Study Questions: Romans 2:1-29

1.  Who is Paul addressing? Why is there no excuse for these people? (2:1)

2.  What falls upon those who practice the sins that Paul introduced in Rom 1:18-32? (2:2)

3.  What two rhetorical questions does Paul pose to the man who passes judgment on those who practice such sins and does the same himself? To what does the kindness of God lead? (2:3-4)
(A) State these two questions in your own words.

4.  (A) What things do you condemn in others but do yourself? How has God’s kindness led you to repentance? How might God’s kindness shown to you keep you from condemning others?

5.  What might cause you to  store up wrath for yourself? For what day does Paul say that you are storing up wrath for yourself? (2:5) (D) When will this day occur?

6.  How will God render His judgment? (2:6) What will those receive who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality? (2:7)

7.  What will those receive who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness? (2:8)

8.  (A) Based on Paul’s teaching in Rom 2:6-8, what do you expect to receive? Why?

9.  What will there be for every soul of man who does evil? For whom is this true? (2:9) What will there be for everyone who does good? (2:10)

10.  What does God not exhibit in judgment? (2:11) (PR) State a principle drawn from this verse that is true for all people at all times.

11.  Who will perish without the Law? Who will be judged by the Law? (2:12) Who is NOT considered just before God? Who will be justified? (2:13)  (D) To what Law is Paul referring? (cf. Exod 20:1-17)

12.  How do Gentiles show that the work of the Law is written in their hearts? (2:15) What will God judge through Christ Jesus? (2:16)

13.  How does Paul describe those who bear the name “Jew”? (2:17-20)

14.   What five questions does Paul ask those who bear the name “Jew” and fit these descriptions? (2:21-23)

                  a.

                  b.

                  c.

                  d.

                  e.

15. Because of whom is the name of God being blasphemed among the Gentiles? (2:24) (O) In your own words, describe why the name of God was being blasphemed?

16.  What is of value if a Jew practices the Law? What happens if a Jew transgresses the Law? What happens to the uncircumcised man who keeps the requirements of the Law? (2:25-26) (O) In your own words, restate Paul’s argument? 

17.  According to Paul, who is not a Jew? What is not circumcision? (2:28) According to Paul, who is a Jew? What is true circumcision? From whom does his praise not come? From whom does his praise come? (2:29)

(optional) Give an explanation of circumcision based on the following verses:
Gen 17:10-14, 23-27; Lev 12:3; Deut 10:16; 30:6; Josh 5:2; Jer 4:4; 9:25; Luke 1:59; John 7:22; Acts 7:8; 15:1, 5; 21:21; Gal 2:7-9; 6:12-13; Phil 3:4-5; Col 2:11.

18.  What do you learn about God in Rom 2:1-29? How could you apply this truth to your life?

Write a prayer response to Rom 2:1-29.

Rom. 2:1   Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.  2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.  3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?  4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?  5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,  6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:  7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;  8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.  9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,  10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  11 For there is no partiality with God.

Rom. 2:12   For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;  13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.  14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,  15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,  16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Rom. 2:17   But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,  18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,  19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,  20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,  21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?  22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?  24 For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.

Rom. 2:25   For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.  26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?  27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?  28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.  29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.