Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 2 - Understanding and Application

What is the primary point Dr. Lloyd-Jones is making about how we should approach Romans chapter 2?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that we must properly understand the context and setting of Romans 2 by connecting it to the previous chapter. The opening word "Therefore" indicates that Paul is continuing his argument from Romans 1. Before examining specific verses, we must grasp the overall theme and purpose of the passage. Lloyd-Jones stresses that we must ensure we've truly understood Paul's message in Romans 1:16 through the end of the chapter before proceeding, as it's possible to misunderstand and misapply Scripture just as the Jews did.

Who is Paul addressing in Romans 2:1, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while commentators have debated whether Paul is addressing moral pagans or Jews, he believes Paul is primarily addressing the Jews, though not exclusively. He offers several reasons for this conclusion: 1. The emphasis on "thou that judgest" fits the Jews' tendency to judge others 2. Paul specifically mentions "the Jew first" in verses 9-10 3. The statement "there is no respect of persons with God" counters the central Jewish fallacy that God had special regard for them 4. The Jews were precisely the ones who would say "Amen" to Paul's condemnation of Gentile sins while failing to see how it applied to themselves

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the "subtlety of sin" in this passage?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while Romans 1 dealt with the "vileness and foulness of sin," Romans 2 deals with its subtlety. The subtlety of sin manifests in several ways:

1. Sin introduces prejudice into our reading of Scripture, causing us to pick out what we like and ignore what we don't
2. Sin makes us put ourselves into special categories (like "I'm a Jew" or "I'm a Methodist")
3. Sin makes us apply truth to others but not to ourselves
4. Sin leads us to deny justification by faith alone by relying on other things (birth, ancestry, moralism, ritualism)
5. Sin causes us to separate doctrine from life, believing we're right with God regardless of how we live

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones warn against an academic approach to Bible study?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly warns against merely academic Bible study, stating: "You must never study the Bible academically, never become theoretical. It's been the curse of theological seminaries. Men have gone in full of life. They've come out dead." He explains that proper Bible study must include application - we must always ask, "What does this say to me? Where do I come in here?" Rather than merely analyzing a passage or creating an outline, we must let the Scripture examine us and apply its truth to our own lives. He states, "The Bible must be preached, it must be applied, it must be brought home."

What did the Jews misunderstand about Paul's message in Romans 1, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Jews misunderstood Paul's message in Romans 1 in two critical ways:

1. They thought Paul was condemning Gentiles simply because they were Gentiles, not because of their sinful actions
2. They thought they were exempt from condemnation simply because they were Jews, regardless of their own behavior

This reflected a fundamental error: the Jews believed their ethnic identity and religious status exempted them from judgment, separating doctrine from life. They failed to understand that Paul's message about God's wrath against "all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18) applied universally - "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."