Romans 2 God Shows No Favoritism
Romans 2:11 states, "For God does not show favoritism" (BSB) [1]. This declaration serves as a foundational principle within Paul's argument in Romans, emphasizing God's impartial judgment of all humanity. The concept of God showing no favoritism, or being "no respecter of persons," is a recurring theme in Scripture, appearing in various contexts such as Deuteronomy 10:17, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Job 34:19, Luke 20:21, Galatians 2:6, Colossians 3:25, and 1 Peter 1:17 [3].
In Romans 2, Paul is building a case for universal human sinfulness and the necessity of God's grace. The immediate context of verse 11 is a chiasm (an "X" arrangement) that highlights God's consistent judgment: He judges everyone the same, rewarding good and punishing evil, ultimately concluding with the statement that He shows no favoritism [4]. This means that God's judgment is not based on external factors like ethnicity, social status, or religious affiliation, but on personal character and actions [5, 9].
The phrase "no respect of persons" (or "no favoritism") signifies that God does not prefer one individual or group over another due to superficial distinctions [6]. John Calvin notes that God makes no distinction between Jew and Greek, not making country a ground for acceptance or rejection [8]. Similarly, Adam Clarke explains that God does not esteem a Jew because he is a Jew, nor detest a Gentile because he is a Gentile [10]. This was a significant point for Peter, who, after his vision in Acts 10, understood that God's acceptance extends to "every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right" [3, 10].
In Galatians 2:6, Paul uses the same principle to assert that the reputation of the Jerusalem apostles did not grant them greater authority than he possessed, because "God has no favorites" [2, 7]. This underscores that God's dealings are based on righteousness and truth, not on human-assigned status or privilege [6, 11]. God's judgment will proceed based on the "graces, privileges, and blessings which they had received, improved or abused" [11].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 2:11 (BSB) — For God does not show favoritism.”
- Galatians “Galatians 2:6 (BSB) — But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 10:34: 10:34-35 God shows no favoritism: See Deut 10:17; 2 Chr 19:7; Job 34:19; Luke 20:21; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Col 3:25; 1 Pet 1:17. The application of this principle is the meaning of Peter’s vision (10:9-16). • In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right: See Rom 10:11-13.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 2:6: 2:6-11 Paul uses a chiasm (“X” arrangement) to make his point: A God judges everyone the same (2:6) B Life is the reward for doing good (2:7) C Wrath is the penalty for evil (2:8) C′ Wrath for doing evil (2:9) B′ Life for doing good (2:10) A′ God shows no favoritism (2:11)”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 10:34: Peter opened his mouth--(See on Mat 5:2). Of a truth I perceive--that is, "I have it now demonstrated before mine eyes." that God is no respecter of persons--Not, "I see there is no capricious favoritism with God," for Peter would never imagine such a thing; but (as the next clause shows), "I see that God has respect only to personal character and state in the acceptance of men, national and ecclesiastical distinctions being of no account."”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 1:17: And if ye call on the Father - Seeing ye invoke the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and your Father through Christ, and profess to be obedient children, and sojourners here below for a short time only, see that ye maintain a godly reverence for this Father, walking in all his testimonies blameless. Who without respect of persons - God is said to be no respecter of persons for this reason among many others, that, being infinitely righteous, he must be infinitely impartial. He cannot prefer one to another, because he has nothing to hope or fear from any of his creat”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 2:6: 2:6-10 Paul’s message was in harmony with the Jerusalem apostles, but their affirmation was not the source of Paul’s authority (1:12, 16-20). 2:6 The Jerusalem apostles’ reputation as great leaders was probably derived from their personal acquaintance with Jesus’ earthly ministry, which did not give them greater apostolic authority than Paul had. What mattered most was Christ’s personal commission (see 1 Cor 9:1; cp. 2 Cor 12:11-12). • God has no favorites: The Judaizers probably regarded the Jerusalem apostles’ earthly relationship with Jesus as an advantage. P”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 78: the one hand, riches, wealth, power, rank, office, country, beauty, &c.; and, on the other hand, poverty, want, mean birth, sordidness, contempt, and the like. Thus Peter and Paul say, that the Lord is no acceptor of persons, because he makes no distinction between the Jew and the Greek; does not make the mere circumstance of country the ground for rejecting, one or embracing the other ( Acts 10:34 ; Rom. 2:10 , Gal. 3:28 ). Thus James also uses the same words, when he would declare that God has no respect to riches in his judgment”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 10:34: Then Peter opened his mouth,.... See Gill on Act 8:35. And said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; which is to be understood, not of the substances of men, but of the outward state and condition, circumstances and qualities of men; he respects the proper persons of men themselves, but not because of their outward appearances; he does not prefer or despise men, because of their being of this or the other nation, as Jews or Gentiles; or because they are circumcised, or not circumcised; or because they are high or low, rich or poor, free or boun”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 10:34: God is no respecter of persons - He does God esteem a Jew, because he is a Jew; nor does he detest a Gentile because he is a Gentile. It was a long and deeply rooted opinion among the Jews, that God never would extend his favor to the Gentiles; and that the descendants of Jacob only should enjoy his peculiar favor and benediction. Of this opinion was St. Peter, previously to the heavenly vision mentioned in this chapter. He was now convinced that God was no respecter of persons; that as all must stand before his judgment seat, to be judged according to the deeds done”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 2:11: For there is no respect of persons with God - The righteous Judge will not act according to any principle of partiality; the character and conduct, alone of the persons shall weigh with him. He will take no wicked man to glory, let his nation or advantages be what they may; and he will send no righteous man to perdition, though brought up in the very bosom of Gentilism. And as he will judge in that day according to character and conduct, so his judgment will proceed on the ground of the graces, privileges, and blessings which they had received, improved or abused. A”