ACC ~ Romans 2 v13

BELIEF IN CHRIST. AMBROSIASTER: Paul says this because those who hear the law are not justified unless they believe in Christ, whom the law itself has promised. This is what it means to keep the law. For how does someone who does not believe the law keep it, when he does not receive the One to whom the law bears witness? But the one who appears not to be under the law because he is uncircumcised in his flesh, if he believes in Christ, may be said to have kept the law. And he who says he is in the law, i.e., the Jew, because what is said in the law does not penetrate to his mind, is not a doer of the law but a hearer only, for he does not believe in the Christ who is written about in the law, as Philip said to Nathanael: “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote.” COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

HEARING AND DOING. CHRYSOSTOM: Well does Paul say “before God,” because if they may appear before men to be dignified and to boast of great things, before God it is quite different: only the doers of the law are justified before him. … But how is it possible for someone who has not heard to be a doer of the law? Paul insists not only that it is possible but that those who have heard it might not be doers of it. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 5.

PRACTICING WHAT IS HEARD. CHRYSOSTOM: What benefit is it if, while listening each day, we neglect to practice what we hear? Hence I be-seech you, let us be zealous in practicing those very deeds (by no other way, in fact, is it possible to be saved) so that we may also wash away our sins and be granted the Lord’s lovingkindness at his own hands, thanks to the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. HOMILIES ON GENESIS 47.18.

IMPERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS. APOLLINARIS OF LAODICEA: This is not the perfect righteousness according to Christ. About that, Paul says: “By works of the law shall no one be justified.” PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

JUSTIFICATION AND BELIEF. [PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: God the Father will justify any be-liever in Christ who has truly obeyed the law. For the reward of his life is justification, which he would have been less able to obtain by the works of the law. Therefore, as I have said, justification is a reward for the believer in Christ. THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

PELAGIUS: Paul explains why the Jews are not better than the Gentiles. We too should be afraid, in case after hearing the law but not doing it we perish along with the Gentiles. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: The law was given not to tickle our ears but to lead us to good works. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

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