Romans 2:4

KJV

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

KJV (with Strong's)

Or {G2228} despisest thou {G2706} the riches {G4149} of his {G846} goodness {G5544} and {G2532} forbearance {G463} and {G2532} longsuffering {G3115}; not knowing {G50} that {G3754} the goodness {G5543} of God {G2316} leadeth {G71} thee {G4571} to {G1519} repentance {G3341}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Or perhaps you despise the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience; because you don’t realize that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to turn from your sins.

Berean Standard Bible

Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

American Standard Version

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 2:4 confronts the human tendency to presume upon God's patience, asserting that His abundant "riches" of goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering are not an invitation to continued sin but a gracious divine strategy designed to lead humanity to genuine repentance. The verse serves as a profound theological warning, highlighting the true purpose of God's delayed judgment and the peril of misunderstanding His character.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 2:4 is situated within Paul's broader argument concerning universal human sinfulness and the necessity of God's righteousness revealed in Christ. In [Romans 1](/romans/1 "Romans 1 - The Guilt of the Gentiles"), Paul condemns the Gentiles for their idolatry and moral depravity. He then pivots in [Romans 2:1-3](/romans/2-1-3 "Romans 2:1-3 - God's Impartial Judgment") to address those who judge others, particularly implying the Jewish people who possessed the Law but often failed to live by its precepts. Paul exposes the hypocrisy of judging others while committing the same or similar sins, declaring that those who judge are without excuse. Verse 4 then acts as a crucial transition, explaining *why* God has not immediately executed judgment on such hypocrisy and sin—it is not because He is indifferent, but because He is purposefully patient, offering an opportunity for a change of heart.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul is writing to a diverse church in Rome, comprising both Jewish and Gentile believers. The Jewish community, in particular, often held a sense of spiritual superiority due to their covenant relationship with God and possession of the Law. They might have assumed that God's patience with their nation, despite their shortcomings, was a sign of His exclusive favor rather than a call to deeper obedience and repentance. The Roman world, meanwhile, was characterized by its own moral complexities, with various philosophical schools and religious practices. Paul's message challenges both the self-righteousness of those who felt privileged by their religious heritage and the moral laxity prevalent in the wider culture, asserting a universal standard of divine judgment and a universal call to repentance.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans. Firstly, it underscores the **attributes of God**, particularly His **goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering**, presenting them not as passive traits but as active expressions of His redemptive purpose. Secondly, it highlights the **universal need for repentance**, emphasizing that God's grace is not a license for sin but a catalyst for transformation. This aligns with Paul's consistent argument that all humanity, Jew and Gentile alike, stands condemned before a holy God and requires a radical change of heart and direction (cf. [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). Lastly, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **divine judgment**, implying that God's patience has a limit and that those who despise His goodness will ultimately face His wrath, a concept further developed in [Romans 2:5-11](/romans/2-5-11 "Romans 2:5-11 - God's Righteous Judgment").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **despisest thou (Greek, _kataphronéō'_):** From G2706, meaning "to think against, i.e. disesteem." This word conveys a sense of looking down upon, treating with contempt, or holding in low regard. In the context of Romans 2:4, it implies not merely an ignorance of God's attributes but a willful disregard or even a presumptuous abuse of His kindness. It's an active rejection of the value and purpose of God's patience.
* **goodness (Greek, _chrēstótēs'_):** From G5544, meaning "usefulness, i.e. morally, excellence (in character or demeanor)." This term describes God's inherent moral uprightness, His benevolent disposition, and His active kindness. It is the quality of being good and gracious in action, manifesting as a desire for the well-being of others. Paul emphasizes the "riches" (G4149, _ploûtos_) of this goodness, suggesting an overflowing, abundant supply, not a meager or limited demonstration.
* **repentance (Greek, _metánoia'_):** From G3341, meaning "(subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal (of (another's) decision)." This is a pivotal theological term, signifying a fundamental change of mind that leads to a change in behavior and direction. It's not merely regret or sorrow for sin, but a decisive turning away from sin and a turning towards God. God's goodness "leadeth" (G71, _ágō_, "to lead, bring, induce") to this profound transformation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering":** Paul begins with a rhetorical question, challenging the listener's attitude. The phrase "despisest thou" suggests a willful, contemptuous disregard for God's character. The "riches" highlight the overflowing abundance of God's divine attributes: His **goodness** (His inherent kindness and benevolent nature), His **forbearance** (His self-restraint from immediately punishing sin, a temporary truce), and His **longsuffering** (His enduring patience over extended periods, even in the face of provocation). The use of "riches" emphasizes that these are not minimal or grudgingly given traits, but lavish expressions of His character.
* **"not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?":** This clause reveals the profound misunderstanding of those who despise God's patience. The phrase "not knowing" (G50, _agnoéō_) implies a lack of understanding, either through ignorance or willful disinclination to acknowledge the truth. The core revelation is that God's goodness has a specific, redemptive purpose: it "leadeth thee to repentance." His kindness, His holding back of judgment, and His enduring patience are all active means by which He draws individuals to a change of mind and life, a turning away from sin and towards Him.

#### Literary Devices
Romans 2:4 employs several potent literary devices. The verse opens with a **Rhetorical Question** ("Or despisest thou...?") which directly challenges the reader's perspective and forces self-examination, rather than merely stating a fact. This technique engages the audience and highlights the gravity of their potential error. Paul also uses **Personification** by attributing active roles to God's abstract qualities: "goodness," "forbearance," and "longsuffering" are presented as "riches" that actively "lead" to repentance. This makes these divine attributes dynamic forces in the process of salvation. Furthermore, there is a clear **Contrast** between the human act of "despising" God's attributes and God's divine intention for those attributes—to "lead... to repentance." This juxtaposition underscores the profound irony and spiritual blindness of those who misinterpret God's patience as indifference or approval of their sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 2:4 is a cornerstone verse for understanding the nature of divine grace and its purpose. It refutes the dangerous notion that God's patience is a sign of His indifference to sin or, worse, an implicit approval of it. Instead, Paul reveals that God's delay in judgment is a deliberate act of His character, flowing from His abundant goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, all intended to provide opportunity for humanity to turn from sin. This divine patience is not passive, but an active, leading force, drawing people towards a transformative change of mind and life. To despise this grace is to fundamentally misunderstand God's heart and to squander the very opportunity He extends for reconciliation.

* [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience for Repentance")
* [Psalm 86:15](/psalms/86-15 "Psalm 86:15 - God's Compassion and Longsuffering")
* [Titus 3:4-5](/titus/3-4-5 "Titus 3:4-5 - God's Kindness and Mercy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 2:4 serves as a profound mirror, inviting us to examine our own hearts and our perception of God's character. Do we truly appreciate the "riches" of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering in our lives, or do we, perhaps subtly, presume upon them? Every moment that God withholds immediate judgment on our sins, every breath we take, every sunrise we witness, is an extension of His gracious patience, a precious gift intended to draw us closer to Him in genuine repentance. This verse challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of grace as mere forgiveness, recognizing it as a powerful, transformative force designed to change our minds and redirect our lives. It calls us to respond with gratitude and humility, turning from any path that despises His kindness and embracing the path of true repentance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be subtly "despising" the riches of God's goodness, perhaps by taking His patience for granted or delaying my obedience?**
* **How does understanding God's "forbearance" and "longsuffering" deepen my appreciation for His character and His desire for my salvation?**
* **What specific steps can I take today to respond more fully to God's goodness, allowing it to lead me to deeper repentance and transformation?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean to "despise" God's goodness?**

Answer: To "despise" God's goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering means to treat these divine attributes with contempt, to disregard their value, or to presume upon them. It's not merely being ignorant of them, but actively misinterpreting or abusing God's patience. This can manifest as continuing in sin because judgment has not yet fallen, assuming that God's delay implies His approval, or failing to recognize that His kindness is a call to change. It's a dangerous spiritual blindness that underestimates the seriousness of sin and the purposeful nature of God's grace, as highlighted throughout [Romans 2](/romans/2 "Romans 2 - God's Righteous Judgment").

**Why does God show forbearance and longsuffering if He is just?**

Answer: God shows forbearance and longsuffering precisely because He is just and also merciful. His justice demands that sin be punished, but His mercy provides a window of opportunity for sinners to repent. [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience for Repentance") explicitly states that "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." God's patience is a demonstration of His love and His desire for humanity's salvation, allowing time for individuals to turn from their wicked ways and embrace His offer of grace before the day of final judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 2:4, while addressing the universal call to repentance under the Old Covenant and the Law, finds its ultimate fulfillment and clearest expression in Jesus Christ. The "goodness and forbearance and longsuffering" of God are most perfectly displayed in the person and work of Christ. It is through His incarnation that God's goodness became tangible, His forbearance evident in His willingness to endure human rejection, and His longsuffering manifest in His patient pursuit of humanity. The ultimate act of God's goodness leading to repentance is the cross of Christ, where God, in His boundless love, provided the means for sin to be atoned for. The very act of God sending His Son, as described in [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World"), is the supreme demonstration of His goodness, designed to draw a lost world to Himself. The Holy Spirit, sent by Christ, then convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, effectively "leading" hearts to the repentance that God's goodness intends, enabling them to turn from their sins and embrace the new life found only in Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Thus, God's enduring patience is not merely a delay of judgment, but an active, Christ-centered invitation to salvation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Peter 3:9

¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Isaiah 30:18

¶ And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD [is] a God of judgment: blessed [are] all they that wait for him.

Exodus 34:6

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Titus 3:4

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Titus 3:6

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Romans 9:22

[What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Romans 9:23

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,