Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Romans 2:28 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 2:28	Strong Concordance	For [1063] he is [2076] not [3756] a Jew [2453], which is one outwardly [1722] [5318]; neither [3761] is that circumcision [4061], which is outward [1722] [5318] in [1722] the flesh [4561]:
	King James	For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.--In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless. Note, (1) It is a sad mark of depravity when all that is designed and fitted to melt only hardens the heart (Rom 2:4, and compare Pe2 3:9; Ecc 8:11). (2) Amidst all the inequalities of religious opportunity measured out to men, and the mysterious bearing of this upon their character and destiny for eternity, the same great principles of judgment, in a form suited to their respective discipline, will be applied to all, and perfect equity will be seen to reign throughout every stage of the divine administration (Rom 2:11-16). (3) "The law written on the heart" (Rom 2:14-15) --or the Ethics of Natural Theology--may be said to be the one deep foundation on which all revealed religion reposes; and see on Rom 1:19-20, where we have what we may call its other foundation--the Physics and Metaphysics of Natural Theology. The testimony of these two passages is to the theologian invaluable, while in the breast of every teachable Christian it wakens such deep echoes as are inexpressibly solemn and precious. (4) High religious professions are a fearful aggravation of the inconsistencies of such as make them (Rom 2:17-24). See Sa2 12:14. (5) As no external privileges, or badge of discipleship, will shield the unholy from the wrath of God, so neither will the want of them shut out from the kingdom of heaven such as have experienced without them that change of heart which the seals of God's covenant were designed to mark. In the sight of the great Searcher of hearts, the Judge of quick and dead, the renovation of the character in heart and life is all in all. In view of this, have not all baptized, sacramented disciples of the Lord Jesus, who "profess that they know God, but in works deny Him," need to tremble--who, under the guise of friends, are "the enemies of the cross of Christ?"

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.--In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless.

Note, (1) It is a sad mark of depravity when all that is designed and fitted to melt only hardens the heart (Rom 2:4, and compare Pe2 3:9; Ecc 8:11). (2) Amidst all the inequalities of religious opportunity measured out to men, and the mysterious bearing of this upon their character and destiny for eternity, the same great principles of judgment, in a form suited to their respective discipline, will be applied to all, and perfect equity will be seen to reign throughout every stage of the divine administration (Rom 2:11-16). (3) "The law written on the heart" (Rom 2:14-15) --or the Ethics of Natural Theology--may be said to be the one deep foundation on which all revealed religion reposes; and see on Rom 1:19-20, where we have what we may call its other foundation--the Physics and Metaphysics of Natural Theology. The testimony of these two passages is to the theologian invaluable, while in the breast of every teachable Christian it wakens such deep echoes as are inexpressibly solemn and precious. (4) High religious professions are a fearful aggravation of the inconsistencies of such as make them (Rom 2:17-24). See Sa2 12:14. (5) As no external privileges, or badge of discipleship, will shield the unholy from the wrath of God, so neither will the want of them shut out from the kingdom of heaven such as have experienced without them that change of heart which the seals of God's covenant were designed to mark. In the sight of the great Searcher of hearts, the Judge of quick and dead, the renovation of the character in heart and life is all in all. In view of this, have not all baptized, sacramented disciples of the Lord Jesus, who "profess that they know God, but in works deny Him," need to tremble--who, under the guise of friends, are "the enemies of the cross of Christ?"

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For he is not a Jew ... - He who is merely descended from Abraham, and is circumcised, and externally conforms to the Law only, does not possess the true character, and manifest the true spirit, contemplated by the separation of the Jewish people. Their separation required much more. Neither is that circumcision ... - Neither does it meet the full design of the rite of circumcision, that it is externally performed. It contemplated much more; see Rom 2:29.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
For he (See Scofield) - (Rom 9:6).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
For he is not a Jew - In the most important sense, that is, one of God's beloved people. Who is one in outward show only; neither is that the true, acceptable circumcision, which is apparent in the flesh.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For he is not a Jew - A genuine member of the Church of God, who has only an outward profession. Neither is that circumcision - Circumcision is a rite which represents a spiritual thing, viz. the change and purification of the heart, as may be seen, Jer 4:4, Jer 4:6, Jer 4:10; Jer 9:26; Eze 44:7, Eze 44:9.

Top

¹⁴ Howbeit [0657], because by this deed [01697] thou hast given [05006] great occasion [05006] to the enemies [0341] of the LORD [03068] to blaspheme [05006], the child [01121] also that is born [03209] unto thee shall surely [04191] die [04191].

¹⁷ Behold [2396], thou [4771] art called [2028] a Jew [2453], and [2532] restest [1879] in the law [3551], and [2532] makest thy boast [2744] of [1722] God [2316],
¹⁸ And [2532] knowest [1097] his will [2307], and [2532] approvest [1381] the things that are more excellent [1308], being instructed [2727] out of [1537] the law [3551];
¹⁹ And [5037] art confident [3982] that thou thyself [4572] art [1511] a guide [3595] of the blind [5185], a light [5457] of them which are in [1722] darkness [4655],
²⁰ An instructor [3810] of the foolish [878], a teacher [1320] of babes [3516], which hast [2192] the form [3446] of knowledge [1108] and [2532] of the truth [225] in [1722] the law [3551].
²¹ Thou therefore [3767] which [3588] teachest [1321] another [2087], teachest thou [1321] not [3756] thyself [4572]? thou that preachest [2784] a man should [2813] not [3361] steal [2813], dost thou steal [2813]?
²² Thou that sayest [3004] a man should [3431] not [3361] commit adultery [3431], dost thou commit adultery [3431]? thou that abhorrest [948] idols [1497], dost thou commit sacrilege [2416]?
²³ Thou [3739] that makest thy boast [2744] of [1722] the law [3551], through [1223] breaking [3847] the law [3551] dishonourest thou [818] God [2316]?
²⁴ For [1063] the name [3686] of God [2316] is blasphemed [987] among [1722] the Gentiles [1484] through [1223] you [5209], as [2531] it is written [1125].

¹⁹ Because [1360] that which may be known [1110] of God [2316] is [2076] manifest [5318] in [1722] them [846]; for [1063] God [2316] hath shewed [5319] it unto them [846].
²⁰ For [1063] the invisible things [517] of him [846] from [575] the creation [2937] of the world [2889] are clearly seen [2529], being understood [3539] by the things that are made [4161], even [5037] his [846] eternal [126] power [1411] and [2532] Godhead [2305]; so [1519] that they [846] are [1511] without excuse [379]:

¹⁴ For [1063] when [3752] the Gentiles [1484], which [3588] have [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], do [4160] by nature [5449] the things [3588] contained in the law [3551], these [3778], having [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], are [1526] a law [3551] unto themselves [1438]:
¹⁵ Which [3748] shew [1731] the work [2041] of the law [3551] written [1123] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588], their [846] conscience [4893] also bearing witness [4828], and [2532] their thoughts [3053] the mean while accusing [2723] or [2228] else [2532] excusing [626] one another [3342] [240];)

¹¹ For [1063] there is [2076] no [3756] respect of persons [4382] with [3844] God [2316].
¹² For [1063] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] without law [460] shall [622] also [2532] perish [622] without law [460]: and [2532] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] in [1722] the law [3551] shall be judged [2919] by [1223] the law [3551];
¹³ (For [1063] not [3756] the hearers [202] of the law [3551] are just [1342] before [3844] God [2316], but [235] the doers [4163] of the law [3551] shall be justified [1344].
¹⁴ For [1063] when [3752] the Gentiles [1484], which [3588] have [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], do [4160] by nature [5449] the things [3588] contained in the law [3551], these [3778], having [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], are [1526] a law [3551] unto themselves [1438]:
¹⁵ Which [3748] shew [1731] the work [2041] of the law [3551] written [1123] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588], their [846] conscience [4893] also bearing witness [4828], and [2532] their thoughts [3053] the mean while accusing [2723] or [2228] else [2532] excusing [626] one another [3342] [240];)
¹⁶ In [1722] the day [2250] when [3753] God [2316] shall judge [2919] the secrets [2927] of men [444] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] according [2596] to my [3450] gospel [2098].

¹¹ Because sentence [06599] against an evil [07451] work [04639] is not executed [06213] speedily [04120], therefore the heart [03820] of the sons [01121] of men [0120] is fully set [04390] in them to do [06213] evil [07451].

⁹ The Lord [2962] is [1019] not [3756] slack [1019] concerning his promise [1860], as [5613] some men [5100] count [2233] slackness [1022]; but [235] is longsuffering [3114] to [1519] us-ward [2248], not [3361] willing [1014] that any [5100] should perish [622], but [235] that all [3956] should come [5562] to [1519] repentance [3341].

⁴ Or [2228] despisest thou [2706] the riches [4149] of his [846] goodness [5544] and [2532] forbearance [463] and [2532] longsuffering [3115]; not knowing [50] that [3754] the goodness [5543] of God [2316] leadeth [71] thee [4571] to [1519] repentance [3341]?

²⁹ But [235] he is a Jew [2453], which is one inwardly [1722] [2927]; and [2532] circumcision [4061] is that of the heart [2588], in [1722] the spirit [4151], and not [3756] in the letter [1121]; whose [3739] praise [1868] is not [3756] of [1537] men [444], but [235] of [1537] God [2316].

⁶ Not [3756] as [3634] though [1161] [3754] the word [3056] of God [2316] hath taken none effect [1601]. For [1063] they are not [3756] all [3956] [1537] Israel [2474], which [3588] [3778] are of Israel [2474]:

⁹ Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; No stranger [01121] [05236], uncircumcised [06189] in heart [03820], nor uncircumcised [06189] in flesh [01320], shall enter [0935] into my sanctuary [04720], of any stranger that is among [08432] the children [01121] of Israel [03478].

⁷ In that ye have brought [0935] into my sanctuary strangers [01121] [05236], uncircumcised [06189] in heart [03820], and uncircumcised [06189] in flesh [01320], to be in my sanctuary [04720], to pollute [02490] it, even my house [01004], when ye offer [07126] my bread [03899], the fat [02459] and the blood [01818], and they have broken [06565] my covenant [01285] because [0413] of all your abominations [08441].

²⁶ Egypt [04714], and Judah [03063], and Edom [0123], and the children [01121] of Ammon [05983], and Moab [04124], and all that are in the utmost [07112] corners [06285], that dwell [03427] in the wilderness [04057]: for all these nations [01471] are uncircumcised [06189], and all the house [01004] of Israel [03478] are uncircumcised [06189] in the heart [03820].

¹⁰ Then said [0559] I, Ah [0162], Lord [0136] GOD [03069]! surely [0403] thou hast greatly [05377] deceived [05377] this people [05971] and Jerusalem [03389], saying [0559], Ye shall have peace [07965]; whereas the sword [02719] reacheth [05060] unto the soul [05315].

⁶ Set up [05375] the standard [05251] toward Zion [06726]: retire [05756], stay [05975] not: for I will bring [0935] evil [07451] from the north [06828], and a great [01419] destruction [07667].

⁴ Circumcise [04135] yourselves to the LORD [03068], and take away [05493] the foreskins [06190] of your heart [03824], ye men [0376] of Judah [03063] and inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389]: lest my fury [02534] come forth [03318] like fire [0784], and burn [01197] that none can quench [03518] it, because [06440] of the evil [07455] of your doings [04611].