Read & explore together
God’s Righteous Judgment
This passage explains that God’s judgment is true and fair. It warns people not to condemn others for wrongs they also practise, and it shows that God judges every person without partiality.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In Romans 2:1–16, the writer addresses a person who judges others yet does the same things. The passage contrasts God’s goodness, patience, and forbearance with a hard and unrepentant heart, then explains God’s righteous judgment in relation to works, the law, and conscience.
Romans 2:1–16Main takeaway
God’s righteous judgment is according to truth, without partiality, and it exposes hypocrisy while calling people to repentance.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Judging others while doing the sameThe passage begins with a direct warning. A person who judges another for certain sins is without excuse if they practise the same things.
Explanation
The passage begins with a direct warning. A person who judges another for certain sins is without excuse if they practise the same things. Condemning others does not remove personal guilt. God’s judgment is according to truth, so the one who judges while doing the same wrong should not expect to escape.
02God’s kindness and the danger of a hard heartGod’s goodness, forbearance, and patience are not signs that sin does not matter. Their purpose is to lead a person to repentance.
Explanation
God’s goodness, forbearance, and patience are not signs that sin does not matter. Their purpose is to lead a person to repentance. The passage warns that a hard and unrepentant heart stores up wrath for the day when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.
03God repays fairly and shows no partialityGod will pay back everyone according to their works. The passage describes eternal life for those who persevere in well-doing and seek glory, honour, and incorruptibility.
Explanation
God will pay back everyone according to their works. The passage describes eternal life for those who persevere in well-doing and seek glory, honour, and incorruptibility. It also speaks of wrath, indignation, oppression, and anguish for those who are self-seeking and obey unrighteousness. This applies to Jew and Greek alike, because God shows no partiality.
04Law, conscience, and final judgmentThe passage then explains that judgment is not the same for merely hearing the law and doing it.
Explanation
The passage then explains that judgment is not the same for merely hearing the law and doing it. Those without the law still show the work of the law written in their hearts, with conscience and thoughts accusing or excusing them. God will judge even the secrets of people through Jesus Christ.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why is the person who judges another said to be ‘without excuse’?
Notice how the passage links judging others with practising the same things, so the judge also stands condemned.
02What does God’s goodness aim to produce?
Read the contrast between God’s goodness, forbearance, and patience and the hard, unrepentant heart.
03How does the passage describe God’s fairness in judgment for both Jews and Gentiles?
Trace the statements about no partiality, judgment by the law, and the witness of conscience.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 2:1–16
1Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
2We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God,
6who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”
7to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
8but to those who are self-seeking and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation,
9oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
10But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
11For there is no partiality with God.
12For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
13For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified
14(for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.