language · Rom 2:12; Rom 2:13 · ✓ Approved

οἱ ποιηταὶ νόμου δικαιωθήσονται: "the doers of the law will be declared righteous"

Says 2:13 contrasts οἱ ἀκροαταὶ νόμου, who are not δίκαιοι παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, "righteous before God," with οἱ ποιηταὶ νόμου, who δικαιωθήσονται (BSB "will be declared righteous"). παρὰ τῷ θεῷ places the verdict in God's court (variants: var.Rom.2.13.tou-nomou; var.Rom.2.13.to-theo).

Implies δικαιόω is forensic here: Abbott-Smith lists Rom 2:13 under "to declare, pronounce righteous."

Uncertain Whether the future passive is logical, gnomic, or eschatological; the coming day (2:5, 16) favors the last.

Implies Judgment according to deeds is real and impartial, and it is not a second way of salvation alongside faith (2:6, 16; 3:9, 20, 23, 28). Works never form part of the ground of the verdict of justification (3:28; 4:4–5).

Uncertain Which conservative reading explains 2:13: - (a) Law standard. 2:13 states the law's own condition, which no sinner meets. Grounds: γάρ ties it to 2:12, and 3:9–20 stops every mouth. Calvin: "if they alone are justified by the law who fulfill the law, it follows that no one is justified." - (b) Evidence of faith. 2:13 describes the obedience the Spirit produces in believers, the evidence of faith at the judgment, not its ground. Grounds: 2:7, 10 and 2:26–29 (with 8:4) speak of real doers.

The two are presented on equal terms. Augustine (Spir. et litt. §45) takes "will be justified" chiefly as "will be made righteous": grace justifies first and so makes them doers of the law. Wright (NIB, by reference) speaks of a future justification that accords with the whole life.

Claims

SaysNot the hearers but the doers of the law will be declared righteous before God (2:13).
Impliesδικαιόω is forensic here, a verdict in God's court (παρὰ τῷ θεῷ; Abbott-Smith, "to declare, pronounce righteous").
UncertainWhether the future δικαιωθήσονται is logical, gnomic, or eschatological; the coming day of 2:5, 16 favors the eschatological.
ImpliesJudgment according to deeds is real and impartial, and it is not a second way of salvation alongside faith (2:6, 16; 3:9, 20, 23, 28).
ImpliesWorks never form part of the ground of the verdict of justification (3:28; 4:4–5).
UncertainWhether 2:13 states the law's unmet standard (Calvin) or describes believers' Spirit-given obedience as the evidence of faith; the two are presented on equal terms, each with its grounds.

Citations

BSB public domain Rom 2:13
Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. δικαιόω (Ro 2:13) — to declare, pronounce righteous
Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain on Rom 2:13 (CCEL calcom38.vi.iii, checked 2026-10-29) — if they alone are justified by the law who fulfill the law, it follows that no one is justified
Augustine, Spir. et litt. (NPNF¹ 5) public domain Spir. et litt. §45 (NPNF 1st ser. vol. 5; CCEL npnf105.xi.xlviii, checked 2026-10-29) — justification precedes them as doers of the law (Augustine, Spir. et litt. (NPNF¹ 5), public domain)
🔒︎ Wright, NIB Romans Copyrighted on Rom 2:13 (by reference; not checked)

Sources SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Abbott-Smith public domain BSB public domain Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain Augustine, Spir. et litt. (NPNF¹ 5) public domain 🔒︎ Wright, NIB Romans Copyrighted Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

2026-10-29

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