What it Means to be a Jew

Passage: Romans 2:17-29

Paul is still playing the spiritual prosecuting attorney, having prosecuted the Gentiles, is now prosecuting the Jews.  Which means he is basically prosecuting the entire human race.

Like a good prosecuting attorney, Paul is moving into closing arguments and so he is sharpening the point of his attack to a forceful conclusion.  Paul doesn’t deescalate, he escalates.  He uses direct address (you, you) and pointed rhetorical questions where the answers are not in doubt.

Vss. 17-20, the heritage of the Jews.

Paul begins by stating what a Jew is by giving a list of their huge advantages and privileges.