Romans 2 (BHT-ATN)

“God Judges All People by the Same Standard”

1 That is why ˢyou, O fellow member of the human race,+ have absolutely no excuse—any human being who concludes another to be worthy of condemnation.+ To the extent+ that ˢyou condemn someone else, you see, it is actually yourself whom you are condemning, in view of the fact that you, the one who condemns, are guilty of doing the very same things. 2 Now we know that when God judges, he renders accurate and impartial judgment+ against those who do such things. 3 Well, do ˢyou really imagine, you puny sinful human+—you who condemn those who do such things even though you are guilty of the same—that you yourself will somehow escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do ˢyou dare snub your nose at the incomparably vast and precious riches of his kindness and restraint and patience, failing to understand that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?+ 5 Because of ˢyour hardness and your heart’s refusal to repent,+ however, you are storing up punishment+ for yourself in the Day when God will pour out his wrath and reveal his righteous judgment+ 6 and “repay each person according to his deeds.”+ 7 To those who, by keeping to what is right,+ continually set their hearts on these—glory and honor and immortality—he will grant life in the age to come.+ 8 Upon those who are driven by selfish ambition and refuse to obey the truth, however, who instead obey what is wicked, he will pour out his wrath and fury. 9 There will come upon all the evildoers of mankind+ great affliction and anguish—upon Jews first, and also+ upon Gentiles. 10 There will be granted to everyone who persists in doing what is right, however, glory and honor and peace—to Jews first, and also to Gentiles. 11 God judges all people by the same standard, you see.+ 12 All who bear guilt for sin, you see, outside of a formal subjection to and knowledge of Torah,+will without reference to Torah also be consigned to utter ruin, while all who bear guilt for sin, indeed, as those formally subject to and knowledgeable of Torah,+ will on the basis of Torah be condemned. 13 It is not those who merely hear Torah, after all, who are held to be righteous in the eyes of God, but it is those who obey Torah who will be held as such.+ 14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who aren’t in possession of Torah, do the things taught by Torah as a matter of natural disposition,+ these Gentiles,+ even though they don’t have Torah, are functioning as a kind of covenantal instruction+ to themselves; 15 they+ demonstrate that the conduct stipulated in Torah is written on their hearts,+ their consciences bearing additional witness,+ and at different moments their thoughts telling them, “no, that was wrong,” or even, “yes, that was right.”+ 16 The Day is coming when+ God will judge the innermost thoughts and motives of the human race,+ according to my gospel, through Messiah Jesus.+

“If You Are Called a Jew”

17 Now if ˢyou are called a Jew, and rely on Torah and praise the deeds of God+ 18 and know his will and can discern the things that are of greater value and importance,+ because you are instructed in Torah; 19 if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide indeed for the blind,+ a light for those who are in darkness, 20 someone who can whip the foolish into shape,+ a teacher of the ignorant,+ because you have in your possession the essential features of knowledge and truth in Torah— 21 well then, ˢyou who teach others, are you failing to teach yourself? ˢYou who are always condemning stealing, are you guilty of stealing? 22 ˢYou who are always saying, “don’t commit adultery,” are you guilty of adultery?+ ˢYou who loathe idols, are you guilty of robbing temples?+ 23 ˢYou who pride yourself so much in Torah, by disregarding Torah, are subjecting God to dishonor. 24 As it is written, “It is because of ᵖyou that the name of God is constantly profaned+ among the Gentiles.”+ 25 Circumcision does have its benefits,+ but only if ˢyou obey Torah.+ If ˢyou disregard Torah,+ however, ˢyou might as well have never even been circumcised.+

26 If a Gentile’s+ way of life conforms, therefore, to the righteous statutes of Torah,+ he will be regarded, will he not, even though he is uncircumcised, as a member of God’s covenant people?+ 27 In fact, a Gentile who is uncircumcised in his body, and yet whose inward life is submitted to God’s instruction+ in obedience, will condemn ˢyou who have these—letters on scrolls and bodily circumcision—and yet disregard Torah.+ 28 It isn’t the things that can be seen on the outside, you see, that make a Jew a Jew,+ nor is it the circumcision that can be seen in the body that makes a Jew acceptable to God.+ 29 No, it is the Jew who is faithful here—on the inside, where no man can see+—who is a Jew,+ and the critical+ circumcision is that of the heart, accomplished through the work+ of the Spirit, not letters on scrolls. This person’s praise comes not from mere men, but from God.

+1:3Lit according to the flesh. ME (see BDAG, 915, sv σάρξ 4). Cf 2 Sa 7; 1 Ch 17; Ps 2, 89, 132.+1:4This is a Messianic title, rooted in the Davidic Covenant (cf, eg, 2 Sa 7; 1 Ch 17; Ps 2, 89, 132).+1:4Cf ISV, NET. Cf also Mt 28:18-20. Note the important relationship between Messianic authority and the Spirit in Is 11, given to the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Is 11:1). Cf also Heb 1; Re 3:1, 5:6.+1:4Cf Is 11:1-5, 42:1, 59:21, 61:1; Re 1:4, 3:1, and 5:6.+1:4Cf Ps 16; Ac 13:32-35. Following Cranfield here. See C. E. B. Cranfield, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, International Critical Commentary (London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004), 61–62.+1:5Lit grace and apostleship. ME. Cf NABRE. Cf also Ga 1:1. “Grace and apostleship” is most likely a hendiadys (a unified concept expressed through two coordinated words [ie, they are joined with “and”]; cf ESS [Rm], 23). Cf, eg, 1 Co 1:1; 2 Co 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Ti 1:1; 2 Ti 1:1.+1:5Or for the sake of. ὑπὲρ ( huper) here is a marker of benefaction. Cf. NLT.+1:6Unless otherwise marked (through superscript—ˢyou), all second person pronouns are in the second person plural.+1:6Or called.+1:6Or to belong to. Cf BDAG, 549, sv κλητός; CEV, CJB.+1:7IT. Here, Paul is obviously writing to believers, not to the entire city of Rome (lit all those being in Rome).+1:7Lit summoned to be holy, or called/summoned to be saints. ME/IT (see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” [PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024]). Cf 1 Th 4:7, 5:23; 2 Th 2:13.+1:8Lit first. Cf REB.+1:9The verb used in this verse (λατρεύω [ latreuō]) denotes the performance of priestly duties and sacral rights (see, eg, BDAG, 586, sv). Cf Rm 15:14.+1:10Lit always/on every occasion in my prayers petitioning if somehow already sometime I will be prospered in/by the will of God to come to you. ME (see L-N, 67.40; UBSHS [Rm], 16). Cf NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV. The gap between languages here is obvious.+1:11Lit to see you. ME. In this context, ἰδεῖν ( idein) means to “come or learn to know someone” (see BDAG, 280, sv εἶδον 5), or “to meet socially, conceived of as perceiving them by sight (in one’s presence)” ( BSL, Rm 1:11).+1:11Cf Rm 15:29.+1:12Cf, eg, 2 Co 1:3-11; 1 Th 3:1-10.+1:13Lit among the remaining/other Gentiles. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 17). Cf NEB.+1:13Lit have some fruit among you. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 17). Cf NLT.+1:14Lit both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ME(H) (see UBSHS [Rm], 18). Cf CJB, NLT, TEV.+1:14Lit that I am a debtor. ME. Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:16Lit Greeks. When contrasted with Jews, “Greeks” means Gentiles (see L-N, 11.40). Cf CJB, NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:17Lit in it. The antecedent has been restated in the translation for clarity. Cf NCV, NET, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:17The “righteousness of God” refers to God’s saving or punitive acts and to the personal and covenantal integrity on the basis of which such acts are performed. It has both positive and negative connotations: the salvation and raising up of one in victory means the humbling and punishing of another in defeat (cf., e.g., Judges 2-3). In some contexts, it can refer to a result of such activity, such as in the receipt of a new legal status (e.g., Phil 3:9) graciously granted by God in accordance with his revealed nature (Exod 34). For further discussion, see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” (PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024).+1:17Hab 2:4. Cf NLT, REB.+1:18Lit men. ME (see L-N, 9.1). Cf 2 Pt 3; Jud 14-15.Cf 2 Pt 3; Jud 14-15.+1:19Lit among them. ME (see translation and notes at Jn 12:37, 15:24). Cf REB in ESS (Rm), 71.+1:19Cf Gn 1:14-18; Ps 8,19; Rm 10:18.+1:20Lit his.+1:20Cf Ps 19:1-6, 28:5, 33:5, 46:8, 77:12, 86:5, 92:4, 103:22, 104:24, 104:31, 111:2, 143:5.+1:20Cf Gn 1:14-18; Ps 8:3-4, 19:1-6, 28:5, 46:8, 77:12, 86:5, 92:4, 103:22, 104:24, 104:31, 111:2, 143:5; Rm 10:18; Re 12:1-4.+1:21Lit their.+1:21Cf Ge 11.+1:21IT. The enslaving and oppressive nature of the power is assumed here; cf. Judges 2-3. This and other such statements in this chapter are setting the stage for Paul’s later statements in Romans about freedom from slavery to sin. For further discussion, see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” (PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024).+1:21Lit they were made futile in their thoughts. Translating ματαιόω ( mataioō) here in the same way as I’ve translated its cognate (μάταιος [ mataios]) at 1 Co 3:20; cf also the translation at 1 Co 15:17. “Worthless” is included here to preserve the link in thought with v 28.+1:21Cf Ps 93:11 in the LXX (94:11 in MT); 1 Co 3:20; Eph 4:17.+1:21Lit their hearts. ME(H) (see BDAG, 146, sv ἀσύνετος b.; L-N, 26.3; UBSHS [Rm], 24; notes at Mk 3:5). Cf NCV, NLT, TEV. Cf also TEV at Rm 1:31.+1:21ἀσύνετος ( asunetos) here “does not primarily denote lack of brains but moral obliquity” ( M-M, 87, sv). Cf ANLEX, 79, sv; BDAG, 146, sv; TEV at Rm 1:31; CJB.+1:21Cf REB.+1:21Cf Ps 94:11 (93:11 LXX); Rm 12:2; 1 Co 3:20; Eph 4:17.+1:23Cf Ps 106:20; Jr 2:11-12.+1:24IT. See note at Rom 1:21.+1:24Cf Ac 14:16-17; Rm 11:32; 2 Co 5:10; Ga 3:22.+1:24Or and as a result they did shameful things; or, so that they may do shameful things.+1:24Lit gave them over them in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, the to be shaming/dishonoring their bodies among themselves. ME (see BDAG, 34, sv ἀκαθαρσία 2; Ibid, 915, sv σάρξ 2.c.α.; ESS [Rm], 90; UBSHS [2 Co], 26; translation and notes at Ga 3:22). The mismatch in languages here is obvious. A noun cognate of the infinitive is used in v 26 (“passions of dishonor/shame,” ie, “shameful passions”), and thus “shameful” was used in translation here as well in order to maintain some measure of consistency and flow of thought. However, “shaming the body” sounds awkward in English. Hence the translation here. Cf CJB, NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:25Lit who.+1:26IT. See note at Rom 1:21.+1:26IT. Authority/domination/control/power is activated here by παραδίδωμι [ paradidōmi] (see BSL, Rm 1:24, sv παραδίδωμι; cf BDAG, sv σάρξ 2.c.α.; translation and notes at Ga 3:22). Cf GW in ESS [Rm], 89; OT usages (eg, Jg 2:14, 3:28). I’ve made this explicit in translation, since Paul is setting the stage here for many of the statements he will make later in Romans (see, eg, Rm 6:15-22, 11:32).+1:26Lit their females. Cf NLT, TEV.+1:26Lit exchanged the natural use/function for the use contrary to nature. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 27; translation and notes at 1 Co 11:14).+1:27Lit having left/forsaken the natural use/function of the female. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 27; translation and notes at 1 Co 11:14).+1:27Lit burned with craving/longing. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 25.16). Cf ISV.+1:27Cf. CSB, NASB.+1:27Cf Gn 18-19; 2 Pt 2-3; Jud 7.+1:28Lit did not approve to have God in recognition. ME (see BDAG, 369, sv ἐπίγνωσις; Ibid, 422, sv ἔχω 9.a.; L-N, 31.28).+1:28IT. See notes at Rom 1:21, 26.+1:31See note at 1:21 above. The same adjective is used here. Cf TEV.+2:1Lit O man, or O human being. Some translations leave out the vocative here. It is not without significance, however (cf v 1:18).+2:1Cf Mt 7:1-5; Jn 8:1-11.+2:1Or When, or In that which. Cf ἐν ᾧ κρίνετε ( en hō) here with ἐν ᾧ κρίματι ( en hō krimati) (indicating standard) and ἐν ᾧ μέτρῳ ( en hō mentrō) (indicating measure/amount) at Mt 7:2. Since Paul is making the same point as Jesus here, ἐν ᾧ (lit “in what [thing]”) most likely means “in what measure” or “in what amount,” ie, to the extent or degree of judgment/condemnation. Hence the translation here.+2:2Lit we know that the judgment of God is according to truth. ME (see BDAG, 42, sv ἀλήθεια 3; ESS [Rm], 127; L-N, 70.4).+2:3Lit O man. ME/IT (see note at Mt 19:26; note at v 1 above).+2:4Cf 2 Pt 3.+2:5Lit your hardness and unrepentant heart.+2:5Lit wrath. ME (see BSL, Rm 2:5, sv ὀργή; L-N, 38.10).+2:5Lit in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.+2:6Ps 62:12, Pr 24:12. Cf Jb 34:11; Jr 17:10, 32:19; Mt 16:27; Rm 14:12; 2 Co 5:10; 1 Pt 1:17; Re 2:23, 20:12, 22:12.+2:7Lit according to perseverance/endurance/persistence in good work. Here there seems to be some overlap between means and standard (and possibly cause; see ESS [Rm], 139). I’ve tried to bring this out in translation. Cf Ezk 3:16-21, 18:1-32, 33:1-20.+2:7This is a more literal rendering of ζωὴν αἰώνιον ( zōēn aiōnion), which most English translations render as “eternal life.” See UBSHS (Jn), 88.+2:9Lit upon every soul of man who is working evil. ME(I/F) (see UBSHS [Rm], 37).+2:9Or and then.+2:11Lit For there is no accepting a face with God. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 88.238; UBSHS [Rm], 38). Cf NCV, TEV.+2:12Lit sinned apart from the Law/Torah. ME(OTB)/IT (see BDAG, 86, sv ἄνομος 2.b., 3.b.; sv ἀνόμως; BSL, Rm 2:12, sv ἀνόμως; ESS [Rm], 247; UBSHS [Rm], 38; translation and notes at Ga 2:15, 3:23-29). Cf, eg, Dt 4:5-8; Ps 19:8-12, 119:130; Rm 2:17-20 below. Cf also CEV, CJB, NLT, TEV.+2:12Lit all who sinned in the Law/Torah. ME (see note earlier in this verse). The opposite is meant here.+2:13Cf Ezk 3:16-21, 18:1-32, 33:1-20; Lk 18:9-14, 20:34-38; Ac 24:15; Rm 2:7 and 2:10 just above; Ga 2:15-21; Jm 1:22-25. One must remember that Paul is thinking covenantally here. The Law itself assumes human sinfulness and the weakness of human flesh, and therefore includes provisions for mercy and atonement (the sacrificial system) for unintentional sins, upon repentance. For a Jew to “obey the Law,” therefore, included putting their full trust in God’s mercy made available through sacrifice when they stumbled in sin, and then actually trusting God for strength to do what is right as prescribed in the Torah (see, eg, 1 Ki 14:8; cf Ps 51). This wasn’t “works righteousness” or “salvation by works,” though some groups of Jews in Jesus’ day did pervert the Law in that way (see Rm 10:1-4). God calls and expects His people to actually obey him, through the power that He freely gives by grace: “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient” (Eph 5:5-6, NIV).+2:14There are two primary reasons why this verse should probably be interpreted not as unbelieving Gentiles who violate an internal law inherent to human nature (thereby putting them in the category described in Rm 2:8-9), but as believing Gentiles who obey God because their consciences have been reawakened through the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit (thereby putting them in the category described in Rm 2:7 and 2:10). (1) In Rm 1:21 and 1:31, Paul explicitly states that the moral faculties of unbelievers are “dull” and unresponsive to/undiscerning of right and wrong (see translation and notes related to ἀσύνετος [ asunetos] there; cf TEV at Rm 1:31). (2) V 15 refers to the Law being “written on hearts,” which is a fairly straightforward reference to Jr 31:31-33 (cf Rm 11:27; 2 Co 3:2-3; Heb 8:8-13, 10:16), and which implies a moral awareness that comes from the outside of a person (“written”), rather than inherently from within.+2:14Lit these ones.+2:14Lit these ones are a law. ME (see Daniel I. Block, The Gospel according to Moses: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Book of Deuteronomy [Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2012], 8–9). For law as “instruction,” see, eg, the HCSB at Ps 1.+2:15Lit who.+2:15Cf Jr 31:31-33; Rm 11:27; 2 Co 3:2-3; Heb 8:8-13, 10:16.+2:15Cf Dt 19:15.+2:15Lit and between one another their thoughts accusing or even defending. ME (see BDAG, 533, sv κατηγορέω 2; Ibid, 598, sv λογισμός 1; UBSHS [Rm], 41). As the UBSHS points out, it isn’t entirely clear who is being accused or defended. I have thus tried to translate so that the application could apply either to personal conviction, or to the recognition of wrong and right in various situations. Cf NCV, NLT. Cf also, eg, Rm 12:2 and Php 1:10.+2:16Lit in the day. This verse can be interpreted as either (1) linked specifically to v 15 (cf, eg, HCSB, ESV, ISV, LEB, NASB, NET, RSV), or (2) as connected to the entire preceding passage (cf, eg, NCV, NIV) (for a summary of different views, see ESS [Rm], 17). If the former is chosen, then the question arises as to whether it should be linked with the main verb (apparently NASB and NET) or the participles (HCSB, ESV, ISV, LEB, NASB, NET, RSV). If linked with the main verb, it means that the main verb is functioning futuristically (with connotations of certainty), and that the demonstration happens in the Day of judgment; if linked with the participles, it means that the participles are functioning futuristically (cf HCSB), and (seemingly) portray a person having a legal conversation with him or herself through his or her conscience in the presence of God (which, according to a number of theologians, translates into further evidence for condemnation, on the assumption that unbelievers are in view here; against this, though, see notes at vv 13-14). While all people will certainly give an account to God in the Day of Judgment, the focus here seems to be more on the guiding function of the conscience in light of the fact that the Law is “written on the heart,” leading up to the events described in vv 5-13 (cf, esp, v 17 with Rm 2:6 and Jr 17:9-10, where the judgment “according to deeds” is explicitly linked to an examination of the heart). In either case, I’ve decided to follow the lead of the NLT here with a simple and general summary statement, based on the information in the verse itself.+2:16Lit the hidden things of men. Cf translation and notes at 1 Co 4:5.+2:16Cf Jr 17:9-10; 1 Co 4:5; Ac 17:31.+2:17Lit boast in God. ME (see translation and notes at 1 Co 1:31; 2 Co 1:14). Cf, eg, Ps 96:3, Ps 145:4.+2:18Drawing from the UBSHS at Php 1:10 in translation here (see UBSHS [Php], 17).+2:19Cf Mt 15:14.+2:20Lit a teacher/disciplinarian of the foolish. ME(H) (see ANLEX, 291, sv παιδευτής; BDAG, 749, sv παιδευτής; BSL, Rm 2:20, sv παιδευτής; L-N, 33.244).+2:20Or of the immature, or of the simple. Lit of babes. ME (see BDAG, 671, sv νήπιος; L-N, 9.44; translation and notes at Mt 11:25). Cf TEV.+2:22Cf Mt 5:27-30.+2:22Or are you guilty of committing sacrilege? Cf Dt 7:25-26; Ac 19:37.+2:24Cf REB.+2:24Is 52:5. Cf Mt 6:9.+2:25Plural benefits are the intended meaning here (see Rm 3:2).+2:25Cf 1 Ki 14:8 (cf Ps 51); Dt 10:18 ; Jr 9:25. In other words, only righteous Jews, the “Israel of God,” who, like David (1 Ki 14:8), obey the Law as interpreted atonmentally (see note at 2:13 above) will inherit the promises made concerning Israel in the covenants. While circumcision in itself doesn’t save the Jew, it does still have significance and benefit in terms of calling and function (see Rm 3:1-2, 11:29), and also in terms of distribution of inheritance in the coming Kingdom. Believing Jews, as the “firstborn son,” will receive a “double portion” in the coming Kingdom (cf Dt 21:17; Is 61:7). Here is a question for any Gentile believer who just read that statement: When you read it, did you feel jealousy and envy rise up in your heart? If so, you can see God’s wisdom in Jewish election: To expose pride in the human heart. When God exposes pride, it is so that people can repent of it. Those who humble themselves before God’s sovereign choice as God, will be exalted in the Messiah’s coming Kingdom (cf Mt 23:12). The arrogant, however, will be cut off (Rm 11:17).+2:25Lit are a transgressor of the Law. ME(OTB). Cf the ISV and NCV at Mt 15:3. Within the OT framework presupposed here, παραβάτης ( parabatēs) means a willful turning from and disregard of the Law (cf, eg, Lv 4:2, 5:15-18; Nu 15:22-31; Dt 1:43, 31:14-20; 2 Sm 12:9; 2 Ki 17:15-16, 18:12; 2 Ch 7:19; Ne 9:26; Ps 50:17; Pr 13:13, 19:16; Is 1:19-20, 30:9; Ezk 16:59, 17:15-18; Dn 9:5, 11; note that in a number of these examples, παραβαίνω ( parabainō), the verbal cognate of παραβάτης ( parabatēs), is used in the LXX). Cf also ANLEX, 294, sv παραβαίνω; ESL, 3848; L-N, 36.29.+2:25Lit your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ME (see UBSHS [Rm], 46). Cf NCV, NLT, TEV. Cf also Jr 9:25-26.+2:26Lit the uncircumcised. ME. Cf NLT, TEV.+2:26Cf Mt 5:17-20, 7:21-23; Ac 15:19-31; Re 2:14, 19-20. 1 Co 6:9-10; Eph 5:5; 1 Th 4:1-8.+2:26Lit his circumcision will be regarded as circumcision. ME(OTB) (see translation and notes at Ga 3:7-8, 4:5-6; cf Gn 18:17-18; Ex 19:5-6; Lv 22:32; Nu 15:20; Is 56:1-8; Jn 14:15, 17:17; Ac 26:18; 1 Th 4:1-8; Re 2-3, 21:6-8).+2:27Lit the law. Here, God’s moral instruction written on the heart is meant (see Rm 2:14-15).+2:27Cf Dt 10:16, 30:6; Je 4:4, 9:25; Rm 4:12.+2:28Lit it isn’t the person in the visible thing who is a Jew. ME(OTB) (see cf Dt 10:16, 30:6; Je 4:4, 9:25; Jn 1:47; Ro 4:12; Ga 6:16; Re 2:9, 3:9; translation and notes at Rm 2:25-26; BDAG, 570, κρυπτός 2.b.; Ibid, 1048, sv φανερός 2). Cf CJB, NCV, NLT, TEV. Quite obviously, Paul is not saying that a Jew is the same as its opposite by definition (a non-Jew, or Gentile). His point is simply that Jews need to be circumcised in heart as well as in flesh if they are to be acceptable to God (cf “counted” in v 26 and “condemned” in v 27; as signaled by the presence of γὰρ [ gar] here, v 28 is providing strength and support to these verses), as the Tanakh itself teaches.+2:28Lit nor the circumcision in the visible in flesh. ME. The context makes it fairly clear what Paul means here (cf CJB, HCSB, ISV, NCV, NET, NIV, NRSV, RSV), but great care must be taken in word choice here to avoid confusion (the CJB, NCV, NIV are better), since in other places “circumcision” is in fact used straightforwardly for bodily circumcision (cf, eg, Rm 2:25-26, 4:9), and since Paul states elsewhere that circumcision does have value and significance for the Jew (cf, eg, Rm 3:1, 4:11), even though the circumcision of the heart is what makes one acceptable to God.+2:29Lit in the hidden. ME. Cf Mt 5:20, 6:1-18; Jn 1:47.+2:29Lit the Jew in the hidden [is a Jew]. For the information implied in the ellipsis here, see note at “Jew” in v 28 above. Cf Mt 5:20, 6:1-18; Jn 1:47, 8:31-59.+2:29IT. Again, while I believe that translations like the CJB, NCV, NRSV, and the RSV have the right idea, to translate the implied qualifier with “true” or “real,” in my opinion, opens the door for unnecessary confusion later on in the letter (for the reasons mentioned in the note at “acceptable to God” in v 28).+2:29IT. Cf TEV.