Glory, honour and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.
Romans 2:10.11
They had sought “glory, honour and immortality” (v.7) and receive “glory, honour and peace”, which goes even further. “Peace” comprises all the privileges that are granted to a believer as a result of the reconciliation through the work of the Lord Jesus: peace with God, peace of heart and mind and eternal, untroubled joy in fellowship with God.
He who “works what is good” is contrasted with whoever “does evil” (v.9). It is a fundamental matter of his position and what characterizes it, not of his individual deeds. Salvation through repentance and faith is a pre-requisite, for without it none can “work what is good” (cf. ch.1, 16.17;2:4 and John 5:24-29).
As in verse 9 it applies to “the Jew first and also to the Greek”. These two groups, who had not given way to idolatry and immorality to the same extent as the barbarians, are addressed in particular.
The Jews are named first in their recompense for eternity. Through the Old Testament scriptures they were better acquainted than the heathen with God’s righteous claims on mankind and also His promises and warnings of judgment. So they had greater privileges (and greater responsibility with them). These privileges do not give them preference in God’s judgment, “for there is no partiality with God” (v.11). It is because of their greater responsibility that they are named first.