The theme of Romans 2

In the first verses, Paul set the keynote; Romans 2 begins this way, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man-everyone who judges” (Rom 2:1). With these words, people are addressed, especially those in the community. The goal from the apostle is to clarify over three chapters that not one man is righteous (Rom 3:10). Or in other words, all people are equal before God. No one can hold a candle to him. We all miss the mark (Rom 3:23).

Romans 2 mentions people with a wide variety of attitudes toward life. People who despise the riches of God’s goodness and carrying power and patience (Rom 2:4). People with unconverted hearts (Rom 2:5). In this way Paul complements the image of the “judging man” from Romans 2:1.

People are seen and judged by how they act. But more about that in a moment. In contrast to this brief list of different attitudes to life, there is a different picture. This is the image of God who looks at all people “without regard to person” (Rom 2:11).

Therefore, this chapter is about this juxtaposition: people versus God. When Paul equates all people in this, he does so with a declaration about God’s action. For God, everyone is equal. This does not refer to God’s love, which is for all people, but it refers to God’s reaction to people’s actions. He treats everyone equally. He sees everyone the same. There are no advantages if you are so-called religious. God does not see you in terms of your religiosity, but in terms of how you stand in this world. It’s about your actions and mine. With God, there is no respect for the person.

To each according to his works

Paul speaks about “judging” (Rom 2:1), about the “judgment of God” (Rom 2:2), and about the “day of wrath and unveiling of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom 2:5). All these statements are one after the other. They belong together. But they are also part of the larger story that Paul writes here. It is about the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel (Rom 1:16-17), which contrasts with the unrighteousness of men (Rom 1:18).

Now he does not handle those outside the church with kid gloves (Rom 1:18-32) and neither does he handle those inside the church (Rom 2:1-10). With God, there is no respect for the person. Those who do wrong will receive wrath. This is not difficult. It does matter what we do. We believe, are saved, and rejoice in the prospect of God’s salvation. But this is not a license for wanton aberrations. It still remains important that we build healthily on the foundation we have received (1 Cor. 3:10-15). Why? Because one day it will be seen with God’s righteous eyes.

God namely becomes:

“Recompense to each according to his works: namely, to those who with perseverance in good work seek glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life; but to those who act out of scheming and are rebellious against the truth, but willingly follow unrighteousness, wrath and anger – tribulation and pressure on every man’s soul who does evil (to the Jew first as well as to the Greek) – but glory and honor and peace to everyone who works what is good (to the Jew first as well as to the Greek).”
Rom 2:6-10

The seriousness of the situation becomes obvious here. Once God makes Himself known in this world, it will be accompanied by a judgment of our works. This is the warning that Paul sends out to the members of the church. The rescue is not questioned. But everyone who willfully does evil will receive it again on the day of wrath and the unveiling of God’s righteous judgment. These are not threats of hell, but it is the sober realization of God’s greatness, justice and presence.

When will this be? Well, we are not talking about a final judgment here. When Paul writes to the Romans here, a strong near expectation of Jesus’ return still lives in the church. While it is not known when this will be, it is expected. It is written as if it can happen in this life. This is also how the wrath of God is to be understood, which always takes place on earth (and not after a heavenly judgment somewhere in space). See also the article “The Wrath of God”.

What Paul is describing here is a warning to the believers in the church at Rome who are condescending to others. He tells them clearly that it can’t be done. Because everyone will receive back from God what they have done here and now. This applies to the good as well as the bad.

The Jews first, as well as the Greeks

In the church in Rome there are believers of different origins. There are Jewish believers (with a background in the Judaism of their time) and gentiles in the community (who are blanketly referred to as “Greeks”). Paul addresses both groups here. When God comes with His righteous judgment and everyone is judged according to their works, it will affect everyone in the church. There are no exceptions. It even hits the Jews first, but also the Greeks.

Presumably Paul had special work to do with regard to the members of His people. This is not just about merit, but also about pious self-righteousness. Again and again Paul reports of such Jewish believers who thought they still had to establish Jewish or Old Testament orders in the church. Whoever ventured on this track will take away some grace, but also some of the Law – of these rules that were given so much meaning in the Tenach for the people of Israel. Breaking away from these regulations and developing a gospel of grace for the believers from the nations took time. Here, in the Letter to the Romans, we read something of that argument.

The seriousness of the situation applies to the Jews first, and also to the Greeks. No one in the community is exempt. Let this be said to the Jews first. There is no special position.

Without law, with law

Paul goes on to explain:

“For with God there is no respect of person. For all who sinned without the law shall also perish without the law; and all who sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. For not the hearers of the law are justified with God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”
Rom 2:11-13

We are still here in this contrast between Jews and Greeks in the community. Paul is addressing the Jews here. Indeed, his statements make no sense to gentiles. Paul is not writing a theological treatise, but is addressing specific situations. He had to make it clear to the Jews in the community that this law – as well as good – does not demand anything other than what is demanded of those without a law. It’s not about the law. It’s about what you do. So whether one lives with or without the law, with or without these rules for Israel, is not decisive in terms of doing. The law is excellent, Paul writes elsewhere. However, keeping the law is not a goal. It’s all about the result.

The result shows up in our lives. It’s about what we do and don’t do in everyday life. Paul reduces the relevance of the law to the result and says that people without the law will perish and those with the law will be judged by the law. With the law, you’re not in the clear. Everyone gets a turn, because “with God there is no respect for the person”.

The good news has a background

What Paul describes here comes from the everyday life of the church in Rome. Maybe it looks different in our everyday life. The apostle is here specifically addressing the people in this congregation. He knows how things work. He wants to create a healthy foundation there.

God does not have favorite Christians.

These descriptions, these delineations, these clarifications are not simply dry fare. It is the background against which Paul subsequently (from chapter 3:21) speaks of God’s action. The clarification may seem irrelevant to many of us, but it was not in the context of Romans. We, however, can learn a lot from it. For example, that it does matter what we do, and everything will be revealed before God one day. Likewise, we can learn that God is not partial. All people are equal before him. Also, all people who are in the one worldwide church, called the “body of Christ” by Paul, are equal before Him.

The next article is about the nations, about the gentiles.