Verses 17-29
Romans 2:17-Joel : . Now Paul accosts the Jew, reproving his pride of law, made void by disloyalty.
Romans 2:17-Proverbs : . His pretensions (“ But if thou bearest the name of Jew,” etc.), provoke the questions of Romans 2:21-Jeremiah : : the commandments he inculcates on others, he so violates that “ God” is “ dishonoured,” and “ His name is blasphemed among the Gentiles.” The “ blasphemy” of Isaiah 52:5 was occasioned by the insolence of Gentile oppressors; this by the hypocrisy of Israel.
Romans 2:25-Joel : . How worthless the outward possession of the Law, and the physical mark of circumcision, without the corresponding inner reality: law-keeping uncircumcision is virtually circumcision, and vice versa; heart-obedience, not external status, “ wins God’ s praise.” For Jew or Gentile, “ doing” right, not lauding nor vaunting it, avails with God at the Judgment ( Romans 2:1-Nehemiah :) and approves itself now ( Romans 2:17-Joel :).— The words of Romans 2:22 b, “ Thou that loathest the idols,” etc., probably allude to some recent notorious sacrilege. [ Cf. the underlying insinuation in Acts 19:37.— A. J. G.].
Romans 2:12-Nehemiah : and Romans 2:25-Joel : exhibit Paul emancipated from Jewish prejudice; he penetrates through conventional forms to the moral realities. The first part of his indictment, bearing upon flagrant sin, terminated at Romans 1:32; its second part, bearing upon sin disguised by moral professions, occupies ch. 2 .
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