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Romans 02 General Notes
Structure and formatting
This chapter shifts its audience from Roman Christians to those who "judge" and do not believe in Jesus. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/judge and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/believe)
"Therefore you are without excuse"
This phrase looks back at chapter 1 and, in some ways, it is actually a conclusion to the argument of chapter 1. This phrase explains the reasons why everyone in the world is required to worship the true God.
Special concepts in this chapter
"Doers of the Law"
It is not those who obey the law who will be justified by their obedience to it. It is those who earnestly try to follow the law of Moses who are justified by their faith which this demonstrates. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/justify and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses)
Important figures of speech in this chapter
Rhetorical Questions
These are frequently used in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the reader feel guilty or to convict them in their sin and ultimately bring them to faith in Jesus. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion, rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/guilt, rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith)
Hypothetical Situation
In light of the context, "He will give eternal life" is a hypothetical statement. If a person could live a perfect life, they would earn eternal life as a reward. Only Jesus was able to live a perfect life. There is another hypothetical situation in 2:17-29. This situation explains that even those who earnestly try to obey the law of Moses are guilty of violating the law. In English, this is about those who follow the "letter" of the law but cannot follow the "spirit" or general principles of the law. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo)
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
"You who judge"
At times, this could be translated in a simpler way, but it is translated in this relatively awkward way because Paul is referencing "people who judge" in such a way as to also say that everyone judges. It is possible to translate this as "those who judge (and everyone judges)."