Romans 2:6-3:20 (Douglas Moo's translation)

The Impartiality of Judgment (Rom 2:6-11)

6For he will render to each person according to that person's works. 7On the one hand, to those who by their persistence in a good work are seeking glory and honor and immortality [he will render] eternal life; 8but on the other hand, for those who are characterized by selfishness and who disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of a person who does evil, for the Jew first and then for the Greek; 10but there will be glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and then for the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God.

Judgment and the Law (Rom 2:12-16)

12For as many as sin without the law will also perish without the law. And as many as sin in the law will be judged through the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are just before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be justified. 14For whenever the Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature the things of the law, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consceince bearing witness and their thoughts among themselves both accusing and excusing them; 16on that day when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge the secret things of people, according to my gospel.

The Limitations of the Covenant (Rom 2:17-29)

The Law (Rom 2:17-24)

17Now if you call yourself a Jew, and take pride in the law, and boast in God, 18and know his will and approve those things that are best, being instructed by the law, 19and being convinced that you are a guide to the blind, a light for those who are in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law -- 21therefore will you who teach another, not teach yourself? Do you who preach against stealing, steal? 22Do you who say not to commit adulter, commit adultery? Do you who detest idols, rob temples? 23You who are boasting in the law are, through your transgression of the law, dishonoring God. 24For "the name of God is being blasphemed among the nations because of you," even as it is written.

Circumcision (Rom 2:25-29)

25For circumcision is of profit if you practice the law. But if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26If, then, the person who is uncircumcised guards the just decrees of the law, will not that person's uncircumcision be considered as circumcision? 27And the person who is uncircumcised by nature who completes the law will judge you who, though having the letter and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law. 28For it is not the Jew who is one outwardly who is the Jew, nor is it the outward circumcision, in the flesh, that is circumcision, 29but it is the Jew who is in secret who is the Jew, and who has the circumcision of the heart, in the Spirit, not in letter. That Jew has praise not from human beings, but from God.

God's Faithfulness and the Judgment of Jews (Rom 3:1-8)

1What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2Much, in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the oracles of God. 3For what then? Though some of them were unfaithful, their unfaithfulness will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4By no means! Let God be true, though every person is a liar, just as it is written, "so that you may be justified in your words, and that you might triumph when you judge" (Ps 51:4).

5But if our unfighteousness commends the righgeousness of God, what shall we say? God is not unjust to inflict his wrath, is he? I am speaking in a human fashion. 6By no means! For how, then, would God judge the world? 7And if the truth of God abounded to his glory through my lie, why am I yet being sjudged as a sinner? 8And why not do evil things, in order that good things might come"? God's judgement of such people is just.

The Guilt of All Humanity (Rom 3:9-20)

9What then? Do we have an advantage? By no means! For we have already accused all people, whether Jews or Greeks, of being under sin. 10For as it is written,

There is no one who is righteous,
11there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks for God.
12All have turned aside and together gone wrong,
There is no one who is doing good,
there is not even one person (Ps 14:1-3).
13Their throat is an open grave,
they speak deceptively with their tongues (Ps 5:9),
and the poison of asps is under their lips (Ps 140:36).
14Their mouth is filled with curses and bitterness (Ps 10:7),
15their feet are swift to shed blood,
16ruin and misery are in their paths,
17and they do not know the way of peace (Isa 59:7-8a).
18There is no fear of God in their eyes (Ps 36:1b).

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are in the law, in order that every mouth might be stopped and the whole world be held accountable to God. 20For no human being will be justified before him by works of the law, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.