- Mat
- Mar
- Luk
- Jon
- Act
- Rom
- 1Co
- 2Co
- Gal
- Eph
- Php
- Col
- 1Th
- 2Th
- 1Tm
- 2Tm
- Tts
- Phm
- Heb
- Jms
- 1Pt
- 2Pt
- 1Jn
- 2Jn
- 3Jn
- Jud
- Rev
Romans
2:1But you— what is your defense? For in judging others you condemn yourself, because you practice the same things!2:2Now we know that the judgment of God is right against those who do such things,2:3but do you actually think that even though you do the same things, that somehow you will escape God’s justice?2:4Ridiculous! You think nothing of his abundant kindness and restraint and patience; do you not understand that God’s kindness is supposed to lead to a change of your mind?
2:5So in keeping with your hard heart and unchanged mind, you are storing up God’s rage for yourself toward the day God hands down his judgment.2:6He will repay everyone for what they did:2:7eternal life to those who persist in doing good and look for honor, value, and immortality,2:8but anger and rage to the unjust who are rebellious and hostile to the truth and welcome injustice.2:9There will be oppression and constriction for everyone who practices evil, first to the Judean and then to the Greek;2:10yet there will be honor and value and peace to everyone who does good things, first to the Judean and then to the Greek.2:11God will show no favoritism in this!
2:12Whoever erred without law will die without law, and whoever erred under law will be judged by law.2:13For it isn’t those who only hear law that are justified before God, but those who also act accordingly.2:14So whenever the non-Judeans who have no law naturally do what law requires, they are acting under their own law.2:15They show by their actions that there is a law written on their hearts; their reasoning and conscience work together to either acquit or condemn them,2:16on the Day when God will judge what is hidden in people according to my Gospel through Jesus the Anointed.
2:17Now if you who call yourself a Judean rely on law and brag about belonging to God2:18and knowing his will, then you have been trained to test whether something is according to law.2:19You think of yourself as a guide for the blind and a light in the darkness,2:20a correcter of the reckless and a teacher of babies; you think you have a lock on the knowledge of truth through the law.2:21But if that’s the case, teacher, then teach yourself! You tell others not to steal but do it yourself;2:22you speak out against adultery but commit it yourself; you detest idols but violate the sanctuary;2:23you brag about the law but you cross the line and dishonor God!2:24It is because of you that “the name of God is being slandered among the non-Judeans,” just as it is written.
2:25Now don’t get me wrong; circumcision is of value— as long as you keep practicing the law and never break it, because then your circumcision would be nullified.2:26So if the uncircumcised do what the law requires, shouldn’t they be considered circumcised?2:27Not only that, these uncircumcised who naturally do what the law requires will be your judges, since you broke the law even though you knew it and were circumcised!2:28In fact, it isn’t the external that makes one a Judean; it isn’t what’s apparent in the flesh via circumcision.2:29A true Judean is one on the inside, who is circumcised in spirit and not the letter of law; their praise will not come from people but from God.