New Testament Exegesis Looking at Romans 2,3 New Testament Exegesis Exegesis means explanation or translation

New Testament Exegesis Introduction In 2:1-16 Paul turns from a general view of depraved Gentile society to the Roman church itself, to people who think themselves moral. In 2:17-3:8 he examines the claims of self-confident Jews. In 3:9-20 he considers the whole human race. New Testament Exegesis

1. God’s judgement is inescapable 2:1-4 Not all are described by chapter 1: what about moral people ? The tendency to judge (diagnose versus lead to the cure) The hypocrisy of the double standard The appeal to God’s character God’s kindness leads to METANOIA METANOIA = True Repentance New Testament Exegesis

2. God’s judgement is righteous 2:5-11 Refusal to repent makes judgement more inescapable Even though justification is by faith, judgement is by works Judgement is public Trouble, distress…or glory and peace? New Testament Exegesis

3.God’s judgement is impartial 2:12-16 No favouritism between Jew and Gentile The requirements of the law are written on human hearts Judged according to the light received New Testament Exegesis

God’s judgement and law The law is a basis of judgement The law is a basis of Christian mission! In evangelism, their conscience is on your side… you can bypass the intellect and arguments and activate the truth they already know Every society has its codes of ethics. New Testament Exegesis

What about the claims of moral Jews? The LAW (2:17-24) CIRCUMCISION (2:25-29) Jewish objections (3:1-8) (Is Paul thinking of his own unconverted ideas as a Pharisee?) “This undermines the covenant” “This nullifies God’s faithfulness” “This impugns God’s justice” New Testament Exegesis

New Testament Exegesis The whole human race 3:9-20 The unrighteousness of the world The hypocrisy of moralists The false confidence of Jews Now…”Are we any better?” Paul personifies Sin - a tyrant New Testament Exegesis

“The scriptures bear witness…” Seven OT quotations The ungodliness of sin The pervasiveness of sin The universality of sin V19 The defendant is speechless against the weight of evidence New Testament Exegesis

New Testament Exegesis Works of the law? E.P.Sanders/ JDG Dunn’s “new perspective”: the ritual law as a boundary? Ziesler’s alternative: “ popular perversion of the law”? Luther’s thesis (Stott): any kind of self-salvation through works New Testament Exegesis

New Testament Exegesis Luther “The principal point of the law…is to make men not better but worse; that is to say: it sheweth unto them their sin, that by the knowledge thereof they may be humbled, terrified, bruised and broken, and by this means may be driven to seek grace and so come to that Blessed Seed.” New Testament Exegesis

The Law is known by the conscience… Click to start Wake-Up Call – from www.wayofthemaster.com New Testament Exegesis