Romans 2:1-11

Rom 2:1  Therefore 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. 

Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 

Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 

Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 

Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 

Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 

Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 

Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 

Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God. 

Main Point: Coming off the heels of condemnation of the immorality practiced by the Gentiles (historically), Paul concludes with a pivot that will entrap the Hebrew in his own web of arrogance. Judging others while practicing sin will bring God’s judgment down on you. He is the only righteous judge, and shows no partiality.

1.    What is the condemnation in verse 1? What lessons do we learn from this? There were apparently factions within the church that felt superior to others within the church. Likely, this section is addressing the Hebrews, who relied on their historical relationship with God. But as Paul indicates, God shows no partiality. Paul is dismantling the reliance on all history that supported any notion of innocence by ignorance OR superiority by a race chosen by God to bring the messiah. The phrase “shows no partiality” is the platform by which he will insist on unity.

2.    What is the purpose of God’s kindness? Did God’s kindness have the intended result? 4) the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance – G3341 – metanoia met-an'-oy-ah From G3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision): - repentance.
Root words mean to have a change of mind.
Apparently repentance is not being practiced not in this context. What is interesting is that although the Jews did assimilate into the culture, they still maintained that Jehovah was the only living God. It is unlikely that they practiced some of the more nefarious idolatry, but Paul is heading into a direction that will expose sin within their ranks  nonetheless.

3.    What principles are taught in 6-8? What do we learn from this? This depicts the final judgment. When a soul answers to God. The answers of the soul for this judgment are not words, but a review of his/her works. Well doing, seeking glory, honor will result in eternal life. Of course Paul will eventually cover how the messiah is necessary for this to work. Self-seeking, disobedient, unrighteous, will result in wrath….fury!
We cannot separate faith from works!

4.    What is Paul’s point in verses 9-11? What phrase is repeated and why?
Extending the previous verses: Do evil, expect tribulation and distress. Do good, expect glory, honor, peace.  Paul repeats the phrase to the Jew first, then to the Gentile (Greek). Paul is setting in order the dispensation by God’s action. God dealt thought the nation o the Hebrews, and so it stands to reason that they would be first fruits of the Gospel and God’s judgment. His trajectory is not to set an hierarchy, but rather to reveal that ultimately, both are subject to God….and later…both will (have) fail(ed) on their own. God shows no partiality.
The root word for glory here is rooted in the concept to “think”. God finds value in us through our good works.

Additional:

1,1,1,3) Judge, Judges, Judgement: G2919 krinō kree'-no Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish:

2,3) Judgment (of God) G2917 – krima kree'-mah From G2919; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against [“crime”])

5) Judgment (of God) dikaiokrisia dik-ah-yok-ris-ee'-ah - From G1342 and G2920; a just sentence: - righteous judgment

4) despise- G2706 kataphroneō kat-af-ron-eh'-o From G2596 and G5426; to think against

10) Glory – G1391 doxa dox'-ah From the base of G1380; glory (as very apparent),

      Honor- G5092 timē tee-may' From G5099; a value

Romans 1:24-32

Romans 1: 24-32 – Text will be King James for this online study. Class versions will be ESV/HCSB.

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 

Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 

Note Paul’s intentional use of personal pronouns God/them-they-men-women. He uses this word structure to impact the division mankind imposed on himself by opting for a system based on sin. (if it is not of God, it is of sin)

Main Point: Make sure not to mistake the break in the lesson flow as how this is to be perceived. This section finishes the last section started in verse 18. THIS is the wrath of God: turning mankind over to sin. This will be a key component in Paul’s later arguments against the Law, and a life with sin as its basis/context for living.

15. What does it mean that “God gave them up?” Why did He give them up? He surrendered them over to sin. Like a father giving his children over to another “caretaker”, or in this instance a different “system.” As Paul will iterate, God’s covenant is one of mercy and caring by Him, accessed by virtue of our faith or manifested trust in Him. A system of sin includes law, chaos, general “situational” ethics etc. In the sin paradigm there is a rebellion against God 30) “haters of God.”
He gives them over due to their own free will choice “haters of God.” Jehovah makes it clear that sin will separate us from Him in Gen 3 (booted out of Eden). He then iterates to Cain that sin has the character of waiting for you, (it desires control over you). It is up to the individual to control it. Paul will later illustrate how God supplies help for this through Jesus.

16. What sinful activities were the Gentiles engaging in? What sins are condemned here? Lusts of the heart. Impurity. Exchanged God’s deity for a lie….idolatry. Did not acknowledge God. (See 17 for the full list) – The foundational causes of sin are lust (self centered motivation, and the rejection of God.

17. List the sins the people are engaging in. Do any of these sins surprise you that they are on this list? Dishonorable passions (male/female homosexuality). Unrighteousness, evil, covetous, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossips, slanderers, Hate God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
The context is more historical than a commentary on the church’s present condition, in my opinion. It is quite possible however, when we consider the culture during that time (and even now) that some of these things were occurring within the church and considered “acceptable”. Let’s not lose sight of the intent of this first chapter, which is to show the Gentile history. They are not without sin or weakness.   

18. Explain verse 32. What lessons do we learn from this? This is a close to verse 20 that states even the Gentile knew what God’s natural was and refused to live by it. They are without excuse (God will not excuse willing ignorance).

Additional:

24) Gave Them Up: G3860: paradidōmi par-ad-id'-o-mee From G3844 and G1325; to surrender, that is, yield up + G846 autos ow-tos' From the particle αὖ au (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self

Note that this is describing the fulfillment of God’s warning to Cain in Genesis 4: (CEV) Gen 4:7  If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don't let it!

30) haters of God: G2319 theostugēs theh-os-too-gace' From G2316 and the base of G4767; hateful to God