ACC ~ Romans 2 v17

CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART. ORIGEN: The first thing to notice here is that Paul does not say that the person he is rhetorically addressing is a Jew; only that he calls himself one, which is not at all the same thing. For Paul goes on to teach that the true Jew is the one who is circumcised in secret, i.e., in the heart, who keeps the law in spirit and not according to the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God. But the man who is circumcised visibly in the flesh, observing the law in order to be seen by men, is not a real Jew; such a man only appears to be one. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

THREE MEANINGS OF THE NAME JEW. AMBROSIASTER: They are called Jews because it was their ancestral right to be called Israelites. Nevertheless, if we wish to understand everything which is relevant to the case, we must note that the name Jew had three different meanings. First, it meant the children of Abraham, who because of his faith was made the father of many nations.Then it refers to Jacob, who because of his increasing faith was called Israel, for the dignity which began with the father was honored in the sons. Third, they are called Jews not so much because of Judah as because of Christ, who was born of Judah according to the flesh, since in Judah it was made known that he would be in Christ. For it is said: “Judah will be your master,” and: “Judah, your brothers praise you.” This praise was given not to Judah as such but to Christ, whom nowadays all those whom he deigns to call his brethren praise. … The Jews themselves do not understand the meaning of their name and claim that it refers to the human Judah. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

MISUSING THE GIFT OF THE LAW. CHRYSOSTOM: The Jew may boast that he is loved by God and honored above all other men. It seems to me that here Paul is gently mocking their unreasonableness … because they misused this gift … to set themselves up against the rest of mankind and to despise them. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 5.

FALSE PRETENSES. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: This is not to be read as a question, as some people think, but rather as a statement, as if to say: “Not as a true Jew, albeit in secret, but merely claiming to be one and making false pretenses.” PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

BOASTING OF ONE’S RELATION WITH GOD. AUGUSTINE: If a Jew boasts in God in the manner called for by grace, which is given not according to the merits of works but freely, his praise would be of God and not of men. … But they thought that they had fulfilled this law of God by their own righteousness, even though they were transgressors of it. And so for them it worked wrath as sin multiplied, committed by those who knew what sin was. Those who did what the law commanded without the help of the Spirit of grace did it through fear of punishment and not out of love for righteousness. THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER 11.7.

A JEW IN DEED. PELAGIUS: At this point Paul turns to the Jews and says that a man should be a Jew in deed and not merely in name. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

Rom