- 1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
- 2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
- 3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
- 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
- 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
- 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
- 7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
- 8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
- 9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
- 10But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
- 11For there is no respect of persons with God.
- 12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
- 13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
- 14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
- 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
- 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
- 17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
- 18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
- 19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
- 20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
- 21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
- 22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
- 23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
- 24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
- 25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
- 26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
- 27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
- 28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
- 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
KING JAMES VERSION
ROMANS 2
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Romans 2 — God judges without partiality, calling both Jew and Gentile from hypocrisy to repentance and to the inward work of the heart.
About this illustration
Equal figures, balanced scales, discarded masks, and light reaching the heart visualize impartial judgment, conscience, and inward faithfulness. The light signifies divine scrutiny without depicting God or attempting to portray the final judgment literally.
Scripture basis: Romans 2:1–29King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
3rd century
Papyrus P113: Romans 2:12–13 and 2:29
Papyrus P113, P.Oxy. LXVI 4497, is a third-century Greek papyrus codex fragment from Oxyrhynchus preserving parts of Romans 2:12–13 and 2:29, juxtaposing judgment under the law with Paul's claim that true circumcision is inward and by the Spirit.
Romans 2:12–13 · Romans 2:29
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
third century AD (palaeographic estimate)
Papyrus P40: Romans 1–4, 6, and 9
P. Heid. Inv. G 645, Gregory-Aland P40, is a third-century Greek papyrus codex represented by ten fragments preserving substantial portions of Romans 1–4, 6, and 9.
Romans 1:24–27 · Romans 1:31–32 · Romans 2:1–3
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Fifth century AD
Uncial 0172: Romans 1–2 on a Fifth-Century Leaf
Uncial 0172: Romans 1–2 on a Fifth-Century Leaf is a separately registered physical witness to the copying and reception of Romans 1:27–32; Romans 2:1–2, identified by its own GA number, shelfmark, date, layout, and custodial history.
Romans 1:27–32 · Romans 2:1–2
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArtifact
AD 96–97
Nerva’s FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA Sestertius
A bronze sestertius of Emperor Nerva proclaims that the abuse or reproach of the Jewish tax had been removed. Issued in AD 96–97, the type is direct imperial evidence for the continuing fiscal consequences of Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem and Nerva’s public reform.
Matthew 24:1–2 · Romans 2:17–29 · Romans 9:1–5
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