Keraia
Romans 2

Romans 2:4

God’s Righteous Judgment · Romans 2:1–16
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Translations

Modern
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
Traditional
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Literal
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
Latin
…an divitias bonitatis ejus, et patientiæ, et longanimitatis contemnis? ignoras quoniam benignitas Dei ad pœnitentiam te adducit?

Interlinear

Greek
English
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

Notes

Romans 2:4

not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?: Jewish writings describe a common attitude of false security about judgment (for example, Wisdom of Solomon 12–15; compare Jeremiah 7:1–5; Amos 5:18–27). Paul uses this idea when he asks his question. Many Jews believed that because they were God’s people, they did not need to fear judgment. They thought their sins would not be punished in the same way as the sins of Gentiles. Paul makes clear that God’s grace was meant to turn Jews away from sin, not to approve of a sinful way of life.

Romans 2:1–5

  • You is singular in the Greek text. Here, you refers to a hypothetical Jew who feels superior to Gentiles and believes that he is not in danger of judgment. Paul uses a popular Hellenistic writing style called a diatribe (a teaching method that presents a debate with an imagined opponent). In this style, the writer argues against a made-up person in order to persuade the audience.

  • the same things: Paul’s means that Jews, like Gentiles, turn away from God’s revelation and choose to follow their own path.

Romans 1:18–3:20

Paul waits to explain righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until he first teaches about the sinfulness of all people. Both non-Jews and Jews are equally under the power of sin (1:18–32; 2:1–3:8). Because of this, both groups are in the same situation before God. No one can gain God’s favor by their own actions or obedience (3:9–20). All people need God’s saving action, not their own efforts.

Parallels

Psalm 75:1–10

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Conversion Faith Letter to the Romans Longsuffering Patience Prayer of Manasseh Sin

Topics

Blindness: Spiritual Confronting Sin Gentiles: Unclassified Sciptures Relating To God: Goodness of God: Longsuffering of Goodness Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Kindness Longsuffering Obligation: A Motive of Obedience Repent Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Repentance: we should be Led To, by The Goodness of God Thankfulness: Enjoined The Goodness of God: Declared to Be: Rich The Goodness of God: Manifested: Despise Not The Goodness of God: Manifested: Leads to Repentance The Patience of God: should Lead to Repentance The Patience of God: The Wicked: Despise