exposition

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. .... This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:12, 16.

Most commentators agree that verses 13-15 of this passage are a parenthesis - that is, they are an additional aside to the main content of Paul's argument.

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To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:7-11

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God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Romans 2:6-8

Paul presents a very clear contrast for the future of individuals beyond death. Two very different futures await every one of us without exception.

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the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4

How different God is to us.

He is rich in the qualities that we need. Rather than driving us, God's grace leads us to repentance - literally to a change of mind.

Let's consider the three qualities Paul highlights in this verse.

God's kindness is the way in which he shows his grace to us. His dealings with sinners are based on this quality. He shows restraint, respect and generosity in his interaction with the human race, despite our rebellion against him and his laws. Perhaps a supreme example of God's kindness is shown in the way his Son dealt with a woman caught in the very act of adultery by religious people who wanted to punish her. After dealing with the hypocrisy of her accusers, Christ said to her, "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." Christ's compassion is, quite literally, life-changing.

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Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:32

Here, Paul concludes his description of the human race in sin by highlighting the knock-on effect that "individual" sin has on our fellow human beings. He does so by using the formula “not only….but also…".

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Meet the Writer
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1)

Here we find the writer of the most significant book in the Bible briefly introducing himself and his theme.

Paul was previously a Jewish rabbi and a fierce opponent of the emerging "sect" of the followers of Jesus. Remarkably, we now find him writing to such Christian believers and describing himself as a servant of the same Jesus, who Paul now refers to him as Christ. This Greek term means anointed one and is equivalent to the Hebrew term messiah.

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