Big Idea: Paul makes explicit the story of Israel. Obedience to God’s law was required for Israel to remain in covenantal relationship with God. But Israel repeatedly broke the law, and consequently divine judgment fell on Jews. Moreover, God’s judgment will fall on individual Jews on the final day of reckoning if they do not repent by accepting Jesus as the Messiah.

Understanding the Text

In placing Romans 2:1–11 in its literary context, we focus in from the big picture of 1:18–3:20, which condemns all of humanity, to Paul’s condemnation of one people group, the Jews.

The theme of Romans 1:18–3:20, as noted previously, is that the wrath of God (1:18) is upon Gentiles for breaking the stipulations of the Noahic covenant (1:19–32) and upon Jews for breaking the stipulations of the Mosaic…