Romans 2
Romans 2 is the second chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, while he was in Corinth in the mid 50s AD, with the help of an amanuensis (secretary), Tertius, who adds his own greeting in . Although "the main theme of the Epistle [is] the doctrine of justification by faith", in verse 6 Paul "lays down with unmistakable definiteness and precision the doctrine that works, what a man has done, the moral tenor of his life, will be the standard by which he  will be judged at the last day". Text. The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 29 verses. Textual witnesses. Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are: Analysis. Paul's rhetoric style here and other parts of the epistle (cf. Romans 3:1-9; 3:27–4:25; 9:19–21; 10:14–21; 11:17–24; 14:4–12) resembles the "diatribe", a form of argumentation by 'debating' an imaginary opponent (as common among Cynic or Stoic philosophers), such as responding to objections using the expression 'by no means!' ("me genoito"; cf. Romans 3:4, 6, 31; 6:2,15; 7:7,13; 9:14; 11:1, 11) to 'pull ' the reader into the 'conversation' on Paul's side. Unlike in Romans 2:17–3:20 where Paul plainly addresses a Jewish interlocutor, the dialogue partner in verses 1–16 is not explicitly identified, but the whole section of Romans 2:1–3:20 'speaks to perceived Jewish attitudes'. No partiality with God. Verse 11. Cross references: ; Circumcision. Paul refers to circumcision as a physical mark of Jewish identity, but for a Jew who breaks the law it becomes a sign of contradiction: "your circumcision has become uncircumcision" (). The prophet Jeremiah had spoken of those who were "circumcised yet uncircumcised" (, Holman Christian Standard Bible translation). Paul reiterates  the teaching of Moses that: He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter drawing on Moses' words in : The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.