Notes on the Epistle of Paul, the Apostle, to the Romans

By William Kelly

A NEW TRANSLATION OF THE TEXT ACCORDING TO ANCIENT AUTHORITY.

Chapter 2

Romans 2.

Wherefore thou art inexcusable, O man, every one that judgest: for wherein thou judgest the other, thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those that do such things. 3 And dost thou reckon this, O man that judgest those that do such things and practisest them, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But according to thy hardness and unrepentant heart thou treasurest to thyself wrath in [the] day of wrath and revelation of God's righteous judgment, 6 who shall render to each according to his works: 7 to those that with patience in good work seek for glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life; 8 but to those that are contentious and disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation, 9 tribulation and anguish on every soul of man that worketh out evil, both of Jew first and of Greek; 10 but glory and honour and peace to every one that worketh good, both to Jew first and to Greek; 11 for there is no regard of person with God. 12 For as many as without law have sinned without law also shall perish; and as many as have sinned in law shall be judged by law 13 (for not the hearers of law [are] just with God, but the doers of law shall be justified. 14 For when Gentiles which have no law practise by nature the things of the law, these having no law are a law to themselves; 15 which evince the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also joining its testimony and their thoughts also one with another accusing or also excusing) 16 in [the] day when God shall judge the secrets of men according to my gospel by Jesus Christ.

17 But if thou art named a Jew, and restest on law, and boastest in God, 18 and knowest the will, and provest the things that differ,1) being instructed out of the law, 19 and hast confidence that thou thyself art a guide of blind, a light of those in darkness, 20 an instructor of foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law: 21 thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal? 22 thou that sayest not to commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou who boastest in law, through the transgression of' the law dost thou dishonour God? 24 For the name of God on your account is blasphemed among the Gentiles, even as it is written. 25 For circumcision indeed profiteth if thou do law; but if thou be a transgressor of law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. 26 If then the uncircumcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision, 27 and the natural uncircumcision, fulfilling the law, judge thee that in the way of letter and circumcision transgressest law? 28 For he that is outwardly a Jew is not [one], nor [is] that which is outward in flesh circumcision, 29 but he that [is so] hiddenly [is] a Jew, and circumcision of heart in spirit, not in letter, the praise of whom [is] not of men but of God. 

1) It might mean the consequence of this process, "approvest the things that are excellent."