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I am musing over Rom. 2:1-4 this morning and researching the Greek to see if a hunch I have might be reinforced there. So far all indications that I have found support what I suspected might be true, but I wish I had an unbiased expert in Greek to expound on it further and give me more insight.
Because of the truth about God that has been consistently emerging in my study and contemplation over the past few years, I believe that this passage bears out a contrast between the kind of “judging” that men do and the judging that God engages in. So I looked up the words translated “judge” or “condemn” in these verses and sure enough, it is a different word used for God's judgment vs. ours. The problem lies in that the definition given in Strong's often carries its own ambiguity and sometimes bias of the translators so it is not explicitly as plain as it could be. But the very fact that a different Greek word is used is a strong first clue that there should be an understood distinction between the two that is completely lost in the English translation.
Here is the definitions as found in Strong's. The first word “krino” is the Greek word used each time the text refers to man judging someone. The second word used when God does it is “krima”. There is a third word found in this text that is translated as “condemn” and it is also linked to the human version of this concept of judgment. It is the word “katakrino”.
Krino – properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:--avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Katakrino – to judge against, i.e. sentence:--condemn, damn.
Krima – from (krino); a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ("crime")):--avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment.
Even with the possible translator's subjective, biased assumptions about God woven into the definitions I find the differences between the two somewhat revealing, primarily in what is not included in the word for God's judgment. It does not have the strong accusatory flavor that the word krino seems to carry. What I see here on the human side is a tendency to go well beyond just “distinction” but to “try, condemn, punish, avenge...,call in question” and even sentence. I believe that as a person more clearly perceives the truth about how God relates to sin and sinners they will realize that God's judgment, and relatedly His wrath, is fundamentally, and radically different than men's judgment and attitude toward offenders.
This difference feeds right back into the concept of the two different kinds of law – proscriptive law and descriptive law. Men's laws are generally always artificial and the attached punishments are arbitrary. God's laws are simply descriptive in nature of principles that are in place that define our existence and its parameters and the “punishments”, to use the term loosely, are really the natural consequences of violating those nature principles. That is why, I believe, the glaring absence of the accusatory elements found in the definition for man's judgment are not found in the word used for God's judgment. Because, as the Bible points out, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 55:8) I also like that way this translation renders this most important insight, “for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.” (James 1:20 NRSV)
As I was pondering this and examining the context another strong clue emerged that I had not really noticed so much before. “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 NAS95) I suddenly realized that this revelation of God is in direct contrast to the condemnation-type of judgment that humans tend to exercise toward each other described in the previous verses. Actually, it appears to me that kindness is really the diametric opposite of condemnation just like God's character is opposite to our sinful nature.
What I am beginning to see emerging here in my extended study of Romans 1 and 2 is a loving trap that Paul created to expose the sinfulness of the hearts of those who want to judge and condemn “wicked sinners”, especially in the name of God. Throughout the last half of chapter one he draws us into an apparent “tirade” against those who have fallen deeper and deeper into sin and draws out our prejudices and bigotry toward them into the open. Then in chapter two (remember there are no chapter or verse breaks originally in the letter) he switches the focus from “those terrible homosexual sinners” to the equally heinous sins of condemnation just exposed in our own heart and declares emphatically that we are just as guilty as the ones we are condemning. In fact, he drives it even deeper by declaring that we are guilty of the very same things that we accuse others of doing which seems to baffle us and cause us to scramble for some plausible rationalization to defuse this conviction aimed at us.
But if we try to wriggle out of the convictions that Paul presents to us here, then we will find ourself in the very negative position described in verse 4 with those who “think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance.”
What is my alternative? It is the inverse of this last description – to take very seriously and believe strongly in “His kindness and tolerance and patience” and experience the repentance that comes from such a belief. Contrary to popular religion and the thunderings of Bible-thumping preachers claiming to represent God, it is not threats and condemnations that lead sinners to repentance but it is the kindness of God. I want to fill my mind much more with the knowledge of this kindness and allow my heart to marinate in the glorious truth about God. I also want to become like Him so that others can be drawn into this experience of repentance and reconciliation as they see His kindness reflected from my heart.
