Romans 2

Romans 2 is a continuation of the last half of Romans 1. Paul is in the middle of describing humanity's great need of the hope that is proclaimed in the gospel. At the time that Paul wrote Romans, chapter 1:18-32 would mainly apply to the "Gentiles". These were the non-Jews who were ignorant of God's law as revealed through Moses. In our day, this might apply to irreligious people who don't know much of faith. Paul points out that although they do not have a knowledge of Scripture and God's law, they are without excuse because God has made himself plainly known to all people in nature.

Chapter 2 is written for the religious person who would sit in judgment of the irreligious sinner described in chapter 1. This would be the Jew in Paul's day. He anticipates their prideful response and refutes their belief that they are better and holier because of their religious heritage, their observances and their abstenance from the outward immorality of the pagan. Instead of agreeing their evaluation, Paul refutes their self-righteousness and points out that they are also guilty and condemned under God's law.

The person Paul describes in Chapter 2 is self-deceived because they believe they are good and acceptable simply for knowing God's moral laws. The believe they are righteous in and of themselves because of their religious observances. Yet Paul points out that like the Gentile sinner, they too fail to obey God's law. They have secret sins they hide. They harbor self-centered selfishness and are deficient in love for their fellow man and for God. Yet they are unwilling to repent of their sin and therefore are storing up wrath against themselves for the day of God's judgment.

Sin is not just an outward action but a matter of the heart. True righteousness requires a pure heart full of goodness, love and humility and the actions to back it up.