Chapter 2 – question 1
In Romans 2:2, Paul speaks of “the judgment of God on those who commit such things,” and these “things” are indeed a reference to the behaviors and sins he described earlier, beginning in Romans 1:18. In this passage, Paul paints a dark picture of fallen humanity, which has rejected God and given itself over to all sorts of moral and spiritual vices. The connection between these two sections is crucial to understanding the progression of Paul’s argument and what he wants to demonstrate about God’s judgment.
Here’s how to understand “God’s judgment” in this context, and how it applies to the “things” described in the previous chapter.
1. The context of Romans 1:18-32: The ungodliness and unrighteousness of men
In Romans 1:18, Paul begins by speaking of the revelation of God’s wrath “from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” From there, Paul describes a series of ungodly and immoral behaviors that stem from men’s willful rejection of God. He shows that although God has revealed Himself through creation, men have chosen not to honor God and have turned away from the truth to follow impure desires and corrupt thoughts. The behaviors Paul describes include:
- Idolatry (Romans 1:22-23): Men exchanged the Glory of God for idols, worshiping the creature rather than the Creator.
- Sexual Sins (Romans 1:24-27): God gave them over to impurity, including dishonorable passions, where Paul refers to unnatural sexual practices.
- A General List of Moral Vices (Romans 1:28-31): By abandoning God, men have fallen into all kinds of unrighteous behavior, such as envy, murder, dishonesty, arrogance, disobedience, slander, etc.
These “things” or behaviors represent the result of a gradual and willful rejection of God’s truth. In other words, by choosing to ignore God, humanity has fallen into a state of widespread Sin, and this has resulted in a total break with divine justice and morality.
2. The passage to Romans 2:2: The notion of divine judgment
Coming to Romans 2, Paul begins to develop the idea of God’s judgment. While Romans 1:18-32 describes the universal sinful condition of humanity, Romans 2 introduces the notion of judgment. Paul is making a transition between:
- The description of the widespread Sin of the Gentiles (chapter 1),
- And the announcement that God’s judgment also applies to the Jews, who, despite their religious privileges (such as the Law), are not exempt from divine judgment if they practice the same things.
In Romans 2:1-2 Paul says, « Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. » Here he makes several key points:
- All Are Guilty: Whether Jew or Gentile, all who commit these sins are under God’s judgment.
- The Impartiality of God: God’s judgment is according to truth. This means that God judges the actions of men according to just and objective criteria.
- The Hypocrisy of Those Who Judge: Paul criticizes those who judge others while committing the same sins, which is a transition to criticizing Jews who rely on their adherence to the Law while failing to fully observe it.
3. Explanation of “these things” in connection with Romans 1:18-32
When Paul speaks of « those who commit such things, » he is referring to the long list of sins described in Romans 1:18-32. These sins include:
- Rejection of God and Idolatry: Mankind has exchanged the truth about God for lies and worshipped idols.
- Sexual Sins: Unnatural sexual relations and impurity.
- Widespread Moral Vices: In the absence of God, men indulge in all kinds of evil, such as lust, envy, murder, deceit, dishonesty, backbiting, pride, and many others.
Paul wants to show that these behaviors are condemned by God, whether they are committed by Gentiles, who have not received the Law, or by Jews, who have received the Law but fail to keep it. God’s judgment is therefore based on actions and not on ethnic or religious affiliation.
4. Judgment according to truth (Romans 2:2)
Paul insists that God’s judgment is « according to truth » (κατὰ ἀλήθειαν). This means several things:
- Objectivity: God’s judgment is impartial and just. It is not based on outward appearance or ethnic or religious privilege, but on the truth of people’s actions and motives. Jews, although they have received the Law, are not automatically justified; they must also respond to that truth.
- According to Works: Paul will expand on this idea later in Romans 2:6, where he says that God “will render to each according to his works.” This principle shows that God judges not only according to the knowledge one has received (divine revelation for Jews, conscience for Gentiles), but also according to the response to that knowledge.
5. Universal application: Jews and Gentiles are all concerned
Paul uses this passage to make the point that God’s judgment applies to all men, without distinction. The Gentiles have fallen into ungodliness and unrighteousness because of their rejection of the truth revealed through creation (Romans 1:20), but Jews who commit the same sins are not exempt from judgment simply because they have the Law.
Paul is therefore criticizing those, especially Jews, who believe themselves to be righteous because they have the Law or feel superior as a chosen people, while ignoring the fact that they are violating the same Law. God’s judgment, impartial and just, applies to all who commit the sins described in Romans 1.
Conclusion
In Romans 2:2, Paul refers to “those who commit such things,” referring to the sins described in Romans 1:18–32. These sins include idolatry, sexual sins, and a long list of moral vices. Paul emphasizes that God’s judgment is impartial, based on the truth and the actions of men. Whether Jew or Gentile, those who commit these sins are under divine condemnation. The passage marks a transition in Paul’s argument from general condemnation of Gentiles to a more specific criticism of Jews, who, despite their possession of the Law, are not exempt from judgment if they do not live in accordance with it.