Why does Paul turn to the Gentiles in Romans 2?
The Jews had possessed the law for 1,500 years, so Paul turns to those who did not have the law—the Gentiles. Death had reigned from Adam to Moses even over those who did not sin as Adam did, showing they were still disobedient to other things God had put within them.
Les explains that throughout Romans, sin points to the old sin nature, the old Adam, while reign pictures a king on a throne. After Adam fell, death reigned like a king because it was tied to sin. Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after Adam's transgression. They had not eaten forbidden fruit as Adam did, but they were still disobedient to other things God had put even within their content. Since the Jews had the law for 1,500 years, Paul turns to those who did not have the law, the Gentiles.