2:1 Therefore, you have no excuse-every one of you who judges. For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, practice the very same things. |
2:2 Now we know that God's judgment against those who practice such is based on truth. |
2:3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on those who practice these things and then do them yourself, do you think you will escape God's judgment? |
2:4 Or do you think so little of the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that it is God's kindness that is leading you to repentance? |
2:5 But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. |
2:6 For he will repay everyone according to what that person has done: |
2:7 eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing good; |
2:8 but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead. |
2:9 There will be suffering and anguish for every human being who practices doing evil, for Jews first and for Greeks as well. |
2:10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who practices doing good, for Jews first and for Greeks as well. |
2:11 For God does not show partiality. |
2:12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. |
2:13 For it is not merely those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight. No, it is those who do the law, who will be justified. |
2:14 For whenever gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. |
2:15 They show that what the law requires is written in their hearts, a fact to which their own consciences testify, and their thoughts will either accuse or excuse them |
2:16 on that day when God, through Jesus Christ, will judge people's secrets according to my gospel. |
2:17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast about God, |
2:18 and know his will, and approve of what is best because you have been instructed in the law; |
2:19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, |
2:20 an instructor of ignorant people, and a teacher of infants because you have the full content of knowledge and truth in the law- |
2:21 as you teach others, do you fail to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, do you steal? |
2:22 As you forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? As you abhor idols, do you rob temples? |
2:23 As you boast about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? |
2:24 As it is written, "God's name is being blasphemed among the gentiles because of you." |
2:25 For circumcision is valuable if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. |
2:26 So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the requirements of the law, his uncircumcision will be regarded as circumcision, won't it? |
2:27 The man who is uncircumcised physically but who keeps the law will condemn you who break the law, even though you have the written law and circumcision. |
2:28 For a person is not a Jew because of his appearance, nor is circumcision something external and physical. |
2:29 No, a person is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by a written law. That person's praise will come from God, not from people. |