Towards the latter half of Romans 2, Paul illustrates what he believes qualifies as properly following the law, and therefore being a good person, and not following the law. He begins by drawing a distinction between those who quietly follow laws and treat their fellow community members well, saying of these people that "They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness" (Romans 2:15) and even claims that such quiet, obedient adherence to goodness could potentially lead to redemption and salvation upon their day of judgement, even though they are not formally baptized or circumcised, and "do not possess the law" (Romans 2:14) of Christian faith. However, on the other hand Paul emphasizes that those who claim to be Jews, who rely on the law, and "boast of [their] relation to God" who outwardly profess their reverence for the Jewish or Christian faith, and in quiet break those same laws, will be seen as such, even if they are more familiar with the language of the laws or more able to project an image of goodness than those members of the first group. He sums up this argument by claiming that those are are "physically uncircumcised but keep the law" will ultimately hold power over those who have been inducted into Judaism but do not carry out its laws; in others words, Paul's conception of the Christian faith varies greatly from the Jewish faith outlined in the Old Testament, straying away from ritual and traditional practices and instead emphasizing that anyone can belong to the Church.
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