Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 2 · Section 1
1. The text with the diuers readings.
THerefore thou art inexcusable, O man, (O sonne of man. T.) whosoeuer thou art, that iudgest: (thy neighbour. T. but this is not in the originall) for wherein thou iudgest an other, L.T. (in that, that thou iudgest an other, G. or in that wherein thou iudgest an other: but in the originall it is, foreign, for wherein: the antecedent is omitted) thou condemnest thy selfe: for thou that iudgest, doest the same things: (not thou doest the same things which thou iudgest. L. in the originall it is foreign, thou iudging, that is, which iudgest: the relatiue is referred to the person, not to the thing.)
2 But we know (are sure, B.) that the iudgement of God is according to truth, against those V.B.T.Be. G. (vponupon those, L. the preposition is foreign, in, against) which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O thou man, that iudgest them, which doe such things, (condemnest them, which &c. Be. but foreign here vsed, signifieth properly to iudge, foreign, to condemne) that thou shalt escape the iudgement of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodnes, L.V. A.B. (or benignitie, gentlenes, T. Be. rather then bountifulnes, G. the word is foreign) and patience, and long sufferance, (or long animitie) not knowing that the goodnes (or benignitie of God) leadeth thee (or bringeth thee, R. foreign) to repentance? (not to penance, R. foreign signifieth rather repentance and change of the minde, then outward penance)
5 But thou, after thine hardnes, and heart that cannot repent, dost treasure vp vntounto thy selfe (heapest vp. L.B.G. gatherest to thy selfe, V. but the word properly signifieth to stoare or treasure vp) wrath, in the day of wrath, V.A.L. (that is, against the day of wrath, Be. T.G. B. but in the originall it is in the day) and of the reuelation T.A.L. (declaration, G. B. the word is foreign, reuelation) of the iust iudgement of God:
6 Who will render to eueryevery man (reward eueryevery man, B.G. but it is put in the originall in the datiue) according to his workes:
7 That is, to them, which by continuance in good workes (or in well doing, B.G.V. but the word in the originall, is good workes: not according to patience in good workes, L.R. for foreign signifieth as well perseuerance, and continuance, as patience: nor, which by perseuerance seeke the glorie of good workes, Be. good workes is better referred to continuance) seeke glorie honour, and immortalitie, eternall life:
8 But vntounto them, that are contentious (verbat. of contention, L:R.) and disobey the truth, and obey vnrighteousnes, (not giuegive credit to vnrighteousnes, L. R. for both the words foreign, disobeying, and foreign, obeying, are of the same deriuation) shall be indignation, and wrath: V.A.B.G.Be. (wrath and indignation, L.T. but the first foreign, excandescentis, commotion or indignation, is lesse, then foreign, wrath, rage)
9 Tribulation and anguish shall be against the soule Be.V.A. (vponupon the soule, B.G.L. to eueryevery soule, T. the first rather, see before v. 2.) of eueryevery man that doth euill, of the Iew first, and of the Grecian. (not to the Iewes first, and to the Gentiles. T.)
10 But glorie, honour, and peace to eueryevery one (eueryevery man, B.) that doth good, (to eueryevery one that doth good, glorie, honour, &c. G. but here the words are transposed) to the Iew first, and also to the Grecian. (not, to the Gentiles, T.)
11 For there is no respect of persons V.B.G. (acception of persons, Be.L.R.) with God. (foreign, acception of persons)
12 For as many as hauehave sinned without the law (not, whosoeuer hath sinned, L.B. for foreign, whosoeuer, is put in the plural) shall perish also without the law, and as many as hauehave sinned in the law, shall be iudged by the law:
13 For not the hearers of the law, are iust with God, (before God. G.T. in the sight of God, B. the word is foreign, apud, with) but the doers of the law shall be iustified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which hauehave not the Law, doe by nature (not naturally, L. R. the word is foreign, by nature) the things of the Law, (contained in the law, G. B. which are of the law, but in the original it is, the things of the law) they hauing not the law, are a law vntounto themselues,
15 Which shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts, (the effect of the law. G. but the word is foreign worke) their conscience also bearing witnes, (not, bearing them witnes, L.T.B. for, them, is not in the original) and their thoughts (not of their thoughts. L. for in the original it is put absolutely in the genitiue) accusing one an other mutually, or excusing:
16 In the day (at the day. G.B. but in the original it is, in the day) when God shall iudge the secrets of men according to my Gospel, by Iesus Christ. (by Iesus Christ according to my Gospel. B.G. but the words are here transposed)
17 Behold, thou art surnamed a Iew, V.B.G.Be. (not, but if thou art surnamed, L.R.T. the word is foreign, behold, not foreign, as though it were two words) and restest in the law, and gloriest in God, (makest thy beast of God. B. but the preposition is foreign, in)
18 And knowest his will, and triest the things that differ, A. B. (approouest the most profitable things. L.T. approouest the more excellent things, G.B. but the phrase is vsed in the first sense, Philip. 1.10. foreign properly signifieth things differing) beeing instructed by the Law:
19 And art perswaded, or confident, V.Be.A.G. (beleeuest, B. presumest, L. the word is foreign which S. Paul vseth of himselfe, Rom. 8.38.) that thou art a guide of the blind, a light of them, which are in darknes:
20 An instructer of them which lacke discretion, B. G. T. (of the foolish, L. the word is foreign, without wit or discretion) a teacher of the vnlearned, V. B. G. (of infants, verbal, foreign, L.B.T. he meaneth, such as were infants in knowledge) hauing the forme of knowledge, and of truth in the Law.
21 Thou therefore, which teachest an other, teachest thou not thy selfe? thou that preachest, a man should not steale, doest thou steale?
22 Thou, which saiest, a man should not commit adulterie, doest thou commit adulterie? thou that abhortest idols, committest thou sacriledge? A.B.G.Be. read these two verses with an interrogation: V.T.L. read without: and so the next verse also.
23 Thou, that gloriest in the Law, thorough transgression of the law, B.V. (prevarication, L. breaking of the law. B.G foreign transgression) dishonourest thou God?
24 For the Name of God thorough you, is blasphemed among the Gentiles, as it is written.
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, Be.V.G. (auaileth, B. foreign profiteth) if thou doe the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is made vncircumcision:
26 Therefore if the vncircumcision (prepuce. R. the word is praeputium in Latin, but it can not be made an English word) keepe the rites of the law, Be. (ordinances. B. G. iustices, L. A. the word is foreign, rites) shall not his vncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not vncircumcision by nature, keeping the law (not by nature keeping the law. T. these words, by nature, are euidently ioyned with the first clause in the original) iudge thee, that by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?
28 For not he, that is in open shew, (outward, B. G. foreign, in manifest, in open shew) is a Iew, not that which is in open shew, in the flesh, is circumcision:
29 But he that is in secret, is a Iew (he is a Iew which is one within. B. G. but the word is foreign, in the secret or hid part:) and the circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter: whose praise, (that is of the Iew, as the relatiue foreign, of the masculine gender sheweth) is not of men, but of God.