Romans

2:17-29

Arguments for the proposition, 1:18-5:21

Argument #1

Part 5

Argument #1: The impartial nature of God's righteous condemnation of universal sin, 1:18-3:20.

Part 5: In the face of human sinfulness, the law is powerless to shape the qualities in a person that would make them worthy of God's praise.

In 2:12-29 Paul examines the place of the law in the righteous judgment of God, so reinforcing the point that those law-bound believers who think they maintain their Christian life and move it forward by a strict adherence to the law of Moses, only ever end up breaking the law and facing its curse - the "wrath and fury" of God's condemnation. In the passage before us, Paul argues that the assumed advantage of the Mosaic law, namely its power to restrain sin and advance holiness, so producing a supposed superior spirituality, is demonstrably not true. The behaviour of the self-righteous is little more than blasphemy since they do not do what they preach, while at the same time, it is possible to point to "uncircumcised" people who live lives that reflect the Mosaic law, and yet do so without reference to it.

i] Context: See 2:1-16

ii] Background: The Nomist Heresy 1:8-15.

iii] Structure: The law-bound fail to honour God:

iv] Interpretation:

v] Exposition: A simple exposition of this passage may be found in the linked pew-level Sermon Notes.

Argument #1, Part 5: In the face of human sinfulness, the law is powerless to shape the qualities in a person that would make them worthy of God's praise, v17-29.

i] The law is powerless to sanctify, v17-24. Paul gives us the example of a moral man, a law-keeping man, a Jew. There is endless discussion as to whether this man is converted, or not, but it doesn't matter. How does this man stand in the face of the righteous judgment of God on the basis of his law-keeping? By relying on the law, he is in trouble because when he is tested by the law of Moses he is found to be a law-breaker. He may be proud that he has the law as his birthright, a blessing and sign of God's favour toward him, yet in the end, he dishonours God by breaking the law. He may think that he has an advantage over those who are not committed to God's law, yet, advantage only exists when the law is obeyed, and the reality is all sin and fall short of the glory of God. So, for this moral man, the presumed advantage of the law is actually a disadvantage.

de "Now" - but/and. Transitional, indicating the next step in the argument, as NIV.

ei + ind. "if" - if. Note variant ide, "behold", probably an attempt to deal with the unwieldy conditional clause. Introducing a conditional clause, 1st class, where the condition is assumed to be true; "if, as is the case, .... then, ....." The "if" clause, the protasis, is formed by multiple clauses, while the "then" clause, the apodosis, is in the form of a question, v21. The point being, "if, as you claim, you are righteous under the law, do you actually keep the law? Probably better translated as a positive statement; "Some of you call yourselves Jews. You trust in the Lord and take pride in God ..... sure that you are a guide to the blind .........., (v21) but how can you teach others when you refuse to learn", CEV.

su pro. "you" - you. Emphatic by use.

eponomazh/ (eponomazw) pres. pas. "you call yourself" - are called. Given the passive, possibly "you are called a Jew", or better "you bear the honoured name of a Jew", Bruce.

IoudaioV "Jew" - a jew. Normally used to refer to a member of the covenant people of God with its associated privileges and responsibilities. The su, "you", may be general, or specifically "you members of the Roman church"; "you members named as Jews." As noted above, probably "you who are committed to covenant law", possibly with believers particularly in mind, although more likely any person committed to the Torah.

epanapauh/ (epanapauomai) pres. "rely on" - [and] rest on, rely upon. The present tense is probably gnomic. "Rely" on the law for standing with God; "lean back in the arms of", Peterson.

nomw/ (oV) dat. "the law" - law. Dative of direct object after the verb "rely on." "Law" as in "the law of Moses / covenant law / Torah."

kaucasai (kaucaomai) pres. "boast" - [and] boast. "Boast" as to their standing before God, so "brag", Morris.

en + dat. "about your relationship to [God] / "in [God]" - in [god]. The verb "to boast" is commonly followed by en + dat. to identify the source of the boast. Turner argues for a causal sense; "because of God." They "brag", not about their particular relationship with God, but because they think they know God and assume that he can always be counted on to act in their favour, cf., Jewett.

With the three privileges of being a "Jew", v17, Paul adds two more distinguishing marks - he knows God's will and "approves those things that are best."

ginwskeiV (ginwskw) pres. "if you know" - [and] know [the will]. With regards to "the will", a definite article is often used for a possessive pronoun, so as NIV, "his will."

dokimazeiV (dokimazw) pres. "[and] approve of" - [and] test, prove, approve of. Possibly "test out" what is right, "discover what is right", CEV, but more likely "determine and then approve" what is right; "you are able, through your knowledge of the Law, truly to appreciate moral values", Phillips.

ta diaferonta (diaferw) pres. part. "what is superior" - the things excelling, being worth more than. The participle serves as a substantive, accusative direct object of the verb "to test"; "the things that are important", Jewett. "What is excellent", RSV.

kathcoumenoV (kathcew) pres. part. "because you are instructed" - being instructed. The participle is adverbial, possibly causal, as NIV, or instrumental expressing means, "by being instructed", Williams. "Instructed" orally, given that this was the usual form of instruction. "Being instructed in a formal way", Wuest.

ek + gen. "by [the law]" - from [the law]. Generally expressing source / origin, "from the law", ESV, but means is certainly possible, as NIV.

"In v17-18 Paul has listed five blessings personally enjoyed by the Jews by virtue of their being God's covenant people. Now, with a change in construction, he enumerates four prerogatives that Jews enjoy in relation to other people because of these blessings", France, v19-20. Note how France see Paul's words directed to Jews in particular, although as already noted, it seems likely that Paul's "Jew" includes law-bound nomist believers (most of whom would likely be converted Jews). Paul's argument is primarily directed at law-bound believers, not Jews as such.

te "-" - and. Coordinative, linking the assumed knowledge of the IoudaioV, "Jews", with their assumed "confidence" to lead the blind.

pepoiqaV (peiqw) perf. "if you are convinced" - having confidence, having been persuaded, sure, certain [yourself]. "You have convinced yourself", Jewett.

einai (eimi) "that you are [a guide]" - to be [a guide]. The infinitive serves to introduce a dependent statement of perception expressing what they are confident of, as NIV; the accusative subject of the infinitive is seauton, "yourself [to be a guide]." The "Jews", because of their possession of the law, consider that "they are accredited teachers of those whose eyes are blinded by ignorance", Junkins.

tuflwn gen. adj. "for the blind" - of blind ones [a light of ones in darkness]. We are presented with two pairs of genitive predicate adjectives, verbal, objective; "the blind / those who are in the dark / the foolish / little children." We can well imagine that Paul has the judaizers / members of the circumcision party in view.

afronwn gen. adj. "of the foolish" - [an instructor] of mindless, thoughtless, unthinking, foolish. The adjective serves as a substantive, the genitive being adjectival, verbal, objective. "Persons without moral intelligence", Denney. Probably the instruction of spiritual things; you "instruct those who [you think] have no spiritual wisdom", Phillips.

nhpiwn gen. adj. "infants" - [a teacher] of babes. Genitive as above. Possibly used of children, but the word can also be used metaphorically, eg., "babies in Christ", 1Cor.3:1. It is likely that this is the sense here. These "babies", in the view of the "Jews", are those who are missing that extra special ingredient in their life, namely, righteousness under the law. For the "Jew" who is a law-bound believer, a nomist / pietist, the essential extra special ingredient to the Christian life is the law, which, when tacked onto the cross of Christ, serves to facilitate the appropriation of the full portion of God's promised blessings.

econta (ecw) pres. part. "because you have" - having. The NIV has again taken the participle as adverbial, introducing a causal clause. Of course, Paul is being ironical, so not really "because in the law you have ....", Moffatt, but rather "you think / believe you have ...."

en "in" - in [law]. Local, expressing sphere; in your possession of the Mosaic Law / the requirements of the covenant.

thn morfwsin (iV ewV) "the embodiment" - the outward form, embodiment. The accusative direct object of the participle "having". Lightfoot understands the word as a mere representation, sketch of an inward reality, but it is best seen as "a true depiction and representation of the idea", TDNT. Only Paul's law-bound friends have "the basis of true knowledge (or so they think!), Phillips, "the perfect pattern", Conybeare.

thV gnwsewV (iV ewV) gen. "of knowledge" - of knowledge [and of the truth] - The genitive is adjectival, attributive, limiting "perfect pattern"; "you think you have the perfect pattern which reveals the essence of divine knowledge and truth."

In v21-22, in series of rhetorical questions, Paul exposes his "Jew" as inconsistent and hypocritical - he does not practice what he preaches.

oun "you then" - therefore. Resumptive rather than inferential. Paul finally gets to the apodosis (the then clause) of the conditional clause which commenced in v17, although the syntax has been lost along the way and so he now resorts to a series of rhetorical questions. "Prepared as you are to instruct others, do you ever teach yourself anything?", Phillips.

oJ didaskwn (didaskw) pres. part. "you who teach [others]" - the one teaching [another yourself do you teach]? The participle serves as a substantive, nominative subject of the verb "to teach".

oJ khrusswn (khrussw) pres. part. "you who preach" - the one preaching, proclaiming. The participle serves as a substantive, subject of the verb "to steal".

mh kleptein (kleptw) pres. inf. "against stealing" - to not steal [do you steal]? The infinitive introduces an object clause / dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what is preached, ie., "do not steal."

oJ legwn "you who say" - the one saying. The participle serves as a substantive, nominative subject of the verb "to commit adultery."

mh moiceuein (moiceuw) pres. inf. "that people should not commit adultery" - not to commit adultery [do you commit adultery]? The infinitive introduces an object clause / dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what is said, namely, "do not commit adultery."

Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, completes ("fulfils") the Torah / Mosaic Law / Covenant Law by declaring it in perfection and by so doing, removes any possibility of claiming God's approval on the basis of doing it. Who can claim to have not looked at a woman /man with lust? Although the law serves as a guide to the Christian life, it primarily serves to expose sin, and it is for this purpose that Jesus regularly used it.

How easy it is for a law-bound person (inc. a believer, a nomist, particularly a nomist teacher = the judaizers) to miss the obvious and preach against adultery, as if the law can restrain sinful desire and progress purity for blessing. In preaching the law, they have to ignore their own adulterous acts and thoughts, believing that somehow adulterous sin can be discounted by means of a judicial loophole, eg., by producing a bill of divorce. No person can claim they are free from adulterous lust. In fact, few people can claim that they have never physically committed adultery, given that, from the divine perspective, if a person has sexual relations with someone they should marry them, and this because, in the sight of God, they are married, they have become one flesh with them, cf., Ex.22:16-17, Deut.22:28-29.

This is probably not the place to examine an instruction of Mosaic law, but anyway, consider the situation of a young couple who have engaged in pre-marital sex. The creation ordinance on the one-flesh principle applies absolutely, but as is typical of Mosaic law, the absolute has to exist within the condition of human sinfulness. So, for the consenting young people in Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (technically not adultery under Mosaic law), the condition "if they are caught / discovered" reflects reality, but not perfection. The girl is assured of security and provision, now that she is no longer a virgin. If they are not discovered (an unstated condition - The Sergeant Schultz out, "I know nothing!"), their encounter can pass unnoticed without forcing what may be a marriage with disastrous family consequences. None-the-less, the one-flesh principal remains; "he must pay the bride price and marry her", Ex.22:16 (note the out clause, v17). The regulations on divorce well illustrate how Mosaic law reflects the human condition, while Jesus' teaching on divorce reflects the perfection of the divine-will concerning a one-flesh union.

oJ bdelussomenoV (bdelussomai) pres. part. "you who abhor idols" - the one abhorring. "You who detest, loathe idols." The participle serves as a substantive, nominative subject of the verb "to commit sacrilege."

iJerosuleiV (iJerosulew) pres. "rob temples" - do you commit sacrilege? Possibly referring to the accepted practice of religious leaders who, due to their position, felt they had no need to pay the temple tax, cf., Mal.3:8. Still, trying to find some actual offence against the temple misses the point. As with adultery, Paul is speaking of the ethical purity demanded in the sermon on the mount, a righteousness that exceeds that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, a perfection where there is not the hint of sacrilege in either thought, or action. "Thy piety is arrogance, for where is the piety which does not approach God too nearly", Barth.

In a statement, rather than a question, along with a supporting text in v24, Paul drives home his point that his representative "Jew", the godly person committed to the covenant and the law (inclusive of law-bound believers), constantly dishonours the law by not keeping it.

As already noted, the confidence of a "Jew" (a person committed to the Torah) probably didn't lie in their submission to the law to gain salvation (legalism), since their standing before God was a matter of grace, a birthright under God. Their confidence rested in their privileged status under the law, which through law-obedience progressed the appropriation of the promised covenant blessings (nomism). Many Jewish believers, the judaizers, "the weak", had brought this thinking with them into the Christian fellowship and it is this issue which Paul confronts. Paul's argument, drawn from the teachings of Jesus, is that a person's full appropriation of God's promised blessings is by grace through faith. All the law does is remind us of this fact, for righteousness is not possible under the law, only condemnation. So, "the weak" in Rome may be confident because of their standing under the law, but then, the problem is that they break the law and in so doing enact the curse of the law against themselves. The reader will understand how common this heresy is today, given that as a child we were taught "trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." It is also worth noting that this issue is central to the present debate over Pauline theology between new perspective and reformed commentators.

en "[brag] about [the law]" - [who boast] in [the law]. Possibly causal here, "because of the law", Turner; "are confident because of their standing under the law", ie., righteous under the law.

dia + gen. "by" - through / by. Instrumental, expressing means, as NIV.

tou nomou (oV) gen. "[breaking] the law" - [disobedience] of the law [dishonour god]. The genitive is usually taken as verbal, objective, as NIV. "You dishonour God by its violation.".

gar "-" - for. More reason than cause, indicating that the text functions as part of the argument, explaining something about the previous statement. Certainly, the point is argumentative here, even consequential; "as a consequence of your behaviour, the scripture says of you that ......"

kaqwV "as" - as [it has been written]. Comparative used of a quote. The phrase is commonly used to introduce a quote from scripture.

to onoma (a atoV) "[God's] name" - the name [of god]. In the sense of "God's person." The genitive "of God" is possessive.

blasfhmeitai (blasfhmew) pres. pas. "blasphemed" - is blasphemed [in = among the nations, gentiles]. The present tense is best viewed as iterative, expressing repeated action. Probably in the sense of defaming God by their failure to obey. Israel was to be a light to the Gentiles, but the hypocrisy of the self-righteous is easy to see.

di (dia) + acc. "because of" - because of [you]. Causal; "because of, on account of you."

ii] Circumcision is powerless to render a person worthy of God's blessings, v25-29. Paul's point is that physical circumcision is a sign of covenant inclusion and thus only a divine blessing if a person keeps the law, but a sign of cursing if they don't. As has always been the case, true circumcision is a matter of the heart (cf. Jer.4:4), such that a believer in Christ is already circumcised by the Spirit and so fully a member of God's covenant community along with its associated blessings and thus worthy of his praise.

gar "-" - for. More reason / explanatory than cause, indicating an argumentative link and so best left untranslated, as NIV.

men ..... de "......., but ...." - Adversative comparative construction; "on the one hand ....., but on the other ..."

peritomh (h) "circumcision" - circumcision [profits]. Nominative subject of the verb "to profit." Obviously here physical circumcision as a sign of covenant status.

ean + subj. "if" - if. Introducing a conditional clause, 3rd class, where the condition has the possibility of coming true; "if, as may be the case, you obey the law, then circumcision is of value."

prasshV (prassw) pres. subj. "you observe [the law]" - you practise [law]. Given that the subjunctive verb to-be h|/V, "you are [a transgressor of the law]", takes the durative present tense, does Paul mean "habitually break the law"? Is a distinction being drawn between a transgression and outright rebellion? So, with "observe the law", does Paul mean "perfectly obey the law", or "sincerely try to obey the law"? Technical perfection is surely the issue at hand, although commentators are divided.

ean + subj. "if" - [but] if. Conditional clause, 3rd class, as above, although one would expect a 1st class conditional clause, "but if, as is the case, ....."; "but on the other hand, if, as the case may be, .... then ...."

nomou (oV) gen. "[you break] the law" - [you are a transgressor] of law. The genitive is usually taken as verbal, objective, as NIV, ie., the action is applied to the law, the law being the object of the action.

akrobustia (a) "not ... circumcised" - [the circumcision of you has become] uncircumcision. A failure, by those under the law, to obey the law, classifies their circumcision as uncircumcision - they are classified as an uncircumcised pagan.

In addressing the nomism of the law-righteous, Paul makes the point that he is able to point out Gentiles whose ethical behaviour, without the Mosaic law, exceeds that of the circumcised under the law. The point of the argument being that the law does not serve to foster superior ethical behaviour. The "uncircumcised" person in Paul's mind is an ethically moral Gentile, particularly a Gentile believer, but for the sake of argument, it can be any moral person. Note some of the other conclusions are proposed:

oun "so then" - therefore. Inferential; drawing a logical conclusion.

ean + subj. "if" - if [the uncircumcision guard = observe, keep]. Third-class conditional clause, as v25; "if the uncircumcision habitually guards the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be credited to his account as circumcision"? Wuest.

tou nomou (oV) gen. "the law's" - [the just requirements] of the law. The genitive is ablative, expressing source / origin, "the precepts sourced from the law", or adjectival, verbal, subjective. The Mosaic law is again in mind, although for Gentiles, the substance of the law, its moral precepts and the degree to which those precepts are understood, is what counts.

ouc "[will they] not" - [will] not [the uncircumcision of him]. This negation, used in a question, prompts an answer in the affirmative; "will not an uncircumcised person who fulfils the substance of the Mosaic law in accord with their understanding be regarded as if they were circumcised? Of course they will."

logisqhsetai (logizomai) fut. pas. "be regarded as though" - be reckoned as, accounted as. The passive is probably divine / theological. As stated above, Gentile believers are not far from Paul's mind when he speaks of the "uncircumcised." For a believer, their Christ-like life serves as the sign of their covenant inclusion and as such is as good as the sign of circumcision.

eiV + acc. "-" - to / for [circumcision]? A rather rare construction used for a predicate nominative; probably Semitic. Sometimes used in quotations and after ginomai, eimi, and as here, logizomai. cf., Zerwick #32, Wallace p.47.

The righteous will judge the unrighteous, but instead of the circumcised (those bearing the mark of covenant inclusion) doing the judging, it will be uncircumcised Gentiles doing the judging. Note the numerous translations, as either a statement, or a question. Note also the emphatic position of "condemn" at the head of the Gk. sentence.

hJ ... akrobustia "the one who is not circumcised" - [and] the uncircumcision. Nominative subject of the verb "to judge." "And will not the man who is not physically circumcised, but who nevertheless carries out what the law demands, bring condemnation upon you who, with your written code and your circumcision, are yet a lawbreaker?", Cassirer.

ek + gen. "physically" - out of = by [nature]. Expressing source / origin; referring to those uncircumcised people who have come out of = born into a community of uncircumcised people. "Have never been circumcised", CEV. See v14.

telousa (telew) pres. part. "obeys" - the one ... completing, finishing, keeping, fulfilling [the law]. The participle is adverbial, probably temporal, "when they fulfil the law", or possibly conditional, "if they keep the law" = "and yet keep the law." Harvey suggests that it reads naturally as adjectival, so NASB. As Barrett notes, Paul does not use this word in the sense of "obeying" the law, so Barclay's "perfectly keeps the law" is too strong, so "at times keep the law", "tends to keep the law". Barrett suggests "give full effect to."

krinei (krinw) fut. "will condemn" - will judge [you]. As Cranfield notes, the "uncircumcised" [believer] "will not assume the role of judge, but rather that he will be a witness for the prosecution", having lived without the law as the circumcised should have lived under the law.

ton .... parabathn (hV ou) "who, ...... are a lawbreaker" - the transgressor [of the law]. Introducing a nominal clause standing in apposition to se, "you". The genitive vomou, "of the law", is usually taken as verbal, objective, but possibly adjectival, attributive, limiting "transgressor"; "a law-breaker." "If you habitually break the law", Barclay; see above on the "habitually" idea.

dia + gen. "even though" - through, by means of. The second half of the sentence is controlled by this preposition. The preposition naturally takes an instrumental sense which would mean "those who keep the law will condemn you who, through / by means of the law and circumcision, break the law." Indeed, the law does make sin more sinful, in a sense, promotes rebellion, and Paul certainly does argue the case that when we place ourselves under the law to promote holiness, we end up promoting sin. Grace, on the other hand, promotes righteous living. Still, most commentators find this approach a little raw and so suggest that the preposition here introduces an attendant circumstance; the righteous believers have the law and circumcision, and they break the law; "the uncircumcised ...... will judge you who, for all your observance of the letter, and your circumcision, are a transgressor of the law", Barrett.

ton .. grammatoV kai peritomhV "the written code and circumcision" - letter and circumcision. Possibly a hendiadys, "literal circumcision", but better taken as expressing "the two advantages of Israel", Mounce.

Genuine covenant membership / inclusion is a matter of the heart and not outward form, v28-29. This fact is addressed to those committed to the covenant, with particular reference to law-bound believers.

gar "-" - for. Transitional, indicating a step in the argument to a concluding point and so left untranslated, but possibly explanatory.

ou ..... ouden "a person is not ..... nor ..." - neither .... nor. A negated correlative construction.

en tw/ fanerw/ "who is one only outwardly" - [he is neither a jew] in the open = outwardly. The preposition en is adverbial here; "in outward appearance" = "outwardly".

en sarki "[outward and] physical" - [nor is the circumcision outwardly] in the flesh. The preposition en is possibly local, expressing space / sphere, as NIV, but again it may function adverbially, "nor is circumcision performed, expressed, ..... outwardly, physically.

A true Jew is not outwardly a descendant of Abraham bound under covenant law, but a spiritual descendant of Abraham who lives through faith, a person who is marked by a circumcision of the heart - spiritual rather than physical.

alla "no" - but [the jew]. Adversative here. "On the contrary", BAGD.

en tw/ kruptw/ "inwardly" - in the hidden. Again, the preposition en is functioning adverbially, "inwardly".

kardiaV (a) gen. "of the heart" - [and circumcision is] of heart. The genitive is usually taken as verbal, objective.

en pneumati (a atoV) "by the Spirit" - in spirit. The pneumati, "S/spirit", may be the inward spiritual self. So, taking en again as adverbial, we end up with something like "circumcision expressed, performed, ... spiritually rather than literally." On the other hand, pneumati can be taken here as "the Holy Spirit" with the preposition en as instrumental, expressing means, "by means of the Holy Spirit", as NIV. Local, expressing space / sphere, is also possible; "circumcision of the heart, in spirit not letter, is [the real] circumcision", Barrett. "True circumcision is a matter of the heart - spiritual not literal", Cassirer, follows the general run of translations, but the NIV "Spirit" has its supporters; "true circumcision for the Jew was a matter of the heart, and this was effected by the Spirit, as the Old Testament always assumed, cf., Jer.9:25-26, Deut.10:16, 30:6", Dumbrell.

ou grammati (a atoV) "not by the written code" - not letter. The preposition en applies. As with en pneumati, "literally" may be intended, although most commentators opt for the sense "law"; "not conformity to any set of rules and regulations", Barclay.

ou| gen. pro. "such a man's" - [the praise] of whom. Referring to the Jew who is circumcised spiritually, the one inwardly true to their faith rather than the one just by birth and circumcision. Paul will later draw out the implication that believing Gentiles rightly stand with the true Jew as a child of Abraham through faith. God has always been able to raise up children of Abraham from other than Abraham's descendants, even from "stones", Matt.3:9. The word epainoV, "praise, approval, recognition", is possibly a play on words, given that Judah means praise, so Haldane. Barrett tries to bring this out with "he is a Jew, whose due comes from God not from men."

ex ..... ex + gen. "from" - [is not] from [men but] from [god]. Expressing source/origin. The only praise worth anything derives from God. The conjunction alla, "but", serves in a counterpoint construction; "not ...., but ....."

Romans Introduction.

Exposition

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