Romans 2:27-29

 

 

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Romans 2:27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps (PAPFSN) the Law, will he not judge (3SFAI) you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: kai krinei (3SPHAI) e ek phuseos akrobustia ton nomon telousa (PAPPHSN) se ton dia grammatos kai peritomes parabaten nomou.
Amplified: Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the Law will condemn you who, although you have the code in writing and have circumcision, break the Law.
(Amplified Bible - Lockman)
NLT: In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will be much better off than you Jews who are circumcised and know so much about God's law but don't obey it.
(NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: Moreover, is it not plain to you that those who are physically uncircumcised, and yet keep the Law, are a continual judgment upon you who, for all your circumcision and knowledge of the Law, break it? (
Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest:  And the uncircumcision which by nature is fulfilling the law will judge you who with the advantage of the letter and of circumcision are a transgressor of law.  (
Erdmans
Young's Literal:  and the uncircumcision, by nature, fulfilling the law, shall judge thee who, through letter and circumcision, art a transgressor of law.

REFERENCES

Wayne Barber
Albert Barnes
John Calvin
Adam Clarke
Thomas Constable
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Matthew Henry
Greg Herrick
Jameison, F, B
Robert M McCheyne
Middletown Bible
William Newell
John Piper
 
John Piper 
John Piper 
John Piper 
Ray Pritchard    
A T Robertson
J. C. Ryle
Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman
Marvin Vincent
John Wesley
Steve Zeisler
Precept Ministries
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Romans - Download Lesson 1 of 14
ROMANS ROAD
to RIGHTEOUSNESS
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1
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6:1-8:39
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9:1-11:36
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12:1-16:27
SIN SALVATION SANCTIFICATION SOVEREIGNTY SERVICE
NEED
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LIFE
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Sin
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Power Given Promises Fulfilled Paths Pursued
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Needed
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Credited
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Restored to Israel
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Applied
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IN LAW
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IMPUTED
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IN ELECTION
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Slaves to Sin Slaves to God Slaves Serving God
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Modified from Irving L. Jensen's excellent work "Jensen's Survey of the NT"

AND WILL NOT HE WHO IS PHYSICALLY UNCIRCUMCISED: kai krinei (3SFAI) e ek phuseos akrobustia:

Physically (5449) (phúsis from phúo = to bring forth) refers to a condition or circumstance as determined by birth and thus a natural condition. Phusis is the nature of something as the result of its natural development or condition.

Uncircumcision (203) (akrobustia from ákron = the extreme + búo = cover) means uncircumcised or uncircumcision and thus referred to the prepuce or foreskin What Paul is picturing is that the physical rite of circumcision without any internal transformation equates with a foreskin! Akrobustia was also used as a term of scorn and derision by Jews, for they equated "uncircumcision" with being a pagan Gentiles. Can you imagine how a self-righteous Jew must have felt when he read Paul's argument!

He who is physically uncircumcised - This is another synonym for Gentiles in this verse. In the OT Gentiles are often referred to as "the peoples" (eg, Ex 15:14, 19:5, Lev 20:24 "separated you from the peoples", Lev 20:26 "set you apart from the peoples", etc) "the nations" (Ge 17:4 - Abraham would be "the father of a multitude of nations", Ge 22:18 - "in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed", Psalm 2:1, etc)

If a physically uncircumcised Gentile were to keep the work of the law within his heart, would he not be justified, instead of the physically circumcised Jew who did not keep the law? A Gentile who obeys what the Law requires, even though he does not know the Law (Ro 2:14) is in God’s sight similar to a circumcised Jew. This thought would be revolutionary for Jews who considered themselves far superior to Gentiles (cf. Ro 2:17-21).

Denny explains Paul's logic this way...

“Here the inference is drawn from the principle laid down in verse 25. This being so, Paul argues, if the uncircumcision maintain the just requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be accounted circumcision, because it has really done what circumcision pledged the Jew to do?… As he has done what circumcision bound the Jew to do, he will be treated as if in the Jew’s position: his uncircumcision will be reckoned as circumcision.”

IF HE KEEPS THE LAW, WILL HE NOT JUDGE YOU: kai krinei (3SFAI) e ek phuseos akrobustia ton nomon telousa (PAPFSN): (Ro 8:4; 13:10; Mt 3:15; 5:17-20; Acts 13:22; Gal 5:14) (judge Ezekiel 16:48-52; Mt 12:41,42; Heb 11:3)

If he keeps - This is the proverbial "big" (impossible) if!

Keeps (5055) (teleo from telos = goal, an end, a purpose, an aim, a fulfillment, an achievement; See discussion of related words - Mature = teleios; Maturity [perfect] = teleiotes) means to bring to an end (e.g., Jesus finished speaking - see below) as one brings a process, a course, a task or an undertaking to the end.

It means to make an end or to accomplish and complete something, not merely by bringing it to end but bringing it to perfection, in the context of Romans 2:27 signifying that one keeps the law perfectly. And note the present tense which means one keeps the law continually, as one's lifestyle, which of course is impossible (unless you are Jesus!)

Teleo means to accomplish an obligation or demand in the sense of to bring about a result by effort. The idea is to achieve a goal or to conclude it successfully. This meaning is especially poignant in the context of Jesus' life purpose which was to die on the Cross, the purpose He pointed to and which He accomplished ("It is finished" John 19:30). This same meaning of fulfilling or bringing about the completion or achievement of a goal or objective is also a prominent meaning in the Revelation (e.g. notes Revelation 11:7; Revelation 17:17)

Teleo in some contexts (Matthew 17:24, Romans 13:6) means to pay, and in the NT uses refers to payment of obligatory taxes or tolls.

Secular uses of teleo include the idea of carrying out instructions, of fulfilling obligations and religiously of carrying out religious acts including consecrating initiates (as into a mystery cult). This latter sense is not used in the NT but is used in the LXX translation of Numbers 25:3, 5 where Israel joined themselves to (consecrated themselves) the pagan idol Baalpeor.

Here are the 28 NT uses of teleo...

Matthew 7:28 (note) The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching;

Matthew 10:23 "But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 11:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Matthew 13:53 And it came about that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there.

Matthew 17:24 And when they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter, and said, "Does your teacher not pay (teleo) the two-drachma tax?"

Matthew 19:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee, and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;

Matthew 26:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,

Luke 2:39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

Luke 12:50 "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

Luke 18:31 And He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.

Luke 22:37 "For I tell you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, 'And He was numbered with transgressors'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment."

John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty."

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.

Acts 13:29 "And when they (the Jews in Jerusalem and their rulers) had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.

Romans 2:27 (note) And will not he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?

Romans 13:6 (note) For because of this you also pay (teleo - present tense = continually!) taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected (teleo - present tense = this principle is continually active; passive voice = this effect [empowerment] is brought about by an a source other than the subject, in this case the Spirit of Christ) in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Galatians 5:16 (note) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

2 Timothy 4:7 (note) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course (dromos = a race track or course), I have kept the faith (Comment: Paul pictures his Christian life as a race and is saying he has broken the barrier at the finish line, having fulfilled the purpose for which he was created and then "re-created" in Christ. The perfect tense points to the permanent effect of his finish. The finish line has been crossed and the results would last forever. He has now entered his eternal rest.)

James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

Revelation 10:7 (note) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished (accomplished), as He preached to His servants the prophets.

Revelation 11:7 (note) And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. (Comment: From a timing perspective, this is one of the most important events in the Revelation as it occurs in the middle of the 7 year Tribulation and marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.)

Revelation 15:1 (note) And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. (Comment: When the bowl judgments are poured out in the Great Tribulation, God's wrath against Israel is over, for it has accomplished the refining and purifying that He desired, and the one third of the Jews who have believed in Messiah will enter the Millennial Kingdom.)

Revelation 15:8 (note) And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. (Comment: Another allusion to the completion of the horrendous 3.5 year period known as the  Great Tribulation.)

Revelation 17:17 (note) "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose (Do not miss this faith buoying truth that God is sovereign and in control even of  the drama of these evil players! Absolutely nothing happens outside of His control! And this is true in your life beloved child of God!) by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled (accomplished).

Revelation 20:3 (note) and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

Revelation 20:5 (note) The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:7 (note) And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison

Teleo is used 14 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Nu 25:3, 5; Ruth 2:21; 3:18; Ezr. 1:1; 5:16; 6:15; 7:12; 9:1; 10:17; Neh. 6:15; Ps. 106:28; Dan. 4:33; Hos. 4:14)

Ruth 2:21 (note) Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "Furthermore, he said to me, 'You should stay close to my servants until they have finished (Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished; Lxx = teleo) all my harvest.'"

Ruth 3:18 (note) Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled (KJV = "have finished"; Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished; Lxx = teleo) it today."

Ezra 6:15 And this temple was completed (Hebrew = yetsa = to bring to an end, to finish; Lxx = teleo)  on the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

Ezra 10:17 And they finished (Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished; Lxx = teleo)  investigating all the men who had married foreign wives by the first of the first month.

Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was completed (Hebrew = shalem = to be complete or sound, to be at peace {related noun = shalom}; Lxx = teleo) on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

Law (3551) (nomos from némo = divide among, parcel out, allot) is etymologically something parceled out, allotted, what one has in use and possession; hence, usage, custom.

Judge (2919) (krino) primarily signifies to distinguish, separate or discriminate and then, to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, without necessarily passing an adverse sentence, though this is usually involved. Krino means to sift out and analyze evidence. Passing judgment, by implication, means condemning.

A Gentile’s humble obedience to the law should serve as a stern rebuke to a Jew who, in spite of his great advantages, lives in disobedience. Circumcision (or baptism - or any ritual in itself) doesn't save anyone; Egyptians circumcised their boys, and Ishmael, the son of the flesh, was circumcised

Paul is not saying that uncircumcised Gentiles can keep the Law, but rather that if they do they will be reckoned as "circumcised" in a spiritual sense. Moreover, they then could be called to bear witness in judgment against the circumcised who have transgressed the Law. Paul’s argument was devastating! One of the greatest insults in Judaism was to call another Jew “an uncircumcised one,” and this is what Paul had done in no uncertain terms. Circumcision alone does not justify a man. His actions must be in keeping with his profession of faith.

In applying this truth to ourselves, all we have to do is substitute for the word “circumcision” any of the following: Church membershipbaptismconfirmationMethodistBaptistPresbyterianand so on. The great mistake of Catholics, Protestants, and Jews when asked about their relationship to God is to cite their religious affiliation as evidence of their relationship.

     “Are you a believer?” “Of course. I’ve been a member of First Church for twenty-five years.”

     “Are you a believer?” “I’m a Catholic! Does that answer your question?”

     “Are you a believer?” “Why yes, I was baptized right here in Christian Church.”

There are as many answers as there are affiliations and rites, but none will convince God—they are all outward "circumcisions" so to speak.

WHO THOUGH HAVING THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND CIRCUMCISION ARE A TRANSGRESSOR OF THE LAW: se ton dia grammatos kai peritomes parabaten nomou: (Ro 2:20,29
; 7:6-8; 2Cor 3:6)

Circumcision (4061) (peritome from perí = around + témno = cut off) (Click for more in depth word study of peritome) refers literally to cutting and removal of the foreskin. (See related discussion on Circumcision)

Transgressor (3848) (parabates from from pará = beyond or contrary to +  baíno = to go) (see study of related word para   basis) describes one who goes beyond and thus is a violator of the law. A transgressor is one who goes beyond the line. So, also, trespass, which is transpass, from the Latin trans, across, and passus, a step.

Paul speaking of the "letter of the Law" writes

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, (the Mosaic Law kills because, of itself, it could not give life was meant to make men conscious of sin - see Purpose of the Law) but the Spirit gives life. (2Cor 3:5-6) (Regarding the law see also Moral, ceremonial, and judicial law - a brief study )

 

Romans 2:28 For he is (3SPAI) not a Jew who is one outwardly *, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: ou gar o en to phanero Ioudaios estin, (3SPAI) oude e en to phanero en sarki peritome;
Amplified: For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical.
(Amplified Bible - Lockman)
NLT: For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: I have come to the conclusion that a true Jew is not the man who is merely a Jew outwardly, and a real circumcision is not just a matter of the body.  (
Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest:  For, not he who is so in an outward fashion is a Jew, nor even that which is in an outward fashion in flesh is circumcision.  (
Erdmans
Young's Literal: For he is not a Jew who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in flesh;

FOR HE IS NOT A JEW WHO IS ONE OUTWARDLY: ou gar o en to phanero Ioudaios estin (3SPAI): (Ro 9:6-8; Ps 73:1; Isa 1:9-15; 48:1,2; Ho 1:6-9; Mt 3:9; Jn 1:47; Jn 8:37-39; Gal 6:15; Rev 2:9)

Jew (2453)(ioudaios) is summarized in Easton's Bible Dictionary as follows...

The name derived from the patriarch Judah, at first given to one belonging to the tribe of Judah or to the separate kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 16:6; 25:25; Jeremiah 32:12; 38:19; 40:11; 41:3), in contradistinction from those belonging to the kingdom of the ten tribes, who were called Israelites.

During the Captivity, and after the Restoration, the name, however, was extended to all the Hebrew nation without distinction (Esther 3:6,10; Daniel 3:8,12; Ezra 4:12; 5:1,5).

Originally this people were called Hebrews (Genesis 39:14; 40:15; Exodus 2:7; 3:18; 5:3; 1 Samuel 4:6,9, etc.), but after the Exile this name fell into disuse. But Paul was styled a Hebrew (2 Corinthians 11:22; Phil 3:5).

The history of the Jewish nation is interwoven with the history of Palestine and with the narratives of the lives of their rulers and chief men. They are now [1897] dispersed over all lands, and to this day remain a separate people, "without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image [RSV 'pillar,' marg. 'obelisk'], and without an ephod, and without teraphim" (Hosea 3:4). Till about the beginning of the present century [1800] they were everywhere greatly oppressed, and often cruelly persecuted; but now their condition is greatly improved, and they are admitted in most European countries to all the rights of free citizens. In 1860 the "Jewish disabilities" were removed, and they were admitted to a seat in the British Parliament. Their number in all is estimated at about six millions, about four millions being in Europe.

There are three names used in the New Testament to designate this people,

  • Jews, as regards their nationality, to distinguish them from Gentiles.

  • Hebrews, with regard to their language and education, to distinguish them from Hellenists, i.e., Jews who spoke the Greek language.

  • Israelites, as respects their sacred privileges as the chosen people of God. "To other races we owe the splendid inheritance of modern civilization and secular culture; but the religious education of mankind has been the gift of the Jew alone."

  • (Smith's Bible Dictionary adds that) The force of the title "Jew" is seen particularly in the Gospel of St. John, who very rarely uses any other term to describe the opponents of our Lord. At an earlier stage of the progress of the faith it was contrasted with Greek as implying an outward covenant with God, (