Romans 2:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But so that they might not think the Apostle accuses the Jews on his own authority, he set the prophet as their accuser.

Here it is Isaiah, who in a few words generally convicts them of their chief vice. Later it is David, who disclosed their faults in detail and with greater proof.

Paul says: I am not reproaching you for this. Hear what Isaiah said: "For the name of God is blasphemed among the nations because of you" (Isa 52:5).

Here are two more accusations. They not only insult God themselves, he says, but also lead others to do so.

What benefit, then, is there from teaching, if you do not teach yourselves? He has already said this above. Here he turns to the opposite point.

But lest they think that he himself is accusing the Jews, he brought in the prophet Isaiah as their accuser, setting forth two charges against them. For they not only offend God themselves, but also lead others to do so. They not only fail to teach life according to the law, but teach the opposite. They teach others to blaspheme God, which is contrary to the law. For those who see their corruption say: are these the ones whom God must love? Can the God Who loves such people truly be God?

The prophet Isaiah said this because the name of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles when the Jews, through their iniquity, turned away from what had been handed down to them and instead gave glory to their idols (cf. Is 2:8; 44:9-21). So also in the times of the Apostles the name of God is blasphemed in Christ, since the Jews, rejecting Christ God, also blaspheme the Father. As the Lord says, “He who receives Me receives not Me, but Him who sent Me” (Lk 9:48). Therefore the Gentiles blasphemed the name of God, because the Jews stubbornly persuaded believing Gentiles that Christ is not God.

(Is. 52:5). You not only failed to become the cause of God's glorification, but stirred many mouths to blasphemy. For when they looked upon your lawless life, they openly blasphemed the God Who chose you. Having shown that they gained no benefit from the Mosaic lawgiving, he turns his discourse to circumcision and shows that it is useless when it is not accompanied by other works.

The Jews are estranged from God, since because of them the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles. Yet they are also dear to God, because through their teaching the name of God is proclaimed in praiseworthy testimony.

As Scripture says that “by your good works God is blessed” (cf. Mt 5:16), so also because of those who live unrighteously, He is “blasphemed among the Gentiles.”

It is not counted as sin to teach others (v. 21), to boast in God (v. 17), or to know His will and discern what is best (v. 18). But it is counted as a great sin when one knows the will of God, boasts in God, and teaches others, yet commits transgressions himself (v. 22). Teaching is not abolished. Rather, teachers are charged with the duty of being the first doers of the law they preach.

The Jews must appear at God's judgment even more guilty than the pagans. For they knew the will of God and were taught what is better from the law.

Yet by their life they only dishonored the name of God among the pagans. The prophets also accused them of this.

"Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and boast in God," that is, that He is chiefly your God and not the pagans' God.

"You understand what is better, being taught from the law, and are confident that you are a guide of the blind," and "an instructor of the ignorant."

How then do you not teach yourself? "You boast in the law, yet through breaking the law you dishonor God.

For because of you, as it is written, the name of God is blasphemed among the nations" (Isa 52:5; Ezek 36:20).

As though sparing the Hebrews, the Apostle has until now spoken of them without naming them directly. Now, when the essential thought concerning their guilt has already been stated, he unfolds it in greater detail.

He shows where they were especially sinful. Here the Hebrews' boasting in their divine election and their knowledge of the law, without fulfilling it, is exposed with full force.

It is also shown that the Hebrews violate the most essential and first commandments. They do not believe, they commit adultery, and they commit sacrilege.

Even honorable pagans abhor such transgressions. Therefore they even give the pagans occasion to think badly of the true God Himself.

"So that they might not think the Apostle accuses the Jews on his own authority, he brings in the prophet Isaiah as accuser (see Isa 52:5).

Paul says: I am not reproaching you for this. Hear what Isaiah said: The name of God is blasphemed among the nations because of you.

In this accusation there are again two faults. It is said that they not only insult God themselves, but also lead others to the same.

Above, he blamed them because, while teaching others, they do not teach themselves. Now he blames them for something greater.

You not only fail to teach yourselves and others what ought to be done. Worst of all, you not only fail to teach men to live according to the law.

You teach the opposite. You teach men to blaspheme God, which is contrary to the law" (St. Chrysostom).

The blasphemy that we must avoid in every way, I think, also consists in this: one of us gives a pagan occasion for just condemnation.

This may happen through lying, causing harm, some other offense, or deeds deserving investigation. Through such acts our name will deservedly be defamed, and the Lord will rightly be angered.

But if the words, "Because of you My name will be blasphemed," refer to any blasphemy whatever, then we are all doomed to destruction.

For the crowded circus undeservedly reviles the Christian name with sacrilegious cries. What then? Shall we fall away, so that there will be no blasphemy?

On the contrary, let them blaspheme when we follow the teaching, not when we fall away from it. Let them blaspheme when we are approved, not when we are condemned.

O blasphemy that shares in martyrdom! When it is directed against me, it precisely bears witness that I am a Christian.

Reproach for faithfulness to the teaching is a blessing of the name.