Romans 2:17

Behold. Gr. ide. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the reading ei de, “but if.” Ide and ei de are quite similar in appearance and sound. The reading “but if” strengthens the connection between vs. 17-20 and 21-24.

In his epistle thus far Paul has shown that the Gentiles have sinned. He has explained that Jews and Gentiles alike are subject to God’s impartial judgment. Now he proceeds to show that the Jews are guilty of the same sins and vices for which they are so ready to condemn the Gentiles. In this way Paul is proving that all men everywhere are under condemnation and in need of the righteousness and salvation revealed in the gospel.

Art called. Or, “call yourself,” “bear the name of.” Paul is saying, “Suppose you call yourself a Jew,” “What if you claim the name of Jew.”

Jew. The title “Jew” first occurs in 2 Kings 16:6 (see comment there). After the Babylonian captivity it became the national name of the Hebrew people. The Jews apparently took much pride in their name and nationality (Gal. 2:15; Rev. 2:9; 3:9); to be a Jew meant to be distinguished from the heathen and to enjoy special privileges (Rom. 9:4; Gal. 2:15). In his discussion of the guilt of the Jews, Paul momentarily admits their boasted privilege (Rom. 2:17, 18) and their assumed superiority over others (vs. 19, 20). Later he brings out the flagrant inconsistency between their lofty profession and their actual practice.

Restest in the law. Literally, “restest upon law.” The Jews had come to rely upon the mere possession of law as an assurance of God’s favor. They leaned upon the fact that they had the law and were thus distinguished from others, instead of using the law as a rule of life and a light to the conscience. The same Greek word here translated “restest” occurs in the LXX in Micah 3:11. “Yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.”

Makest thy boast of God. Literally, “boasts in God,” or “glories in God.” The Jews claimed to have a special relation to God, but instead of this relationship revealing itself in humble dependence and loyal obedience, it manifested itself in conceit and arrogance toward the people of other nations. This was a perversion of the glorying that God commends: “Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth” (Jer. 9:24). It is true that the Jews had been greatly privileged by their knowledge of God (Deut. 4:7). This should have been reason for gratitude rather than for idle boasting. Unfortunately, it is much more common to boast of privileges than to be thankful for them. It is no evidence of piety for a man to boast of his knowledge of God. A humble thankfulness that he has such knowledge, a thankfulness that leads him to desire that others may have the same privilege, is evidence of true piety in the life of the Christian.