Moff ROM Chapter 2

◄ ROM 2 ► ║ ═ ©

2 Therefore you are inexcusable, whoever you are, if you pose as a judge, for in judging another you condemn yourself; you, the judge, do the very same things yourself. 2 "We know the doom of God falls justly upon those who practise such vices." 3 Very well; and do you imagine you will escape God's doom, O man, you who judge those who practise such vices and do the same yourself? 4 Or are you slighting all his wealth of kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not know his kindness is meant to make you repent? 5 In your stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are simply storing up anger for yourself on the Day of anger, when the just doom of God is revealed. 6 For he will render to everyone according to what he has done, 7 eternal life to those who by patiently doing good aim at glory, honour, and immortality, 8 but anger and wrath to those who are wilful, who disobey the Truth and obey wickedness-- 9 anguish and calamity for every human soul that perpetrates evil, for the Jew first and for the Greek as well, 10 but glory, honour, and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and for the Greek as well. 11 There is no partiality about God.

All who sin outside the Law

will perish outside the Law,

and all who sin under the Law

will be condemned by the Law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just in the eyes of God, it is those who obey the Law who will be acquitted, 16 on the day when God judges the secret things of men, as my gospel holds, by Jesus Christ. 14 (When Gentiles who have no law obey instinctively the Law's requirements, they are a law to themselves, even though they have no law; 15 they exhibit the effect of the Law written on their hearts, their conscience bears them witness, as their moral convictions accuse or it may be defend them.)

17 If you bear the name of "Jew," relying on the Law, priding yourself on God, 18 understanding his will, and with a sense of what is vital in religion; if you are instructed by the Law 19 and are persuaded that you are a guide to the blind, a light to darkened souls, 20 a tutor for the foolish, a teacher of the simple, because in the Law you have the embodiment of knowledge and truth — 21 well then, do you ever teach yourself, you teacher of other people? You preach against stealing; do you steal? 22 You forbid adultery; do you commit adultery? You detest idols; do you rob temples? 23 You pride yourself on the Law; do you dishonour God by your breaches of the Law? 24 Why, it is owing to you that the name of God is maligned among the Gentiles, as scripture says! 25 Circumcision is certainly of use, provided you keep the Law; but if you are a breaker of the Law, then your circumcision is turned into uncircumcision. 26 (If then the uncircumcised observe the requirements of the Law, shall not their uncircumcision be reckoned equivalent to circumcision? 27 And shall not those who are physically uncircumcised and who fulfil the Law, judge you who are a breaker of the Law for all your written code and circumcision?)

He is no Jew who is merely a Jew outwardly,

nor is circumcision something outward in the flesh;

he is a Jew who is one inwardly,

and circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual not literal — praised by God, not by man.

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