Romans 2:12
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All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
For as many as have sinned--not "as many as have sinned at all," but, "as many as are found in sin" at the judgment of the great day (as the whole context shows). without law--that is, without the advantage of a positive Revelation. shall also perish without law--exempt from the charge of rejecting or disregarding it. and as many as have sinned in the law--within the pale of a positive, written Revelation. shall be judged by the law--tried and condemned by the higher standard of that written Revelation.
Open source ↗The scope of the first two chapters of this epistle may be gathered from Rom 3:9, "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin." This we have proved upon the Gentiles (ch. 1), now in this chapter he proves it upon the Jews, as appears by Rom 2:17, "thou art called a Jew." I. He proves in general that Jews and Gentiles stand upon the same level before the justice of God, to Rom 2:11. II. He shows more particularly what sins the Jews were guilty of, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions (Rom 2:17 to the end).
Open source ↗2:12 destroyed: This common New Testament word describes the fate of the wicked after death (see also 9:22; 14:15; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:18; 2 Cor 2:15; 4:3; Phil 1:28; 3:19; 2 Thes 2:10; 1 Tim 6:9). Condemned sinners do not cease to exist, but they suffer eternal punishment, which includes the everlasting destruction of all good in their identity and experience. • the Jews, who do have God’s law: The Jews were given the law of Moses, while the Gentiles never had God’s written law. In the New Testament period, Jews emphasized their possession of the law as a mark of God’s favor and even as a guarantee of salvation.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.