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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary

Romans 2:8

That are contentious; or, that are of contention: so, they of the circumcision, for such as are circumcised, Acts 10:45 Galatians 2:12. By contentious, understand such as are refractory and self-willed; that, from a spirit of contradiction, will not be persuaded; that strive and kick against the righteousness of God, from an opinion of their own righteousness, Hosea 4:4. Do not obey the truth: see Romans 1:18, and the note there. But obey unrighteousness; that are the servants of sin, and of corruption, Romans 6:12 2 Peter 2:19. Indignation and wrath; these two differ only in degree: thereby understand the judgments of God upon the wicked, which are the effects of his anger: the cause is commonly put for the effect.

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See also Romans 2:8 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Romans 2:8. _BUT UNTO THEM_, c.] 2. He will manifest his _indignation_, and inflict _wrath_ - punishment, on all who are _contentious_ - who obstinately dispute against the truth, and _obey_ _u...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHO ARE CONTENTIOUS - This expression usually denotes those who are of a quarrelsome or litigious disposition; and generally has reference to controversies among people. But here it evidently denotes...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Gentile Moralist and Reformer and His Condemnation. (Romans 2:1 .)_ 2. The Two Classes. (Romans 2:7 .) 3. The State of the Jew. (Romans 2:17 .)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Some one interjects: I do not approve, I condemn the sins you describe. Then you condemn yourself, Paul retorts, for you _commit_ them! THE MORALIST UNDER CONDEMNATION, with the flagitious sinner. Thr...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    So, then, O man, everyone of you who judges others, you yourself have no defence. While you judge others, you condemn yourself, for you who set yourself up as a judge do exactly the same things. We kn...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRIVILEGE (Romans 2:1-11)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    CONTENTIOUS. of (Greek. _ek._ App-104.) contention. Greek. _eritheia._ Here, 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 1:5; Galatians 1:20;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _contentious_ Lit. OUT OF PARTISANSHIP, or FACTIOUSNESS; (the same construction as "of the truth;" John 18:37). The phrase implies connexion and attachment; as here, "those who belong to, can be class...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἘΞ ἘΡΙΘΊΑΣ. From the literal sense of ‘work for hire,’ through the political sense of ‘self-seeking or partisan factiousness’ (cf. Galatians 5:20), the word gets the general ethical sense of ‘self-see...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    GOD’S wrath, thus revealed in human life through the consequences of man’s rejection of GOD, is also seen in the judgment of GOD upon man’s conduct—the only just judgment (1) because all men being imp...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΡΙΘΕΊΑ (G2052) эгоистическая амбициозность (BAGD; Barrett; Dunn; Fitzmyer, 302; Philippians 2:3). Возможно, это является мотивацией их поведения, ΆΠΕΙΘΟΎΣΙ _praes. act. part. (adj.) от_ ΆΠΕΊΘΩ (G544...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1825 THE RULE OF GOD’S FUTURE JUDGMENT Romans 2:6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immort...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    DO NOT OBEY THE TRUTH— Though by _the truth_ the Gospel be here meant, yet St. Paul seems plainly to have used the term _truth_ with an eye to the Jews; for, though some few of them received the Gospe...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _TEXT_ Romans 2:1-11. Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou are that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practice the same...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _RETHINKING IN OUTLINE FORM_ THE NEED OF THE GOSPEL AMONG THE JEWS, Romans 2:1-16 The Jews Were Truly in Need of Justification, for: If God's judgment was going to be: 1. According to truth. Roman...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE CONTENTIOUS, [ tois (G3588) de (G1161) ex (G1537) erithei...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    _THE CONDUCT OF MANKIND_ 25 There may be an allusion here to the prevalent custom of worshiping the Roman emperor. It has often occurred that, when men have attained to great eminence, they have dema...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FAILURE OF THE JEWS In Romans 1 St. Paul showed that the Gentiles were under God's judgment on account of sin. Now he is about to turn to the Jews. He asserts first, that God's judgment will fall...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CONTENTIONS] RV 'factions,' i.e. upholding their ideas and traditions against God's voice: cp. John 5:44. INDIGNATION] RV 'shall be indignation.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BUT UNTO THEM ... — The scholar will observe that in the original Greek the construction is changed. At the end of Romans 2:7 is an accusative “(he will render) eternal life;” here we have the nominat...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 6 HUMAN GUILT UNIVERSAL: HE APPROACHES THE CONSCIENCE OF THE JEW Romans 2:1 WE have appealed, for affirmation of St. Paul's tremendous exposure of human sin, to a solemn and deliberate self-...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The Apostle has now to prove that the righteousness of God is as necessary to the Jew as to the pagan; it is the Jew who is really addressed in this chapter from the beginning, though he is not named...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    τοῖς δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας : for the use of ἐκ, _cf._ Romans 3:26, τὸν ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ; Galatians 3:7, οἱ ἐκ πίστεως; Ch. Romans 4:14, οἱ ἐκ νόμου. Lightfoot suggests that it is better to supply πράσσουσιν,...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    LEAVE JUDGMENT UNTO GOD Romans 2:1 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...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    It is evident that the apostle here turned to the Jew, though he did not immediately name him. He charged the Jew with the sin of practicing the very evils he condemned in the Gentiles. He is at least...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the (e) truth, but obey unrighteousness, (f) indignation and wrath, (e) By "truth" he means the knowledge which we naturally have. (f) God's indig...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “ _To them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality_, [to such] _eternal life: but for them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unright...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    FIFTH PASSAGE (2:1-29). THE WRATH OF GOD SUSPENDED OVER THE JEWISH PEOPLE. In the midst of this flood of pollutions and iniquities which Gentile society presents to view, the apostle sees one who lik...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The circumstances under which the epistle to the Romans was written gave occasion to the most thorough and comprehensive unfolding, not of the church, but of Christianity. No apostle had ever yet visi...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    8._But to those who are contentious, etc. _There is some irregularity in the passage; first, on account of its tenor being interrupted, for the thread of the discourse required, that the second clause...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Two things are presented here with respect to God; His judgment against evil the evil-doer shall not escape (the real difference of right and wrong would be maintained by judgment); and His mercy, pat...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE CONTENTIOUS,.... This is a description of the other sort of persons to whom God will render according to their deeds, "who are of the contention"; who contend for victory, and n...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Ver. 8. _But unto them that are contentious_] That wrangle and thwartle against cleares...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But unto them that are contentious_ Like thee, O Jew, who thus fightest against God. The character of the unbelieving Jews was disobedience, stubbornness, and impatience. Mr. Locke thinks the origina...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THEM THAT ARE CONTENTIOUS; who contend against the truth, rebel against God, and do what they know to be wrong....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE CONTENTIOUS AND DO NOT OBEY THE TRUTH, BUT OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, INDIGNATION AND WRATH,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The righteous judgment of God:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CASE OF THE CULTURED GREEK But there is a class of Gentiles who are quite keen in seeing these evils in others, and unhesitatingly judging them for them, while never considering that the same judg...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

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  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE FACTIOUS, AND OBEY NOT THE TRUTH, BUT OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, SHALL BE WRATH AND INDIGNATION, 'Factious' -'Selfishly ambitious' (NASV); 'Seek their own' (Alf); 'Self-seeking peo...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-16 The Jews thought themselves a holy people, entitled to their privileges by right, while they were unthankful, rebellious, and unrighteous. But all who act thus, of every nation, age, and descrip...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation [to those who, by steadfastly leading a life of work (which, as Olshausen observes, no...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Theophilus to Autolycus Book I But to the unbelieving and despisers, who obey not the truth, but are obedient to unrighteousness, when they shall have been filled with adulteries and fornications, an...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Romans 2:8 but G1161 self-seeking G1537 G2052 and G2532 obey G544 (G5723) G3303 truth G225 but...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But to those who are factious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation; tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, of the Jew first, and also of...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

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  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    EVEN RESPECTABLE MEN, JUDGES, PHILOSOPHERS, RABBIS AND JEWS COME UNDER GOD'S JUDGMENT AS SINNERS (2:1-16). Having demonstrated the sinfulness and inexcusability of the majority of mankind, Paul now tu...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Romans 2:8. TO THEM THAT ARE SELF-SEEKING. Lit., ‘them of faction.' ‘Contentious' is not exact, since the word is derived from serve, meaning to work for hire. In the New Testament the derivative alwa...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

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  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2. THE SINFULNESS OF THE JEWS, AS A PROOF OF THEIR NEED OF THE GOSPEL. This passage contains the second part of the proof of the universality of sin, and hence of the universal need of the gospel, whe...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1. _The Ground on which all men are Judged_ The Jews would at once assent to the truthfulness of the previous description; but while condemning the Gentiles, they would mentally excuse themselves. To...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE FACTIOUS AND OBEY NOT THE TRUTH BUT OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (τοις δε εξ εριθειας κα απειθουσιν τη αληθεια πειθομενοις δε αδικια). The other side with δε and the articular present...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Romans 2 The Practical Outcome of Judaism. I. The first thing on which St. Paul lays anxious stress in this passage is this: The judgment of God according to men's works is just, inevitable, and impa...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The equal standing of Jew and Gentile before the justice of God. Morality apart from Christ useless as means of salvation. Jews knowing the law condemned by the law. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLU...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Romans 2:1. _Therefore thou art inexcusable, oh man,_ whether Roman or Jew, who judgest another, and doest the same thing thyself, though it may be in some other way. But as the judgment of God is acc...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    OTHER MEN ARE SELFISH. This verse shows the character of the wicked. Romans 2:9 shows their punishment. God lets us choose which group we are in, and Jesus is the basis of that choice (see John 14:21-...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Wherefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest._ MAN’S INEXCUSABLENESS I. Because-- 1. He has a knowledge of his duty. 2. He was created with ability to perform it. 3. He...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life._ CONTRASTS I. In aim. II. In conduct. III. In result. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) WELL-DOING I. T...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 2:6 Paul establishes the principle that God judges ACCORDING TO... WORKS. In doing so, he shows NO PARTIALITY....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 2:1 Most interpreters say that Paul focuses on the sin of the Jews throughout this chapter. Another view is that the sin of the moral person (whether Jewish or Gentile) who judge...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 2:5.—Thou art hoping to escape the judgment of God, but instead art heaping up treasure of wrath. It is not God who treasures up, but thy destruction is from thyself. Romans...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ROMANS 2:1 (_b_) _Those who judge others, not excepting the Jews. _Here a new stage of the argument, in proof of the position propounded in Romans 1:18, begins, and is continued to the end...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judges (Romans 2:1): You see, I read this list and I say, "Oh, yes, it is horrible. My, I just don't know what we are going to do, the w...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Peter 3:1; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Timothy 6:3;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Contentious [ε ξ ε ρ ι θ ε ι α ς]. Rev., better, factious. Lit., of faction. See on James 3:14. Intriguers; partisan agitators. Indignation and wrath [ο ρ γ η κ α ι θ υ μ ο ς]. See on be patient, Jam...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE WRATH AND JUDGMENTS OF GOD Romans 1:32; Romans 2:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS As we listen to the pulsings of twentieth century thought, we find that God is not only being denied by many, but his wrath...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE SINFUL HEART Romans 2:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. God's X-ray picture of the human heart. At the close of the first chapter of Romans, there is such a graphic description of the heart of sin, that...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But to them that are contentious — Like thee, O Jew, who thus fightest against God. The character of a false Jew is disobedience, stubbornness, impatience. Indignation and wrath, tribulation and angui...

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