Διὸ ἀναπολόγητος εἶ, ὦ ἄνθρωπε πᾶς ὁ κρίνων

Says Rom 2:1 opens Διὸ ἀναπολόγητος εἶ, ὦ ἄνθρωπε πᾶς ὁ κρίνων (BSB "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another"). ἀναπολόγητος (anapologētos) repeats the verdict of 1:20 (see note.language.Rom.1.20.anapologetous and lex.G379); Abbott-Smith: "without excuse, inexcusable." The root returns in ἀπολογουμένων (2:15).

Says In ἐν ᾧ γὰρ κρίνεις, ἐν ᾧ is the ground of the judging (BSB "on whatever grounds"). The reason follows: τὰ γὰρ αὐτὰ πράσσεις, which echoes τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες (1:32) and returns in 2:2–3.

Uncertain What Διό ("therefore") infers from. (a) From 1:32: those who know God's decree and still approve such deeds are condemned, so the one who condemns them while doing the same is all the more without excuse. (b) From 1:18–32 as a whole. This note leans to (a), because 1:32 has just spoken of knowing τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ θεοῦ.

Uncertain Whom ὦ ἄνθρωπε (2:1, 3) addresses before the Jew is named in 2:17. The main options are: (a) anyone who judges, Jew or Gentile, with the Jew foremost; (b) a Jewish interlocutor from the start; (c) a moralizing Gentile. This note leans to (a), because πᾶς ὁ κρίνων is general and 2:1 follows directly on the indictment of 1:18–32. The main alternative is (b). Its grounds are the Jewish themes of 2:4–5 (God's kindness, a hard heart), the parallels with Wisdom 15, where Israel contrasts itself with idolaters, and the naming of the Jew in 2:17 as the same "you." note.historical.Rom.2.1-Rom.2.29.interlocutor-diatribe leans to (b), toward a Jewish hearer by 2:3–5.