romans-2:4-3:24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 2:1-16

In the former chapter the apostle had represented the state of the Gentile world to be as bad and black as the Jews were ready enough to pronounce it. And now, designing to show that the state of the Jews was very bad too, and their sin in many respects more aggravated, to prepare his way he sets himself in this part of the chapter to show that God would proceed upon equal terms of justice with Jews and Gentiles; and now with such a partial hand as the Jews were apt to think he would use in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 2:1-11

2:1-11 So, then, O man, everyone of you who judges others, you yourself have no defence. While you judge others, you condemn yourself, for you who set yourself up as a judge do exactly the same things. We know that God's judgment is directed against all who do such things, and that it is based on reality. Are you counting on this, O man, you who set yourself up as a judge upon people who do such things and who do them yourself--that you will escape the condemnation of God? Or, are you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness ,.... The apostle anticipates an objection against what he had said, taken from the prosperity of these persons; who might conclude from thence, that they were not so wicked as he had represented them; and that they should escape the judgment of God, otherwise they would have been punished by God in this life, and not have prospered as they did; which objection is removed by observing, that it was not their innocence, but "the riches of" divine... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness - Wilt thou render of none effect that marked benevolence of God towards thee which has given so many superior advantages, and that forbearance which has tolerated thy many miscarriages, and that long-suffering which, after repeated provocations, still continues to bear with thee? Not knowing - Αγνοων , not acknowledging that this goodness of God, which has so long manifested itself in forbearance and long-suffering, leadeth thee to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:4

Verse 4 4.Dost thou despise the riches? etc. It does not seem to me, as some think, that there is here an argument, conclusive on two grounds, (dilemma ,) but an anticipation of an objection: for as hypocrites are commonly transported with prosperity, as though they had merited the Lord’s kindness by their good deeds, and become thus more hardened in their contempt of God, the Apostle anticipates their arrogance, and proves, by an argument taken from a reason of an opposite kind, that there is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-4

The goodness of God. The great object of St. Paul, in these opening chapters of Romans, is to show the world's need of a Saviour. In the first chapter he has shown the inexcusableness of the heathen, and their fallen and lost condition. But he remembers that he is writing to Jews and Jewish Christians at Rome as well as to Gentiles. He knows well the human heart. He can imagine some of his Jewish readers saying to himself, "Yes, indeed; those heathen are certainly without excuse." But St.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-11

Without excuse. Hitherto Paul had carried his Jewish reader with him, for the Jews were glad to condemn the Gentiles. From the high tribunal of their Law they "judged" the misdeeds of the heathen. And, in the exercise of this censorious spirit of judgment, they would perhaps catch at the idea ( Romans 1:20 ) that the heathen were without excuse by reason of their possible knowledge of God. But how quickly does the relentless logic of the apostle turn back this truth upon themselves!... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-16

The leading principles regulating the general judgment. Having stated so clearly the state of the Gentile world as under God's wrath, the apostle now introduces to us a critic who endorses the Divine dealings. He is a severe critic, as guilty men will often be. His spirit towards the heathen world, so manifestly under the Divine curse, is, "Serve them right." He is evidently a Jew (cf Romans 2:17 ). Criticizing the heathen world from the platform of superior privileges, the Jew... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-29

( b ) Those who judge others, not excepting the Jews. Here a new stage of the argument, in proof of the position propounded in Romans 1:18 , begins, and is continued to the end of the chapter. The position to be proved is that all mankind is guilty before God (see note on Romans 1:18 ). So far this has been shown with regard to the mass of the heathen world; its general moral corruption, prevalent and condoned, having been pointed out finally as a glaring proof; the main point of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:3-4

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which practise such things, and doest the same, that thou ( σὺ , emphatic) shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Two possible mental attitudes of ὁ κρίνων are supposed—that of really calculating ( λογίζῃ ) on escaping the judgment, or that of obduration, consequent on God's long forbearance... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 2:1-16

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 2:1-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 2:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 2:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:1-29

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 2:3-4

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