In Summary - Romans 2:1-16

I’m really struggling to follow what Paul is talking about. The IM describes chapter 2 as “these verses are an example of a ‘diatribe,’ an ancient rhetorical style in which authors would state their readers’ possible objections and then respond to them. Some of the diatribes in Paul’s epistle may reflect real conversations Paul had experienced during his years of teaching the gospel.” This makes sense as a writing style, even though I don’t understand the structure.

The IM continues explaining that Paul had just taught “about humanity’s sins, now turns to an imaginary listener and declares the man to be guilty of judging others of sins the man has committed himself.” Sounds like our political system in the US right now. After being accused of judging others, in verse 2 “the man protests that it is only just that God would condemn people who had committed such sins. Verse 3- Paul replies that if it is right for God to condemn people for their sins, then the man, who has also sinned, cannot expect to escape the judgment of God.”
Looking at the actual scriptures, it seems like Paul is using the phrase “O man” to address the imaginary person that he is speaking to. It is really hard to follow the back and forth here, so I’m going to go to the New Living Version and see if I can pull anything out of that. Speaking to the Christians in Rome, it doesn’t seem to me to be a very “How to Win Friends and Influence People” type of approach. It’s interesting too because if we go back to the end of chapter 1, Paul is listing the ways in which people are sinning, but as we go into chapter 2, it seems like he is saying, “hey don’t get too crazy avoiding your neighbors, because you are doing the same type of things.”
The NLV translates verse 4 to say, “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” It’s hard for us to see someone else doing something that we know to be wrong and not wonder “why aren’t they being punished for it right now?” But we have to understand that God is not only merciful to us, but also merciful to others as well. We aren’t immediately punished for our sins, and as a result we have to be considerate of other people as well.
These Christians living in Rome were surrounded on all sides by unbelievers and pagans and all types of lifestyles that were not in keeping with what they believed. It seems like Paul is trying to help the Christians to know how to live peaceably among those who believe differently than they do. He commends those “who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life,” and warns “them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness.” Paul reminds them that eternal perspective brings blessings and peace but contentions bring anguish and sorrow.
Twice Paul mentions “to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile” when referring to rewards and punishments. This was probably a mixed audience as far as heritage goes, and it’s wasn’t just Jews and Gentiles but also Christians from the same. Maybe Paul is saying not to get caught up in heritage because it ultimately doesn’t matter, what matters is our behaviors. Indeed, Paul says, “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
But since Paul brought up Jew and Gentile, he notes the difference between them, in that the Jews have “the law” and the Gentiles do not have “the law.” The IM notes “here ‘the law’ refers to the law of Moses- the commandments and ceremonies God gave to ancient Israel through moses… Some Jews believed that God would condemn the Gentiles but judge Jews favorably because they were His chosen people and possessed His law… Since both Gentiles and Jews were guilty of sin, without the Atonement of Christ they would all perish. But since the Jews had sinned against the law, they would also ‘be judged by the law.’ The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, ‘God judges men according to the use they make of the light which He gives them.’”
It’s like the parable of the servants and the ten talents. He didn’t expect the servants to all have the same level of success, meaning that he didn’t expect all the servants to gain five talents with the money that he gave them, but he did expect some growth. Likewise, we are supposed to have some growth regardless of the life cards that we were dealt. That’s a tricky subject though because some people have been dealt an absolutely terrible hand.
Just to keep illustrating the individual nature of our salvation, Paul continues that there are Gentiles “which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law… which shew the work of the law written in their hearts.” The IM comments, “Paul recognized that some Gentiles intuitively lived moral lives… These Gentiles were following the Light of Christ, which is ‘an influence for good in the lives of all people.’”
So to summarize the first half of Romans chapter 2: don’t just others, because we are all guilty of sin, just work on your own personal righteousness. Be kind to others, don’t argue or fight with them because everyone will be held responsible for the knowledge that they had.