Romans 2:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

NIV: But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

NASB: but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation.

CSB: but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.

NLT: But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.

KJV: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

NKJV: but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,

Paul is making clear to his readers that God will indeed judge each one of us according to our works. If somehow we were able to lead lives full of persistent and ongoing good works, God would give to us eternal life (Romans 2:7). However, Paul will show in Romans 3 that none of us are able to lead such lives. In a sense, then, works "would have" been able to save mankind, if we were perfect. But we are not, and cannot be, and so good works can in no way, shape, or form result in forgiveness for our sins.

Now Paul addresses the alternative to those who seek God by obeying His will and His word. God will give "wrath and fury" to those who are self-seeking and don't obey His truth. Instead, these people obey their own unrighteous desires. Having seen this, God will express His anger toward them in judgment.

Paul is building his case that none of us can hope to stand before God on our own merits and receive anything but the judgment we have earned with our sinfulness. We need another way to be saved, and Paul will reveal that it is through faith in Jesus standing before God in our place (Romans 3:22–25).

Romans 2:1–11 springs a trap, of sorts, for every reader who thought that Paul's devastating list of sins at the end of Romans 1 was about other people. In truth, everyone is guilty of sin. Those who judge others are guilty, also, of hypocrisy. Nobody will escape God's judgment for personal sin, including religious Jews and Gentiles. God will absolutely judge each person according to what he or she has done. If someone has lived sinlessly, doing only good, he will receive rewards and eternal life. If not, he deserves wrath and fury. This point sets up Paul's explanation of how we can, in fact, obtain salvation: by grace through faith.

Romans 2 springs a trap on any religious person who read Paul's lists of sins at the end of Romans 1 and thought it wasn't about them. Paul calls them out for making themselves judges when they are also guilty. He shows that God will judge everyone, including those under the law, based on their works. This prefaces this letter's theme of salvation by grace, through faith, rather than by works. Many benefits come with having the law, but only if those under the law keep it. Jewishness—circumcision—must be an inner state, not just an outer one. Paul will show in the following chapter that none of us really meets those conditions.

Having just concluded a list of terrible sins humanity indulges in as a result of rejecting God, Paul turns to religious people and says, ''This applies to you, too.'' Nobody can judge arrogantly, because we are all guilty. Even God's people the Jews will stand before Him in judgment based on their works. Having the law only matters if someone can keep the law. Paul asks his Jewish readers why they don't and shows that they must be Jewish and circumcised in their hearts for it to matter. In the following chapter, he will show that nobody can keep the law.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.