Romans 2:11-13 | |
11. For there is no respect of persons with God. | 11. Siquidem non est acceptio personarum apud Deum. |
12. For 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; | 12. Quicunque enim sine Lege peccaverunt sine Lege etiam peribunt; quicunque vero in Lege peccaverunt per Legem judicabuntur. |
13. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. | 13. Non enim Legis auditores justi sunt apud Deum, sed qui Legem faciunt justificabuntur. |
11.
There is then a division of the whole human race into two classes; for God had separated the Jews from all the rest, but the condition of all the Gentiles was the same. He now teaches us, that this difference is no reason why both should not be involved in the same guilt. But the word
12.
"Cursed are all they who continue not in all its precepts." (Deuteronomy 27:26.)
A worse condition then awaits the Jewish sinners, since their condemnation is already pronounced in their own law.
13.
1 The word
An argument has been hence taken to oppose the doctrine of election; but this is to apply to a particular thing what belongs entirely and exclusively to another. This belongs to the administration of justice, but election is the exercise of mercy. Even Grotius admits, that God manifests a difference in bestowing benefits, but not in exercising Judgment. Indeed, in the present instance, with regard to the subject handled by the Apostle, there was a manifest difference; the Gentile had only the law of nature, but the Jew had a revealed law. Yet when brought to judgment there was to be no respect of persons, each was to be judged impartially according to the circumstances of his condition. And further, election does not proceed on the principle of showing respect of persons, that is, of regarding men according to their privileges or outward circumstances, or kindred or relation in life, or any thing in man; but its sole and exclusive ground or reason is the good pleasure of God. -- Ed.
2
3 The word "condemned" would be better in the text than "judged;" it would then more plainly Correspond with the former part, where the word "perished" is used: and that it means "condemned" is evident, for those who have "sinned" are the persons referred to. -- Ed.
4 On the expression "hearers of the law," Stuart has these remarks -- "The Apostle here speaks of
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