Romans 2:1
“…everyone who is judging is without defense…”
Without defense=Guilty. Inexcusable.
Then Paul adds another explanatory conjunction:
“…for in what you are judging the other, you are condemning yourself…”
en ho= “in which” is something specific. The something exactly that you judge.
Krineis=2nd person singular present active indicitive, meaning, again, “a continuous habit of life” This word “to judge, to separate, to determine” means that you are separating things out and coming to a conclusion.
the other/ton heteron. There are two adjectives that are both translated “another”, but in Greek there are two separate words: allos, meaning another of the same kind, and heteros, meaning another of a different kind. You can see which one is meant here.
We can see this is true. The things that we criticize others for, or judge them in, these same things we are guilty of. In our human nature, we judge others for the very same sins we are committing. Yet we tend to show mercy to someone practicing a different sin.
The gospels show us that for three years, Jesus was putting the disciples in positions that they did not have the answers for, or resources to deal with, to show them who they really were - helpless. Powerless. The point was to make them see that they are just the vessel. God is the do-er. It was true for them, and it is true for us too. It is not our wisdom, our ability, our resources, that accomplish anything, it is God who works, we are the conduits.
“…for the same things the one judging is practicing…”
”the exact same things”/ta autah
prasseis= 2nd person singular present active indicative verb. “Is practicing” denotes a habit. This word is used 5 times in Romans 1:32 – 2:3. It is talking about people who sin as a habit of life. Paul was very specific in choosing this word rather than poieho = meaning "to do a single/specific act". The habit of continually judging is a form of self-deception. When we are busy judging others, we are not judging ourselves, or putting ourselves in a place of humility before the judge. We are putting ourselves in the position of the judge, instead of the defendant.
4 comments:
I happened to see your blog and was impressed most by your unsaid conclusions which I put rather boldly. My and your position and backgrounds are wildly different but thoughts may be similar. If u like, visit my blog next to u.
Stephe Santanu Goswami
Ah! I have to say, lawyers bother me. And all I could think about was LAWYERS when I read your blog. Ugh.
But I think you are great. You're not a lawyer.
There is a fine line between being the light of the world for all to see Christ - which means we need to speak the truth of His Word in love. So many take that as being judgemental when actually it is loving if you do it in the right way. Silence is conscent as some say. That is not an option to a believer in Christ really.
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