ACC ~ Romans 2 v9

TRIBULATION AND DISTRESS. ORIGEN: It is enough for anyone who simply accepts this to interpret it along the lines already mentioned, viz., that God will reward everyone according to his works. … But those who think that in the apostolic writings, through which Christ speaks, not one jot or tittle is superfluous will insist that it was not by accident that the apostle added “tribulation and distress” to what he had said earlier. From this a spiritually minded person will understand what the Holy Spirit is saying through Paul … that those who from a spirit of contention refuse to accept the truth but instead consort with wickedness will receive wrath and indignation, tribulation and distress, not as God’s gift but as a consequence of their own evil deeds, because they have been storing these things up for themselves. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

EVIL A MATTER OF UNBELIEF. AMBROSIASTER: “Tribulation” refers to the punishment which the condemned sinner will suffer. Evil is not just a matter of deeds but of unbelief as well. … Paul always puts the Jew first, whether he is to be praised or blamed, because of his privileged ancestry. If he believes he will be all the more honored because of Abraham, but if he doubts he will be treated all the worse, because he has rejected the gift promised to his forefathers. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE JEW FIRST. CHRYSOSTOM: Having shown the extreme seriousness of the disease … Paul goes on to give the Jew the greater burden in the tribulation. For the Jew has enjoyed a larger share of instruction and so also deserves to suffer a larger share of the punishment if he does wrong. The wiser or mightier we are, the more we will be punished if we sin. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 5.

THE MEANING OF SOUL. PELAGIUS: The apostle threatens the soul with punishment because of heretics who say that only the flesh does wrong and that the soul cannot sin. Or perhaps “soul” refers to the whole man.PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THOSE WHO LIVED BEFORE THE INCARNATION. THEODORET OF CYR: Here Paul uses the word Greek to refer not to Gentile believers but to those who lived before Christ’s incarnation. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

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