honour with God. Paul knows such men; he refers to them. Whom does he have in mind? According to an ancient and almost universally accepted exegetical tradition, though not a tradition which is to be respected merely on this account, his reference is to outstanding Gentiles. On this view we have in Rom. 2 a compelling locus probans* for an effective natural revelation of God and knowledge of God. Shortly afterwards (3:9), however, Paul says unmistakably that both Jews and Gentiles collectively and
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