Who are the Gentiles who do what the law requires (Romans 2:14–15) and the uncircumcised who keep it (Romans 2:26–29)?

Two passages in Romans 2 speak of Gentiles who do what the law requires: 2:14–15 and 2:26–29. Who they are is one of the most debated questions in the chapter, and careful interpreters hold different views.

Uncertain The Gentiles of 2:14–15. (1) Gentiles generally, who at times do some of the things the law requires. Its grounds: ὅταν ("whenever") describes occasional acts, and τὰ τοῦ νόμου ("the things of the law," literal) is partial; φύσει most naturally goes with the verb, "do by nature"; their conscience and thoughts are "accusing or even defending" (literal), which suits a mixed record rather than the obedience of faith; and the verses serve 2:12, which says that those "apart from the law" are still accountable, as 1:32 has already said. (2) Gentile Christians, with the law written on their hearts as Jer 31:33 promised. Its grounds: "written on their hearts" echoes Jeremiah; φύσει may go with "not having the law" (literal), as ἐκ φύσεως does in 2:27; 2:14 begins with γάρ and seems to give an instance of the "doers" of 2:13; and 2:26–29 appears to describe believers. (3) A hypothetical case. This commentary leans to (1). The main alternative is (2).

Uncertain The uncircumcised of 2:26–29. (1) Gentile Christians. Its grounds: their circumcision is "of the heart, by the Spirit" (2:29), and Paul speaks of the Spirit and the fulfilling of the law's requirement in the same terms in 7:6 and 8:4; their uncircumcision is to "be regarded as circumcision" (2:26, BSB), a real reckoning; and Paul says of believers, "it is we who are the circumcision" (Phil 3:3, BSB). (2) A hypothetical case, stated to show that circumcision without obedience counts for nothing. Its grounds: the conditional ἐάν ("if," 2:26); the conclusion of 3:9–20 that no one keeps the law; and the fact that faith in Christ has not yet been introduced. This commentary leans to (1). The main alternative is (2).

Uncertain Whether the two passages describe the same group. They need not. The combinations held include: - 2:14–15 Gentiles generally and 2:26–29 Gentile Christians (the leans of this commentary); - both passages Gentile Christians; - both passages Gentiles generally, or a hypothetical case.

The two passages differ. 2:14–15 speaks of "the work of the law" and of conscience accusing or defending, while 2:26–29 speaks of keeping the law's requirements and of circumcision of the heart by the Spirit. That difference allows different answers.

Chrysostom read "by nature" in 2:14 as natural reasoning, and he named Gentiles such as Job and the Ninevites as examples (src.npnf1-chrysostom-romans). Augustine took the Gentiles of 2:14–15 as believers under the new covenant, and he also allowed a second view, that unbelievers do some things the law requires because God's image in them is not wholly erased (src.npnf1-augustine-spirit-letter). Calvin took them as Gentiles generally, and he called 2:26 a supposed case (src.calvin-romans-owen). Cranfield takes both passages of Gentile Christians (src.cranfield-icc-romans), and Gathercole argues the same for 2:14–15 (src.gathercole-jsnt-2002). Moo takes the Gentiles of 2:14–15 as non-Christians (1996; 2018) (src.moo-romans). Schreiner took them as non-Christians in his first edition and argues for Gentile Christians in his second (src.schreiner-romans). The reception is summarized in note.historical.Rom.2.1-Rom.2.29.reception-2-13-15-26-29.

Relation to the Romans 1 notes. Three approved records on Romans 1 refer to 2:14–15. The doctrinal note on general revelation speaks of "a witness of conscience (2:14–15)" (note.exegetical.Rom.1.19-Rom.1.20.natural-theology). The note on 1:29–32 says, "Even without the written law, people know that God judges these things (compare 2:14–15)" (note.exegetical.Rom.1.29-Rom.1.32.vice-list-and-verdict). The historical note on φύσις refers to φύσει in 2:14 and leaves its construal to Romans 2 (note.historical.Rom.1.1-Rom.1.32.stoic-physis). These references take the Gentiles of 2:14–15 as Gentiles generally, which agrees with this commentary's lean. Implies The conclusions of those notes do not depend on 2:14–15. Romans 1:19–21 and 1:32 by themselves say that people know God and know "God's righteous decree" (1:32, BSB). If 2:14–15 describes Gentile Christians, those references to 2:14–15 would need adjusting, but the teaching they support would stand on Romans 1 alone.