Exegesis of Romans 2:6-11

 

2:6-11 -  He will render to each one according to his works:  to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.  to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;  but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,  but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. 

NA28 Greek Text: ὃς ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ· τοῖς μὲν καθ’ ὑπομονὴν ἔργου ἀγαθοῦ δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν ζητοῦσιν ζωὴν αἰώνιον, τοῖς δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας καὶ ἀπειθοῦσιν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πειθομένοις δὲ τῇ ἀδικίᾳ ὀργὴ καὶ θυμός. θλῖψις καὶ στενοχωρία ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ψυχὴν ἀνθρώπου τοῦ κατεργαζομένου τὸ κακόν, Ἰουδαίου τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνος· δόξα δὲ καὶ τιμὴ καὶ εἰρήνη παντὶ τῷ ἐργαζομένῳ τὸ ἀγαθόν, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν προσωπολημψία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ.

Commentary:

Side Note: Many commentators have noted a connection between the wording of this passage and two OT texts: Psalm 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12:

Psalm 62:12 ESV - “and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.”

Hebrew [WLC Masoretic Text]:וּלְךָֽ־אֲדֹנָ֥י חָ֑סֶד כִּֽי־אַתָּ֨ה תְשַׁלֵּ֖ם לְאִ֣ישׁ כְּֽמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃

Proverbs 24:12 ESV - “If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?”

Hebrew  [WLC Masoretic Text]: כִּֽי־תֹאמַ֗ר הֵן֮ לֹא־יָדַ֪עְנ֫וּ זֶ֥ה הֲ‍ֽלֹא־תֹ֘כֵ֤ן לִבֹּ֨ות ׀ הֽוּא־יָבִ֗ין וְנֹצֵ֣ר נַ֭פְשְׁךָ ה֣וּא יֵדָ֑ע וְהֵשִׁ֖יב לְאָדָ֣ם כְּפָעֳלֹֽו׃

As Cranfield has noted, verse 6 functions as a type of “summary statement” for what is spelled out in verses 7-10 thus, that will be an important part of the discussion regarding what the proper interpretation is of these verses. In particular, it is always asked whether or not Paul’s words here are inconsistent with his teaching in Romans 3:20 (and 3:28 as well). I do think Cranfield’s note (commenting on verse 7) is helpful here:

“It is to be noted that Paul speaks of those who seek (ζητοῦσιν) glory, honour, and incorruption, not of those who deserve them.” (Cranfield, Romans, 1:147)

John Calvin (in his commentary) said similarly that it is wrong to “deduce merit from reward”.

It should be recognized that in this paragraph, Paul’s focus is on the standard of God’s judgment. Verse 6 and verse 11 state the same point in two different ways: positively (verse 6) and negatively (verse 11). Here is a graphic (from Douglas Moo’s commentary)which shows Paul’s flow of thought in this passage:

 

In a similar fashion, I have constructed a BibleArc to illustrate the relationship between the verses in this unit of text:

I do not believe that these verses are merely hypothetical. I do think, however, that this passage might perhaps communicate what Paul views as the standard for salvation apart from Christ, since this harmonizes better with much of Romans 3 (especially v. 20). This is one of the plausible interpretations for me personally.

The connection between verses 5 and 6 strongly suggests that Paul has the Jews in mind when he says that God’s judgment is impartial (explicitly in verse 11, but this whole paragraph overall expresses the exact point being made in verse 11). 

Schreiner summarizes Paul’s point here in vv. 6-11: “The Jews are storing up wrath for themselves [verse 5] because God renders to each person in accord with his or her works [verse 6 and verse 11].”