Verse 1 The Jews would readily admit these charges against the pagan nations; and though they themselves incurred the same guilt, more or less openly, yet they considered themselves as protected from the divine displeasure by their strict adherence to the Mosaic ceremonial. Thus, while open iniquity characterized the pagan, secret corruption, coupled with a malignant censoriousness, was the type of Jewish sin. The object of the apostle, therefore, now, after having exhibited the wretched condition of the pagan world, is to show the Jews, without, however, at first distinctly naming them, that, notwithstanding their self-satisfaction and censoriousness, they were involved substantially in the same guilt and danger, and that their ceremonial observances would have no efficacy in saving them, since God will judge men by their inward character, and not by the outward rites which they perform. This, the general meaning and design of the chapter, is clear. The logical connection of it with what precedes, as indicated by the first word, Therefore, is obscure; for what is said in this chapter does not appear to be at all of the nature of an inference from the statements of the former one. The word Moreover would seem to express the kind of connection which actually exists between the two sections of the discourse.