Romans 2:3

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 2:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Romans 2:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, etc..] Some men may be so vain as to imagine, that though they do the same things which they condemn in others, they shall escape the judgment of God: but such will find themselves most sadly mistaken; there is no avoiding the general judgment; all men must come to it; there will be no eluding it through craftiness and deceit, through bribery and corruption; there will be no escaping condign punishment, through might in the criminal, or through the judge's ignorance of his crimes, or want of ability and power to punish.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And thinkest thou ... - This is an appeal to their common sense, to their deep and instinctive conviction of what was right. If they condemned those who practiced these things; if, imperfect and obscure as their sense of justice was; if, unholy as they were, they yet condemned those who were guffey of these offences, would not a holy and just God be far more likely to pronounce judgment? And could they escape who had themselves delivered a similar sentence? God is of “purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look upon iniquity, Habakkuk 1:13. And if people condemned their fellow-men, how much more would a pure and holy God condemn iniquity. This appeal is evidently directed against the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“That thou shalt escape - Rather than the gentile. Romans 2:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thinkest: Sa2 10:3; Job 35:2; Psa 50:21; Mat 26:53 O man: Rom 2:1; Dan 10:19; Luk 12:14, Luk 22:58, Luk 22:60 that thou shalt: Rom 1:32; Psa 56:7; Pro 11:21, Pro 16:5; Eze 17:15, Eze 17:18; Mat 23:33; Th1 5:3; Heb 2:3, Heb 12:25 Romans 2:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification