1. A New Perspective on Romans
12 June 2013
Bill Brewer
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

2. Rom 2:11-13 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13 for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
Vv14-15?
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But what about Rom 3:20?
because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Jews
Gentiles
With Law
Without Law
Doers
Hearers
Hearers
Doers
Does Rom 3:20 mean the “doers of the Law” is a group with no one in it?
Vv14-15 seem to say “no,” but that answer is muffled by several factors
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

3. Rom 2:12-16 New International Version New King James Version
12 [ ] All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)
16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
NV, ASV, WEB, NCV, TNIV
New King James Version
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
KJV, DBY, WBT, TMB
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

4. Comparison of Versions: Rom 2:12-16
NIV
12 [ ] All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)
16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
HNV, ASV, WEB, NCV, TNIV
NKJV
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
KJV, AV, DBY, WBT, TMB
NASB
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
D-R, ESV, GW, GNB, HSCB, ISV, LEB, MSG, NET, NAB, NLT, NRSV, RSV, YLT
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

5. Who are the Gentile law keepers of Rom 2:14-15?
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
1. A purely hypothetical group with no concrete existence in the real world
Rom 3:20 is absolute
Purpose of the Law is to create despair in being able to do it
2. Gentiles who do actually keep “the Law”
“Law” is natural moral law in harmony with the moral law within the Mosaic Law
This “law” is hard but doable
Sin is not as powerful as Paul appears to say elsewhere
3. Paul has included borrowed ideas he has not fully assimilated to his own opinions
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

6. Who are the Gentile law keepers of Rom 2:14-15?
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
4. Gentile Christians
Not entirely apparent at this point but it will become apparent later
Paul redefines . . .
The true Jew (2:29)
The true circumcision (2:29)
True children of Abraham (9:8)
True Israel (11:26)
True doers of the Law (3:27)
Gentile Christians are …
true “children of Abraham”
part of “true Israel”
“true Jews”
true doers of “the Law”
the “true circumcision” of the Spirit
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

7. Who are the Gentile law keepers of Rom 2:14-15?
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
4. (Continued)
For Paul, the unacceptable alternatives are . . .
The Law was a bad thing that is thankfully left behind, or
Christians are second-class citizens in the kingdom
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

8. Rom 2:14 English Standard Version
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law
Can you spot the change?
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
“Who do not have the Law by nature” favors …
Gentile Christians as the people Paul has in view
Mosaic Law over natural moral law
That interpretation is reinforced by…
Rom 2:27, “uncircumcision which is by nature [“physis”] that keeps the Law”
Gal 2:15, “we who are Jews by nature [“physis”] ”
Rom 2:14, “who do not have the Law by nature [“physis”] ”
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves,
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law by nature, do what the law ,
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

9. Rom 2:14-15
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
V15: Consider Jer 31:33, “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Also, Jer 32:40, “I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

10. “The Fear of the Lord”
Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and [even] fear of the LORD–11:3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears.
Isa 33:5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

11. “The Fear of the Lord”
Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
(Note also that Psalm 19 is a “Torah Psalm.”)
Ps 34:11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Prov 2:5 [Be diligent,] then you will understand the fear of the LORD and [even] find the knowledge of God.
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

12. An OPP Theology of Romans
for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified ….
Rom 2:26
So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumci-sion be regarded as circumcision?
Rom 3:20
because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Rom 8:4
so that the require-ment of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit
Rom 8:4
Requirement fulfilled in?
Walk in flesh–No
Walk in Spirit--Yes
Rom 2:13-15
Justification?
Hearers Only–No
Doers–Yes
Rom 2:26
Requirements of the Law?
Circumcision–No
Other Requirements -- Yes
Rom 3:20
Justification?
Works of the Law–No
Other Requirements–No
Moral Law
Moral Law
Comprehensive & Absolute
Death
Hypothetical
Doers – Hypothetical
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

13. A NPP Theology of Romans
for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified ….
Rom 2:26
So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumci-sion be regarded as circumcision?
Rom 3:20
because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Rom 8:4
so that the require-ment of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit
Rom 8:4
Requirement fulfilled in?
Walk in flesh–No
Walk in Spirit–Yes
Rom 2:13-15
Justification?
Hearers Only–No
Doers–Yes
Rom 2:26
Requirements of the Law?
Circumcision–No
Other Requirements–Yes
Rom 3:20
Justification?
Works of the Law–No
Other Requirements–Yes
Yes
Yes
Identity Markers
Identity Markers
Identity Markers
“Circumcision of the heart by the Spirit” Rom 2:29
Death
Love God & Neighbor
Love God & Neighbor
Love God & Neighbor
Life
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

14. Justification: Present and Future
God shows himself …
Righteous by keeping covenant with Israel
Just by judging with impartiality
God is righteous
Man is a sinner
God justifies man
Resurrection
Final Judgment
Believers keep law by the power of the Spirit — circumcision of the heart
Believers are judged as “law keepers” through the work of the Spirit
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer

15. A person is justified by . . .
___ A. Faith
___ B. Being a doer of the Mosaic Law
___ C. Both A and B 
12 Jun 2013
— Bill Brewer