This assertion only serves to show that Jews and Gentiles are equal, not encourage lawless or immoral activities. Instead, Paul writes that “it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous…but the doers of the law” (2:13). This passage in particular clearly links works with justification but juxtaposing the “doers” with the mere “hearers” (Ortland, …show more content…
Here, Paul is essentially demonstrating that it is personal, individual works of good that will be judged by God, rather than covenantal works such as circumcision (Lamp, 1999). No one can be justified by works of law, but good works are essential in order to be grated with eternal life (Schreiner, 1993). Circumcision will not save a Jew, but a Jew is condemned if they commit immoral acts such as adultery, as explained by Paul. It can be extrapolated from Paul’s words that, in the Roman or similar Christian communities, there were opponents who believed that Paul’s gospel, which argued against strict adherence to the Law, would lead to moral laxity (Wright, 1996; Ehrman, 2016). As these epistles are occasional letters, it is less likely that Paul would spend a chapter (or multiple letters if taking the epistles to the Corinthian church into consideration) on a non-issue; hence, Paul must have felt the need to correct any misinterpretations of his theology. Paul’s usage of certain words like “works” versus “works of law” provides an understanding of both Paul’s world and the tensions that he may have encountered when preaching his