1. Romans 2:13–16 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Are Jews and Gentiles equal before God?

Romans 2:13–16 (ESV)

13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

Yes. Readers who still doubted whether God really is impartial toward both Greek and Jew are told in detail about the reverse side of Romans 2:13 in Romans 2:14–16. Within Israel it comes down to a true obedience of the Creator, honouring him, and listening to him. When that is lacking, the Jew loses his claim before God. But the reverse is true too: a non-Jew who reveres God and listens to him has a right to exist before him.

Bell1 acknowledges that one could read Romans 2:14–16 in a positive sense, but thinks that it is precluded by the context. However, he uses the very broad context of Romans 1:18–3:20 and on that basis concludes that Romans 2:14–16 must be limited to a negative pronouncement of judgment (for further detail, see Bell2). Over against Bell’s position, we note that the direct context of Romans 2:14–16 is formed by Romans 2:1–29, and it does indeed detail when God rewards and when he punishes. Therefore, you cannot read Romans 2:14–16 exclusively in a condemnatory sense.3