---
title: "Commentary on Romans"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "John Owen"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 77 of 91
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-romans/77/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. John Owen, Commentary on Romans, section 77. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-romans/77/"
---

# Commentary on Romans

*John Calvin, tr. John Owen*

Calvin's first New Testament commentary, dedicated to Simon Grynaeus.

## 77. Chapter 2

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-romans/77/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-romans/77/#p-N

[¶0] 1 Therefore inexcusable art thou, O man, who judgest; for in what thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, for the same things doest thou who judgest.

[¶1] 2 Now we know that God’s judgment is according to truth on those who do such things.

[¶2] 3 And thinkest thou, O man, who judgest those who do such things and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

[¶3] 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and gentleness, not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance?

[¶4] 5 But according to thy hardness and a heart that cannot repent, thou treasurest for thyself wrath for the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

[¶5] 6 Who will render to every one according to his works, —

[¶6] 7 To those indeed, who by perseverance in doing good, seek glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;

[¶7] 8 But to those who are contentious and disobedient to the truth and obey unrighteousness, there shall be indignation and wrath,

[¶8] 9 Tribulation and anguish shall be on every soul of man who doeth evil, the Jew first, then the Greek;

[¶9] 10 But glory and honor and peace shall be to every one who works good, to the Jew first, then to the Greek;

[¶10] 11 Since there is no respect of persons with God.

[¶11] 12 For whosoever have without the law sinned, shall also without the law perish; but whosoever have under the law sinned, shall by the law be judged,

[¶12] 13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God; but they who do the law shall be justified.

[¶13] 14 When indeed the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things of the law, they, having not the law, are a law to themselves;

[¶14] 15 Who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience at the same time attesting, and their thoughts accusing or excusing each other,

[¶15] 16 In the day in which God will judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, through Jesus Christ.

[¶16] 17 Behold, thou art named a Jew, and restest in the law and gloriest in God,

[¶17] 18 And knowest his will and approvest of things excellent, being instructed from the law,

[¶18] 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a leader to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

[¶19] 20 An instructor to the foolish, a teacher to the ignorant, because thou hast the form of knowledge and of’ the truth according to the law:

[¶20] 21 Yet thou who teachest another, dost not teach thyself; thou who preachest “steal not,” stealest;

[¶21] 22 Thou who sayest, “commit no adultery,” committest adultery; thou who hatest idols, committest sacrilege;

[¶22] 23 Thou who gloriest in the law, by transgressing the law dishonorest God; for the name of God,

[¶23] 24 As it is written, is reproached on your account among the nations.

[¶24] 25 For circumcision indeed profits, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is turned into uncircumcision.

[¶25] 26 If then the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

[¶26] 27 And shall not he who is by nature uncircumcision judge thee, (if he keep the law,) who by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?

[¶27] 28 For not he who is a Jew openly, is a Jew; nor is that circumcision which is openly in the flesh:

[¶28] 29 But he who is one in secret is a Jew; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; the praise of whom is not from men, but from God.