Why was it profitable to be a Jew in Paul's argument in Romans 2?
In Paul's argument, being a Jew was profitable because the Jewish people had the Word of God and an exalted position. Circumcision profited if one kept the law, but outward privilege alone was not enough; true circumcision is of the heart, inward and spiritual.
Les explains that Paul grants it was absolutely profitable to be a Jew because they had the Word of God and an exalted position. Yet Paul says circumcision verily profiteth if you keep the law, and the Jews had ignored all that and ignored their exalted position. Their failure caused God's name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles. Paul then says a saved Gentile, uncircumcision by nature fulfilling the law, would judge them and make them blush with shame. Therefore the true Jew is not one outwardly, and real circumcision is not outward in the flesh but of the heart, a spiritual circumcision.
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.