Romans 2:16

“In the day when God shall judge, etc..] These words are to be read in connection with (<450213>Romans 2:13), and express the time when both Jews and Gentiles will be judged, called a “day”, both because of the clearness and evidence of the judgment that will be made, and because a certain time is fixed, though not known, which will surely come; also the matter of the judgment, which will be, the secrets of men: whether good or bad, which are only known to God and themselves, and which may have been done ignorantly by them; “for God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil”, (<211214>Ecclesiastes 12:14), which is so interpreted by…”

“In the day, &c.--Here the unfinished statement of Rom 2:12 is resumed and closed. shall judge the secrets of men--here specially referring to the unfathomed depths of hypocrisy in the self-righteous whom the apostle had to deal with. (See Ecc 12:14; Co1 4:5). according to my gospel--to my teaching as a preacher of the Gospel.”

“In the day - This verse is doubtless to be connected with Romans 2:12, and the intermediate verses are a parenthesis, and it implies that the pagan world, as well as the Jews, will be arraigned at the bar of judgment. At that time God will judge all in righteousness, the Jew by the Law which he had, and the pagan by the Law which he had. When God shall judge - God is often represented as the Judge of mankind; Deuteronomy 32:36; Psa 50:4; 1 Samuel 2:10; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Romans 3:6; Hebrews 13:4. But this does not militate against the fact that he will do it by Jesus Christ. God has appointed his Son to administer judgment; and it will be not by God directly, but by Jesus Christ that it will…”

“In the day - That is, who show this in the day. Everything will then be shown to be what it really is. In that day will appear the law written in their hearts as it often does in the present life. When God shall judge the secrets of men - On secret circumstances depends the real quality of actions, frequently unknown to the actors themselves, Rom 2:29. Men generally form their judgments, even of themselves merely from what is apparent. According to my gospel - According to the tenor of that gospel which is committed to my care. Hence it appears that the gospel also is a law. Romans 2:17”

“2:16 secret life (literally the hidden things): Scripture frequently stresses that God will judge people according to their thoughts and intentions (see 1 Sam 16:7; Ps 139:1-2; Jer 17:10).”

“God: Rom 2:5, Rom 3:6, Rom 14:10-12; Gen 18:25; Psa 9:7, Psa 9:8, Psa 50:6, Psa 96:13, Psa 98:9; Ecc 3:17, Ecc 11:9; Ecc 12:14; Mat 16:27, 25:31-46; Luk 8:17; Joh 12:48; Co1 4:5; Co2 5:10; Heb 9:27; Pe1 4:5; Pe2 2:9; Rev 20:11-15 by Jesus: Joh 5:22-29; Act 10:42, Act 17:31; Ti2 4:1, Ti2 4:8 according: Rom 16:25; Ti1 1:11; Ti2 2:8 Romans 2:17”