Bible Strands
Romans 2:7
To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, articulating a principle of divine retribution that follows directly from "God will repay each one according to his deeds" (Romans 2:6) and is immediately contrasted with the fate of the self-seeking in verse 8.
The words — ὑπομονήν (hupomonēn, endurance) modifies ἔργου (ergou, work), making the condition not a single act of goodness but sustained effort in it; the pairing insists that the "good" must be held, not merely attempted.
The thread — The same endurance-in-work motif appears in Paul's own summary at 2 Timothy 4:7 ("I have finished the race") and his exhortation at 1 Corinthians 15:58 ("be steadfast… always excel in the work of the Lord"), and in Jesus' parable of the sower where the good-soil hearer "persever[s]" (Luke 8:15).
Why it lands — The verse makes eternal life conditional on a quality of persistence, not a one-time decision; a reader who treats faith as settled at a single point has not yet met the standard Paul sets here.
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
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Cross-references
- 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- Luke 8:15 But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- 2 Timothy 1:10 And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
- 1 Peter 1:7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
- James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.