's side. Unlike in Romans 2:17–3:20 where Paul plainly addresses a Jewish interlocutor, the dialogue partner in verses 1–16 is not explicitly identified, but the whole section of Romans 2:1–3:20 "speaks to perceived Jewish attitudes".[4]

No partiality with God

Verse 11

For there is no partiality with God.

— Romans 2:11, New King James Version[5]
  • Cross-reference verse 11 with Deuteronomy 10:17[6] and Acts 10:34[7]

Circumcision

Paul refers to circumcision as a physical mark of Jewish identity, but for a Jew who breaks the law it becomes a sign of contradiction: "your circumcision has become uncircumcision" (Romans 2:25).[8] The prophet Jeremiah had spoken of those who were "circumcised yet uncircumcised" (Jeremiah 9:25).[9] Paul reiterates the teaching of Moses that:

He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter

— Romans 2:25, New King James Version[10]

Drawing on Moses' words in Deuteronomy 30:6:

The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

— Deuteronomy 30:6, New King James Version[11]

See also

References
  1. Hill 2007, p. 1084.
  2. Donaldson, Terence L. (2007). "63. Introduction to the Pauline Corpus". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 1077. ISBN 978-0199277186.
  3. Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers on Romans 2, accessed 5 September 2016
  4. Hill 2007, p. 1091.
  5. Romans 2:11NKJV
  6. Deuteronomy 10:17
  7. Acts 10:34
  8. Romans 2:25
  9. Jeremiah 9:25
  10. Romans 2:25
  11. Deuteronomy 30:6

Sources
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