A Jew Inwardly Romans 2:29

Paul the apostle asked the Jews in Rome, “if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law,

shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?”, and he added the question, “And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law?” Paul began his conclusion to the matter by writing, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-eight of Romans, Paul completed his conclusion with, “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly” where we read:

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit,

and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The verse begins, “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;” Paul began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “he is a Jew” or “that person belongs to a people belonging to the Jewish nation as respects to birth, origin and religion”, “which is one inwardly” or “who has it hidden, concealed and secret”. Paul declared the person a “Jew” who has his relationship with God “within himself” rather than just an “outward” practice or ritual.

The verse continues, “and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Paul added the words, “and circumcision” which means “the Jews' act or rite of the cutting away of the foreskin which represents the extinction of passions and the removal of spiritual impurity” “is that of the heart” or “within the soul or mind as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”, “in the spirit” which means “the simple essence which is devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting”, “and not in the letter or “not in the writing, document or record”; “whose praise” which means “who have approbation and commendation that” “is not of men” or “not from human beings whether male or female”, “but” or “nevertheless and notwithstanding” “of God” which refers to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. Paul declared how true “circumcision” is “within” a person's “soul and spirit” and not from possession of a ritual or “written document”, and this “circumcision of the heart and spirit” receives“praise” from God above and not from people.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how the true “Jew” or follower of God was not “outward” but “inward” or “within the heart and spirit” of a person. Simply having possession of God's law was not sufficient if there was no relationship with God on the “inside”. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), and those who are wise shall not only learn what that means, but also receive Jesus Christ into their “hearts and spirits” and leave behind a dependence upon “outward” expressions alone.

Next time we begin a new chapter as Paul asks the people in Rome, “what advantage is there to being a Jew or being circumcised?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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