The Meaning of Romans 2:8 Explained

Romans 2:8

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

YLT: and to those contentious, and disobedient, indeed, to the truth, and obeying the unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath,

Darby: But to those that are contentious, and are disobedient to the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there shall be wrath and indignation,

ASV: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness,'shall be wrath and indignation,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Romans 2:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Romans 2:1-11 - Leave Judgment Unto God
In this chapter the Apostle turns to address the Jews. His purpose is to prove that though they may deem themselves superior to the Gentiles and capable of judging them, they may be therefore liable to more severe judgment; because, notwithstanding their superior knowledge, they commit the same sins. God will judge men, not by their professions but by their works. Those who are harshest in condemning others are often guilty of the same sins, though in their own ease they manage to find some excuse which extenuates their shortcomings. Rid yourself of the beam in your own eye, that you may see clearly how to rid your brother of his mote, Matthew 7:5.
God's silence does not mean indifference, but the desire to give opportunity to repent. The Lamb is in the midst of the throne, Revelation 5:6. Our redemption is by His precious blood, and that alone; but the rewards of the future, and the enjoyment of what God means by life, are conditioned upon our obedience. Glory, honor, and peace are within your reach, if you will accept the reconciliation offered you in Christ, which will bring you into at-one-ment with God; and if you will live to do your Heavenly Father's will. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 2

1  No excuse for sin
6  No escape from judgment
14  Gentiles cannot;
17  nor Jews

Greek Commentary for Romans 2:8

But unto them that are factious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness [τοις δε εχ εριτειας και απειτουσιν τηι αλητειαι πειτομενοις δε αδικιαι]
The other side with δε — de and the articular present participles in the dative again, only with εχ εριτειας — ex eritheias there is no participle ουσιν — ousin But the construction changes and the substantives that follow are not the object of αποδωσει — apodōsei like ζωην αινωνιον — zōēn ainōnion above, but are in the nominative as if with εσονται — esontai (shall be) understood (anger and wrath, both οργη — orgē and τυμος — thumos tribulation and anguish, again a pair τλιπσις και στενοχωρια — thlipsis kai stenochōria on which see note on 2 Corinthians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 12:10). [source]
Contentious [ἐξ ἐριθείας]
Rev., better, factious. Lit., of faction. See on James 3:14. Intriguers; partisan agitators. [source]
Indignation and wrath [ὀργὴ καὶ θυμός]
See on be patient, James 5:7. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 2:8

John 3:36 He that believeth not [ὁ ἀπειθῶν]
More correctly, as Rev., obeyeth not. Disbelief is regarded in its active manifestation, disobedience. The verb πείθω means to persuade, to cause belief, to induce one to do something by persuading, and so runs into the meaning of to obey, properly as the result of persuasion. See on Acts 5:29. Compare 1 Peter 4:17; Romans 2:8; Romans 11:30, Romans 11:31. Obedience, however, includes faith. Compare Romans 1:5, the obedience of faith. [source]
1 Corinthians 13:6 But rejoiceth with the truth [συνχαιρει δε τηι αλητειαι]
Associative instrumental case after συν — suṅ in composition. Truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:12; Romans 2:8). Love is on the side of the angels. Paul returns here to the positive side of the picture (1 Corinthians 13:4) after the remarkable negatives. [source]
Galatians 5:7 Obey the truth [ἀληθείᾳ πείθεσθαι]
The exact phrase N.T.oDisobey ( ἀπειθοῦσι ) the truth, Romans 2:8: obedience ( ὑπακοή ) of the truth, 1 Peter 1:22. [source]
Galatians 3:7 They which are of faith [οἱ ἐκ πίστεως]
Ἑκ πίστεως fromor out of faith, is found with the verb to justify (Romans 3:26, Romans 3:30; Romans 5:1): with other verbs, as live (Romans 1:17); eat (Romans 14:23): with the noun δικαιοσύνη righteousness(Romans 1:17; Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6): with other nouns, as promise (Galatians 3:22), law (Galatians 3:12). For parallels to the phrase οἱ ἐκ πίστεως , see Romans 3:26; Romans 4:16; Romans 14:23; Galatians 3:9. It denotes believers as sprung from, or receiving their spiritual condition from that which specially characterizes them. Comp. οἱ ἐξ ἐριθίας theywho are of faction, Romans 2:8; οἱ ἐκ νόμου theywho are of the law, Romans 4:14; ὁ ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας hewho is of the truth, John 18:37. [source]
Philippians 1:17 I am set [κεῖμαι]
Or appointed. See on Luke 2:34. Compare 1 Thessalonians 3:3. Some, instead of rendering the one (or some) preach Christ of contention - but the other of love, join οἱ μὲν some οἱ δὲ othersin each instance with the succeeding word, making one phrase, thus: “they who are of love do so knowing that I am set, etc.: they who are of faction proclaim Christ not sincerely, etc. The phrase those who are of faction occurs Romans 2:8; and a similar phrase, him who is of faith, Romans 3:26. There seems no sufficient reason for altering A.V. and Rev. [source]
1 Peter 4:17 And if it begin first at us [ει δε πρωτον απημων]
Condition of first class again, with the verb αρχεται — archetai understood. “From us” Final fate.Of them that obey not the gospel of God “Of those disobeying the gospel of God.” See the same idea in Romans 2:8. See Mark 1:14 for believing in the gospel. [source]
1 Peter 4:17 Of them that obey not the gospel of God [των απειτουντων τωι του τεου ευαγγελιωι]
“Of those disobeying the gospel of God.” See the same idea in Romans 2:8. See Mark 1:14 for believing in the gospel. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 2:8 mean?

to those however of self-interest and disobeying the truth being persuaded about - unrighteousness wrath anger
τοῖς δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας καὶ ἀπειθοῦσι τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πειθομένοις τῇ ἀδικίᾳ ὀργὴ θυμός

τοῖς  to  those 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐριθείας  self-interest 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἐριθεία  
Sense: electioneering or intriguing for office.
ἀπειθοῦσι  disobeying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπειθέω  
Sense: not to allow one’s self to be persuaded.
ἀληθείᾳ  truth 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.
πειθομένοις  being  persuaded  about 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Passive, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπισείω 
Sense: persuade.
τῇ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀδικίᾳ  unrighteousness 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀδικία  
Sense: injustice, of a judge.
ὀργὴ  wrath 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ὀργή  
Sense: anger, the natural disposition, temper, character.
θυμός  anger 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θυμός  
Sense: passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again.