Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 20th, 2025
the Third Week of Advent
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Bishop's Bible

Romans 2:8

But vnto them that are contentious, & that do not obey the trueth, but obey vnrighteousnes [shall come] indignation, and wrath.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gentiles;   God Continued...;   Judgment;   Strife;   Truth;   Wicked (People);   Scofield Reference Index - Life;   Thompson Chain Reference - Eternal;   Everlasting;   Future State of the Wicked;   Future, the;   God's;   Punishment;   Reward-Punishment;   Salvation-Condemnation;   Sin;   Wicked, the;   Wrath;   The Topic Concordance - Contention;   Disobedience;   Indignation;   Judges;   Unrighteousness;   Wrath;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Anger of God, the;   Death, Eternal;   Righteousness;   Truth;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Respect of Persons;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - God;   Punishment;   Righteousness;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Condemnation;   Denial;   Glorification;   Motives;   Paul the Apostle;   Wages;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Judgment, Last;   Wrath of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Resurrection of the Dead;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Eschatology;   Judgment Day;   Romans, Book of;   Truth;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Anger;   Anger (Wrath) of God;   Glory;   James, Epistle of;   Law;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Judgment Damnation;   Romans Epistle to the;   Union with God;   Unity;   Unity (2);   Unrighteousness ;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Father, God the;   Immortal;   James, Epistle of;   Justice;   Truth;   Wrath (Anger);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.
King James Version (1611)
But vnto them that are contentious, & doe not obey the trueth, but obey vnrighteousnes, indignation, & wrath,
King James Version
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
English Standard Version
but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
New American Standard Bible
but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation.
New Century Version
But other people are selfish. They refuse to follow truth and, instead, follow evil. God will give them his punishment and anger.
Amplified Bible
But for those who are selfishly ambitious and self-seeking and disobedient to the truth but responsive to wickedness, [there will be] wrath and indignation.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
Legacy Standard Bible
but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger.
Berean Standard Bible
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.
Contemporary English Version
But he will show how angry and furious he can be with every selfish person who rejects the truth and wants to do evil.
Complete Jewish Bible
But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey evil, he will pay back wrath and anger.
Darby Translation
But to those that are contentious, and are disobedient to the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [there shall be] wrath and indignation,
Easy-to-Read Version
But others are selfish and refuse to follow truth. They follow evil. God will show his anger and punish them.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But vnto them that are contentious and disobey the trueth, and obey vnrighteousnesse, shalbe indignation and wrath.
George Lamsa Translation
But to those who are stubborn and do not obey the truth, but obey iniquity, to them he will render indignation and wrath,
Good News Translation
Other people are selfish and reject what is right, in order to follow what is wrong; on them God will pour out his anger and fury.
Lexham English Bible
but to those who act from selfish ambition and who disobey the truth, but who obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger.
Literal Translation
but to the ones truly disobeying the truth out of self-interest, and obeying unrighteousness, will be anger and wrath,
American Standard Version
but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation,
Bible in Basic English
But to those who, from a love of competition, are not guided by what is true, will come the heat of his wrath,
Hebrew Names Version
but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
International Standard Version
but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead.Job 1:24:13; Romans 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
but to them who are rebellious, and obey not the truth, but unrighteousness obey, he will render wrath and indignation
Murdock Translation
but to them who are obstinate and obey not the truth, but obey iniquity, to them he will retribute wrath and ire.
English Revised Version
but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation,
World English Bible
but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be indignation and wrath,
Weymouth's New Testament
while on the other hand upon the self-willed who disobey the truth and obey unrighteousness will fall anger and fury, affliction and awful distress,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but to hem that ben of strijf, and that assenten not to treuthe, but bileuen to wickidnesse, wraththe and indignacioun, tribulacioun and angwisch,
Update Bible Version
but to those that are factious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [shall be] wrath and indignation,
Webster's Bible Translation
But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; indignation and wrath:
New English Translation
but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.
New King James Version
but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them.
New Revised Standard
while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Unto them, on the other hand, who are of contention, and are not yielding unto the truth, but are yielding unto unrighteousness, anger and wrath,
Douay-Rheims Bible
But to them that are contentious and who obey not the truth but give credit to iniquity, wrath and indignation.
Revised Standard Version
but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But vnto them that are rebellious and disobey the trueth yet folowe iniquytie shall come indignacion and wrath
Young's Literal Translation
and to those contentious, and disobedient, indeed, to the truth, and obeying the unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But vnto them that are contencious & not obedient vnto the trueth, but obeye vnrighteousnes, shal come indignacion and wrath,
Mace New Testament (1729)
but unto those who are contentious, and do not yield to the truth, but give way to injustice, indignation and wrath,
Simplified Cowboy Version
But to those who have been strivin' for sin that destroys the body, he will let sin destroy their body forever in hell.

Contextual Overview

1 Therefore art thou inexcusable, O ma, whosoeuer thou be that iudgest. For in that same wherin thou iudgest another, thou condempnest thy self. For thou that iudgest, doest euen ye selfe same thynges. 2 But we are sure that the iudgement of god is according to the trueth, against them which commit such thynges. 3 Thinkest thou this, O thou man that iudgest them whiche do such thynges, and doest the same [thy selfe] that thou shalt escape the iudgement of God? 4 Eyther despisest thou the rychesse of his goodnes, & pacience, and long sufferaunce, not knowyng that the kyndnesse of god leadeth thee to repentauce? 5 But thou after thy stubbernnesse and heart that can not repent, heapest vnto thy selfe wrath, agaynst the daye of wrath and declaration of the righteous iudgement of God: 6 Which wyl rewarde euery man accordyng to his deedes: 7 To them, whiche by continuyng in well doyng seke for glorie, and honour, and immortalitie, eternall lyfe. 8 But vnto them that are contentious, & that do not obey the trueth, but obey vnrighteousnes [shall come] indignation, and wrath. 9 Tribulation, and anguishe, vpon euery soule of man that doeth euyll, of the Iewe first, and also of the Greke: 10 But glorie, and honour, and peace to euery man that doeth good, to ye Iewe first, and also to the Greke.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

contentious: Proverbs 13:10, 1 Corinthians 11:16, 1 Timothy 6:3, 1 Timothy 6:4, Titus 3:9

and do not: Romans 1:18, Romans 6:17, Romans 10:16, Romans 15:18, Job 24:13, Isaiah 50:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 11:8, 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 4:17

but obey: John 3:18-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 3:13

indignation: Romans 9:22, Psalms 90:11, Nahum 1:6, Hebrews 10:27, Revelation 14:10, Revelation 16:19

Reciprocal: Exodus 9:2 - General Numbers 5:31 - bear Deuteronomy 11:28 - General Deuteronomy 28:15 - if thou wilt 1 Samuel 12:15 - But if ye 2 Samuel 22:25 - recompensed 2 Chronicles 34:21 - great Job 5:2 - envy Job 10:15 - If I be wicked Job 21:17 - distributeth Job 36:12 - if Job 40:11 - Cast Psalms 9:17 - The wicked Psalms 32:10 - Many Psalms 78:49 - cast Psalms 90:7 - are we Proverbs 10:29 - but Proverbs 11:19 - he Proverbs 11:23 - expectation Proverbs 16:5 - unpunished Ecclesiastes 7:8 - the patient Isaiah 17:11 - a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow Isaiah 34:8 - General Jeremiah 9:25 - that Ezekiel 3:20 - and his Ezekiel 16:43 - I also Ezekiel 16:59 - I will Ezekiel 22:31 - their own Ezekiel 24:13 - till I Micah 3:4 - as Matthew 13:19 - and understandeth Matthew 13:41 - and them John 3:19 - because Romans 6:12 - in the lusts Romans 6:13 - unrighteousness Galatians 1:10 - persuade Galatians 3:1 - ye Galatians 5:7 - obey Galatians 5:21 - that they 2 Thessalonians 2:12 - but James 1:25 - and 1 Peter 1:22 - in 2 Peter 2:13 - the reward Revelation 1:9 - in the

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastwarde in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had shapen.
Genesis 2:9
Moreouer, out of the grounde made the Lorde God to growe euery tree, that was fayre to syght, and pleasaunt to eate: The tree of lyfe in the myddest of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and euyll.
Genesis 3:24
And so he droue out man, and at the east side of the garde of Eden he set Cherubins, and a fierie two edged sworde, to kepe the way of the tree of lyfe.
Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lorde, & dwelt in the lande of Nod, eastwarde from Eden.
Genesis 13:10
And so Lot lyftyng vp his eyes, behelde all the countrey of Iordane, whiche was well watred euery where before the Lorde destroyed Sodome and Gomorrh, euen as the garden of the Lorde, lyke the lande of Egypt as thou commest vnto Soar.
2 Kings 19:12
Haue the gods of the heathen deliuered them, whiche myne auncestours haue destroyed? As Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelassar?
Isaiah 51:3
Therfore shall the Lorde comfort Sion, and repayre all her decay, makyng her desert as a paradise, and her wildernesse as the garden of the Lorde: Mirth and ioy shalbe founde there, thankesgeuyng and the voyce of prayse.
Ezekiel 27:23
Haran, Chenne, and Eden, the marchauntes of Seba, Assyria, and Chelmad were doers with thee:
Ezekiel 28:13
Thou hast ben in the pleasaunt garden of God, thou art deckt with all maner of precious stones, with ruby, topas, diamond, thurkis, onyx, iasper, saphir, emeralde, carbuncle, and golde: the workemanship of thy timbrels and of thy pipes [that be] in thee, was prepared in the day that thou wast created.
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the heathen shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast hym downe to hell with them that descend into the pit: all the excellent trees of Eden, & the best of Libanus, all that drinke waters, shalbe comforted in the neather partes of the earth.

Gill's Notes on the 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 not truth; strive about words to no profit; are quarrelsome, and sow discord among men, and in churches;

and do not obey the truth; neither attend to the light of nature, and to that which may be known of God by it; nor regard and submit to the Gospel revelation and so design both the Gentiles, which knew not God, and Jews, and others, who obey not the Gospel:

but obey unrighteousness; are servants of sin: to these God renders

indignation and wrath; wrathful or fiery indignation, the hottest of his fury.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 a disposition toward God, and is of the same signification as rebellious, or as opposing God. They who contend with the Almighty; who resist his claims, who rebel against his laws, and refuse to submit to his requirements, however made known. The Septuagint use the verb to translate the Hebrew word מרה maarah, in Deuteronomy 21:20. One striking characteristic of the sinner is, that he contends with God, that is, that he opposes and resists his claims. This is the case with all sinners; and it was particularly so with the Jews, and hence, the apostle used the expression here to characterize them particularly. His argument he intended to apply to the Jews, and hence he used such an expression as would exactly describe them. This character of being a rebellious people was one which was often charged on the Jewish nation, Deuteronomy 9:7, Deuteronomy 9:24; Deuteronomy 31:27; Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 30:9; Isaiah 65:2; Jeremiah 5:23; Ezekiel 2:8, Ezekiel 2:5.

Do not obey the truth - Compare Romans 1:18. The truth here denotes the divine will, which is alone the light of truth (Calvin). It means true doctrine in opposition to false opinions; and to refuse to obey it is to regard it as false, and to resist its influence. The truth here means all the correct representations which had been made of God, and his perfections, and law, and claims, whether by the light of nature or by revelation. The description thus included Gentiles and Jews, but particularly the latter, as they had been more signally favored with the light of truth. It had been an eminent characteristic of the Jews that they had refused to obey the commands of the true God, Joshua 5:6; Judges 2:2; Jdg 6:10; 2 Kings 18:12; Jeremiah 3:13, Jeremiah 3:25; Jeremiah 42:21; Jeremiah 43:4, Jeremiah 43:7; Jeremiah 9:13.

But obey unrighteousness - The expression means that they yielded themselves to iniquity, and thus became the servants of sin, Romans 6:13, Romans 6:16-17, Romans 6:19. Iniquity thus may be said to reign over people, as they follow the dictates of evil, make no resistance to it, and implicitly obey all its hard requirements.

Indignation and wrath - That is, these shall be rendered to those who are contentious, etc. The difference between indignation and wrath, says Ammonius, is that the former is of short duration, but the latter is a long continued remembrance of evil. The one is temporary, the other denotes continued expressions of hatred of evil. Eustathius says that the word “indignation” denotes the internal emotion, but wrath the external manifestation of indignation. (Tholuck.) Both words refer to the opposition which God will cherish and express against sin in the world of punishment.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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 unrighteousness - who act under the influence of the principle of sin, and not under the influence of the Spirit of God.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile