ACC ~ Romans 2 v11

IN EVERY NATION. ORIGEN: Anyone who doubts this needs only read what Peter said when he went to visit the Gentile Cornelius: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” We might go even farther and quote what our Lord says in the Gospel: “he who believes in me is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

NO RACIAL PRIVILEGE. AMBROSIASTER: Paul shows that neither Jews nor Greeks will be rejected by God if they believe in Christ, but that both are justified by faith. Likewise, he says that those who do not believe are equally guilty, since circumcision without faith is worthless but uncircumcision with faith is acceptable. For God does not stick to any privilege of race, so as to accept unbelief on account of ancestors and reject believers because of the unworthiness of their parents. Rather he rewards or condemns each one on his own merits. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

NO PARTIALITY TOWARD PERSONS. CHRYSOSTOM: When Paul says that Jews as well as Gentiles will be punished if they sin, he does not have to argue his case. But when he wants to prove that the Gentile is honored, then he needs a reason for saying so, because it seemed too much to say that someone who knew nothing of the Law or the Prophets would be honored merely for doing good. … God shows no partiality toward persons; he judges actions. Paul says that Jews differed from Gentiles, not in their actions but in their persons only. But it is not for this reason that one is honored and the other disgraced. It is from their works that honor or disgrace will come. He does not say it quite like this though, so as not to rouse the Jews to anger. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 5.

PELAGIUS: Therefore the Gentiles should not be smug about their false ignorance, nor the Jews about their privilege in the law and in the circumcision. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

BEING BORN AND DYING AS EQUALS. JEROME: We are all born equal, emperors and paupers, and we die as equals. Our humanity is of one quality. HOMILES ON THE PSALMS 14.