“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. 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.” -Romans 2:6–11
Paul addresses the point of this passage—the equity of God’s judgment—using a chiastic structure. While the passage will need to be unpacked further, the simple meaning of his argument is contrasted poetically using the chiasm.
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A God will judge everyone equitably |
v. 6 |
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B Those who do good will attain eternal life |
v. 7 |
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C Those who do evil will suffer wrath |
v. 8 |
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C’ Wrath for those who do evil |
v. 9 |
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B’ Glory for those who do good |
v. 10 |
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A’ God judges impartially |
v. 11 |