Romans 2:12–29

¹²All those who sinned without the law ^swill also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³For the hearers of the law ^tare not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous. ^u14So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively ^vdo what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵They show that the work of the law ^wis written on their hearts. ^xTheir consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them ^y16on the day when God judges ^zwhat people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus. ^a

Jewish Violation of the Law

¹⁷Now if ^byou call yourself a Jew, and rest in the law, ^cboast in God, ¹⁸know His will, and approve the things that are superior, ^dbeing instructed from the law, ¹⁹and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the full expression ^eof knowledge and truth ^fin the law— ²¹you then, who teach another, ^gdon’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? ²²You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? ^h23You who boast in the law, ⁱdo you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. ^jk

Circumcision of the Heart

²⁵For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ^l26Therefore if an uncircumcised ^mman keeps the law’s requirements, ⁿwill his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision? ²⁷A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you ^owho are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. ²⁸For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, ^pand true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. ²⁹On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, ^qand circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. ^rsThat man’s praise ^tis not from men but from God. ^u