Rom 2:6-11 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rom 2:6-11: 2:6-11 Paul uses a chiasm (“X” arrangement) to make his point: A God judges everyone the same (2:6 ) B Life is the reward for doing good (2:7 ) C Wrath is the penalty for evil (2:8 ) C ′ Wrath for doing evil (2:9 ) B ′ Life for doing good (2:10 ) A ′ God shows no favoritism (2:11 )

2:7 ^h He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good: Paul makes it clear elsewhere that no one can receive eternal life except as God’s gift through faith (3:20 ⁱ, 28 ^j; 4:1-8 ^k). Here, Paul is either referring to Christians whose good deeds (that result from faith) will be taken into account in God’s judgment, or he is reminding readers of the absolute standard that God’s own holiness establishes, since only by perfection can sinners hope to find acceptance before God. As the argument of the letter unfolds, Paul will show that no one is capable of meeting that standard.
2:8 ^l Live for themselves translates a rare Greek word (eritheia) that seems to convey the idea of selfish ambition or strife. Using this word, Aristotle scolded the politicians of his day for seeking public office for selfish gain rather than from a desire to serve the people (Aristotle, Politics 5.3; see also 2 Cor 12:20 ^m; Gal 5:20 ⁿ; Phil 1:17 ^o; 2:3 ^p; Jas 3:14 ^q, 16 ^r).