God will repay each one according to his deeds, without favoritism (Romans 2:6–11)

Says God "will repay each one according to his deeds" (2:6, BSB), ὃς ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. The words are taken from the Psalms and Proverbs: "For You will repay each man according to his deeds" (Ps 62:12, BSB; תְשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ, teshallem le'ish kema'asehu), and "Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?" (Prov 24:12, BSB; וְהֵשִׁיב לְאָדָם כְּפָעֳלוֹ, veheshiv le'adam kefo'olo). Implies Paul's wording is closest to the Greek of Ps 61:13 LXX (note.language.Rom.2.6.ps-62-12-prov-24-12; xref.Rom.2.6.Ps.62.12.heb; xref.Rom.2.6.Prov.24.12.heb; note.language.Rom.2.6.kata-ta-erga).

Implies 2:6–11 is built as a ring (note.language.Rom.2.6.chiasm-2-6-11): - A (2:6): God repays each according to deeds. - B (2:7): eternal life to those who seek glory, honor and immortality by perseverance in good work. - C (2:8): wrath and anger for the self-seeking who disobey the truth. - C′ (2:9): trouble and distress for everyone who does evil, Jew first and Greek. - B′ (2:10): glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and Greek. - A′ (2:11): there is no favoritism with God.

The outer lines state the principle, and the inner lines apply it to two kinds of people and two outcomes. The ring puts the weight on impartiality: 2:11 explains 2:6.

Says "To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life" (2:7, BSB). καθ᾿ ὑπομονὴν ἔργου ἀγαθοῦ is "according to endurance in good work" (literal; lex.G5281). "But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger" (2:8, BSB). Implies ἐριθεία ("self-seeking") is selfish ambition, the attitude of one who works for his own interest (note.language.Rom.2.8.eritheia; lex.G2052). The two groups are defined by what they seek and whom they obey, not only by single acts. The phrase "reject the truth" recalls those who "suppress the truth" (1:18, BSB). The Byzantine text adds μέν in 2:8 and reverses "wrath and anger"; neither change affects the sense (var.Rom.2.8.apeithousi-men; var.Rom.2.8.orge-thymos-order).

Says Trouble and distress will come "for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek," and glory, honor and peace "for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek" (2:9–10, BSB). Implies The order of 1:16, "first to the Jew, then to the Greek" (BSB), now applies to judgment as well as to salvation. Privilege brings first place in accountability. It does not exempt.

Says "For God does not show favoritism" (2:11, BSB). προσωπολημψία (prosōpolēmpsia, "favoritism") is formed from the idiom "to receive the face" (literal; note.language.Rom.2.11.prosopolempsia; lex.G4382). Moses calls God the one "showing no partiality and accepting no bribe" (Deut 10:17, BSB; לֹא־יִשָּׂא פָנִים, lo'-yissa' fanim; xref.Rom.2.11.Deut.10.17.heb; xref.Rom.2.11.2Chr.19.7.heb; note.language.Rom.2.11.deut-10-17-no-partiality). Implies Impartiality is the point Paul presses against the hearer: being a Jew, or being a judge of others, does not change the standard by which God judges.

Uncertain Who the people of 2:7 and 2:10 are, who seek glory and do good and receive eternal life. The question is the same as at 2:13, where the two readings held by careful interpreters are set out on equal terms. How judgment according to deeds relates to justification by faith is stated in the Doctrinal note after 2:12–16.