Bible Strands
Romans 2:16
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul is mid-argument in Romans 2, having just shown that Gentiles without the law have its work written on their hearts (v. 15), and is about to turn to the self-righteous Jew (v. 17). The verse functions as the pivot: both groups face the same tribunal.
The words — κρυπτὰ (krupta), "the hidden things," is the object of judgment; it is not merely "secrets" in a casual sense but the concealed interior—motives, unspoken thoughts, acts no one witnessed.
The thread — Ecclesiastes 12:14 says God brings every hidden thing, whether good or evil, into judgment; 1 Corinthians 4:5 warns against judging before the Lord brings to light what is hidden in darkness; Acts 17:31 identifies the appointed judge as the Man God has set.
Why it lands — There is no private life that escapes the verdict. The reader is asked to stop treating their inner life as their own to keep.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Cross-references
- Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Acts 17:31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
- Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.
- Acts 10:42 And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
- John 5:22 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
- Romans 3:6 Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?
- Romans 14:10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
- 1 Peter 4:5 But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
- Psalms 98:9 before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.