Romans 2:4

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

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}?

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.

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

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

Romans 2:4 is a powerful verse from the Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Rome. It follows his strong condemnation of those who judge others while committing similar sins themselves, highlighting the patience and grace of God and its intended purpose.

Context

In the opening chapters of Romans, Paul systematically lays out the sinfulness of all humanity – Gentiles and Jews alike – demonstrating why everyone needs salvation through Christ. Chapter 2 specifically addresses those who might feel exempt from judgment, particularly those who had external knowledge of God's law but failed to live by it. Paul confronts the hypocrisy of judging others (as mentioned in Romans 2:1), pointing out that such judgment condemns oneself if one practices the same things. Verse 4 then serves as a crucial pivot, revealing that God's delay in judgment is not indifference, but an opportunity for the sinner to change their ways.

Key Themes

  • God's Attributes: The verse emphasizes the "riches" of God's goodness (His inherent kindness), forbearance (His restraint from punishing immediately), and longsuffering (His patience over extended periods). These are not minimal traits but abundant "riches."
  • The Purpose of Patience: The core message is that God's delay in judgment and display of kindness have a specific goal: to lead people to repentance. His grace is a call to change, not an excuse to continue in sin.
  • Despising God's Grace: The verse warns against "despising" these divine attributes. To ignore or presume upon God's patience is a serious error, demonstrating a lack of understanding of His character and intentions.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses rich terms here. The Greek word for "goodness" is chrēstotēs, meaning kindness or moral excellence. "Forbearance" comes from anochē, implying a holding back or a truce. "Longsuffering" is makrothymia, a compound word meaning "long-tempered" or patient, especially in the face of provocation. The key word "repentance" is metanoia, which signifies a change of mind, a turning around, leading to a change in behavior and direction in life.

Reflection

Romans 2:4 challenges us to consider how we perceive and respond to God's patience in our own lives and in the world. Are we taking His kindness for granted? Do we assume that because judgment hasn't fallen, our actions are acceptable? This verse reminds us that every day God withholds judgment is a precious opportunity given out of His abundant grace, intended to draw us towards a genuine change of heart and life – what the Bible calls repentance. Recognizing the depth of God's longsuffering should motivate us not to continue in sin, but to turn to Him with gratitude and humility.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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,
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