Romans 2:11
in Romans 2For God does not show favoritism.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for there is no respect of persons with God.
KJV
For there is no respect of persons with God.
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This verse in Romans 2
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For - This particle is used here to confirm what is said before, particularly that this punishment should be experienced by the Jew as well as the Gentile. For God would deal with both on the principles of justice. Respect of persons - The word thus rendered means “partiality,” in pronouncing judgment, in favoring one party or individual more than another, not because his cause is more just, but on account of something personal - on account of his wealth, or rank, or function, or influence, or by personal friendship, or by the fear of him.
This site's exposition
God does not show favoritism
God does not show favoritism. The Greek word is prosopolepsia, receiving a face, the favor a judge shows to the man standing in front of him. The verse holds the chapter together: the Jew and the Greek are judged by the same truth, and the law a man owns changes no sentence.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Paul shows that neither Jews nor Greeks will be rejected by God if they believe in Christ, but that both are justified by faith. Likewise, he says that those who do not believe are equally guilty, since circumcision without faith is worthless but uncircumcision with …
But the freemen shall be tried by penance for three years, both for their dissimulation, and for having compelled their fellow-servants to offer sacrifice, inasmuch as they have not obeyed the apostle, who would have the masters do the same things unto the servant, forbearing …
We are all born equal, emperors and paupers, and we die as equals. Our humanity is of one quality.
"For there is no respect of persons with God." Wonderful! What more than victory has he gained! For he shows, by reducing it to an absurdity, that it was not meet with God that it should be otherwise. For it would then be a case of respecting of persons. But of such character God is not. And he does not say, "for if this were not so, God would be a respecter of persons," but with more of dignity, "For there is no respect of persons with God." That it is not quality of persons, but difference of actions, Which He maketh inquisition for. By so saying he shows that it was not in actions but in persons only that the Jew differed from the Gentile. The consequence of this would be thus expressed; For it is not because one is a Jew and the other a Gentile, that one is honored and the other disgraced, but it is from the works that either treatment comes. But he does not say so, since it would have roused the anger of the Jew, but he sets down something more, so bringing their haughty spirit yet lower, and quelling it for the admission of the other.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
From this, finally, comes what he adds in this passage: "For there is no respect of persons with God." But if this still seems doubtful to you, hear also what Peter declares in the Acts of the Apostles, when he had entered in to the Gentile Cornelius: "I find," he says, "that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every place and in every nation, he who does his will is accepted by him." But it can be objected against us what the Lord says in the Gospel: "Everyone who believes in me shall not be judged.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since it seemed incredible that a gentile who had not heard the law and the prophets should be deemed worthy of honor, he proves this by the fact that God is no respecter of persons. God, he says, does not take into account persons, but …
Then when he says for there is no respect of persons, he assigns the reason for his statement, namely, because there is no respect of persons with God: truly I perceive that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). Respect of persons is opposed to distributive …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For there is no respect of persons with God - He will reward every one according to his works. But this is well consistent with his distributing advantages and opportunities of improvement, according to his own good pleasure.
Jews and Gentiles stand upon the same level before God. This was Peter's remark upon the first taking down of the partition-wall ( Acts x. 34 ), that God is no respecter of persons; and it is explained in the next words, that in every nation he that fears God, and works righteousness, is accepted of him.
For there is no respect of persons with God.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
For there is no respect of persons with God - The righteous Judge will not act according to any principle of partiality; the character and conduct, alone of the persons shall weigh with him. He will take no wicked man to glory, let his nation or advantages be what they may; and he will send no righteous man to perdition, though brought up in the very bosom of Gentilism. And as he will judge in that day according to character and conduct, so his judgment will proceed on the ground of the graces, privileges, and blessings which they had received, improved or abused. And as there is no respect of persons with God in judgment, so there can be none in the previous administration of his saving blessings. He that will be condemned for his unrighteousness, will be condemned on the ground that he had sufficient grace afforded him for the salvation of his soul; and his condemnation will rest on the simple principle, that he abused the grace which was sufficient to save him, by acting in opposition to its dictates and influence. No man, in that great day, shall be brought to heaven through any partiality of the Judge; and no man sent to hell because God did not afford him sufficient grace, or because he had made a decree which rendered even his use of it ineffectual to his salvation. In reference to the great design of God, in the salvation of man, it shall be said, - in time, at the day of judgment, and throughout eternity, - There Is No Respect of Persons with God.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | there is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| προσωπολημψία | prosopolempsia | partiality | G4382 → | |
| παρὰ | para | with | G3844 → | 192 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεῷ.¶ | theo | God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐστινthere is
estinG1510 →2333 times
προσωπολημψίαpartiality
prosopolempsiaG4382 →
παρὰwith
paraG3844 →192 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
θεῷ.¶God.
theoG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 10:17For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
it leads to
- Acts 10:34
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- Acts 10:34
Through
Acts 10:34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
it leads to
- Colossians 3:25
Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 34:19
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 19:7
And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
- Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
- Luke 20:21
“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
- Colossians 3:25
Through
Galatians 2:6But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
it leads to
- Galatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running…
- Galatians 2:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Romans
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistle to the Romans; Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Jerome, HOMILES ON THE PSALMS 14; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 5; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Peter of Alexandria, The Canonical Epistle; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.