Bible Strands
Romans 2:12
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses his Roman readers while developing his argument on God’s impartial judgment, placing this statement between the declaration that God shows no favoritism and the principle that obedience, not mere hearing, defines righteousness.
The words — The Greek term ἀνόμως (anomōs) literally means “without law,” and the verb ἀπολοῦνται (apolountai) translates directly to “will perish.”
The thread — This structural pattern of sin and accountability appears in 1 Corinthians 9:21, where Paul describes adapting his methods to reach those without the law, and in Galatians 3:10, which states that reliance on works of the law places one under a curse.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers acknowledge their standing relative to divine revelation and respond with concrete obedience rather than relying on religious privilege or mere knowledge.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 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.
- Galatians 3:10 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.”
- Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Romans 2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
- Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
- Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
- Romans 8:3 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,
- Ezekiel 16:49 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.
- Matthew 11:24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
- Luke 10:12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.