At the start of chapter 2, Paul is addressing any man/person rather than specifically the recipients of his letter. The point is made to those who seek to judge others, they are “without excuse”. This is the conclusion to the preceding argument that God’s righteousness and wrath our revealed clearly but humans choose to suppress truth and exchange godliness for ungodliness. The point is that all of us do the same things as described in Romans 1:18-32 (v1). God’s judgement is just and indeed that we all live under that judgement is evidence that we are without excuse and justification (v2). When we pronounce judgement on others we recognise this justice, so what are we expecting if we do the same things? Are we trying to kid ourselves that we can somehow escape God’s coming judgement? On what basis? (v3). One of the themes that Paul will pick up on is that God shows kindness and patience, he doesn’t rush to judge. His challenge here is whether we assume that because the judgement has not come yet that it isn’t going to happen. We’ve got away with it (v4). Judgement day, or the day of wrath, ὀργῆς, is coming and if we don’t repent then we store up, θησαυρίζεις, wrath (God’s just anger) for ourselves. We have a choice, we can either store up treasure or wrath (v5).
Romans 2:1-5 (notes)
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