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.
Parallel translations
- WEB but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
- KJV But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
- BSB But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.
- NKJV but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
- NASB but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
But to the self-seeking who reject the truth and obey unrighteousness come wrath and indignation. Those who refuse God's truth face His just anger.
Overview
The contrasting category receives wrath and fury. Paul characterizes them by self-seeking, disobedience to the truth, and obedience to unrighteousness — a settled orientation away from God. Their condemnation is just because it answers their persistent rebellion. This balances v.7, showing the two destinies that judgment according to works reveals.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 24
- 1 Tim 6:3–4If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,
- 2 Th 1:8giving vengeance to those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,
- John 3:18–21He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
- 1 Pet 4:17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God?
- 2 Th 2:10–12and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
- Rev 16:19The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
- Prov 13:10Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.
- Rom 1:18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
- Heb 3:12–13Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;
- Heb 5:9Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,
- Job 24:13“These are of those who rebel against the light. They don’t know its ways, nor stay in its paths.
- Heb 11:8By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
- Heb 10:27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.
- 1 Cor 11:16But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.
- Ps 90:11Who knows the power of your anger, your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?
- Titus 3:9but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
- Isa 50:10Who among you fears Yahweh, and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God.
- Rom 15:18For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
- Rev 14:10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
- Rom 9:22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction,
- Rom 10:16But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
- Rom 6:17But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
- Nah 1:6Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.
- 1 Pet 3:1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 2:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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