Romans 2:4

Romans 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
• New International Version (NIV)Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Context of Romans 2:4

2And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 5But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6He will judge everyone according to what they have done.

Romans 2:4 word by word

ἢ τοῦ πλούτου τῆς χρηστότητος αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς ἀνοχῆς καὶ τῆς μακροθυμίας καταφρονεῖς ἀγνοῶν ὅτι τὸ χρηστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς μετάνοιάν σε ἄγει;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Orἤē · orG2228
• despisest thouκαταφρονέωkataphroneō · to despiseG2706
• the richesπλοῦτοςploutos · richesG4149
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• goodnessχρηστότηςchrēstotēs · kindnessG5544
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• forbearanceἀνοχήanochē · toleranceG463
• longsufferingμακροθυμίαmakrothumia · patienceG3115
• not knowingἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the goodnessχρηστόςchrēstos · good/kindG5543
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• leadethἄγωagō · to bringG71
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• repentanceμετάνοιαmetanoia · repentanceG3341

Cross-references for Romans 2:4

• Romans 6:1Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?
• Psalms 10:11The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us! He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”
• Ecclesiastes 8:11When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.
• Jeremiah 7:10and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again?
• Ezekiel 12:22“Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’
• Matthew 24:48But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’
• 2 Peter 3:3Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.
• Romans 9:23He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
• Romans 10:12Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
• Romans 11:33Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
• Psalms 86:5O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
• Psalms 104:24O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.
• Ephesians 1:7He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
• Ephesians 2:4But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,
• Ephesians 3:8Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
• Philippians 4:19And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Commentaries on Romans 2:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness - Wilt thou render of none effect that marked benevolence of God towards thee which has given so many superior advantages, and that forbearance which has tolerated thy many miscarriages, and that long-suffering which, after repeated provocations, still continues to bear with thee? Not knowing - , not acknowledging that this goodness of God, which has so long manifested itself in forbearance and long-suffering…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Or despisest - This word properly means to contemn, or to treat with neglect. It does not mean here that they professedly treated God‘s goodness with neglect or contempt; but that they perverted and abused it; they did not make a proper use of it; they did not regard it as suited to lead them to repentance; but they derived a practical impression, that because God had not come forth in judgment and cut them off, but had continued to follow them with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?: Jewish writings describe a common attitude of false security about judgment (for example, Wisdom of Solomon 12–15; compare Jeremiah 7:1–5; Amos 5:18–27). Paul uses this idea when he asks his question. Many Jews believed that because they were God’s people, they did not need to fear judgment. They thought their sins would not be punished in the same way as the sins of Gentiles. Paul makes clear…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29From those without, the apostle now turns to those within the pale of revealed religion, the self-righteous Jews, who looked down upon the uncovenanted heathen as beyond the pale of God's mercies, within which they deemed themselves secure, however inconsistent their life may be. Alas! what multitudes wrap themselves up in like fatal confidence, who occupy the corresponding position in the Christian Church! 4. the goodness of God leadeth thee to…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 2:4

• Blindness
• Gentiles
• God
• God Continued...
• Impenitence
• Obligation
• Repentance
• Thankfulness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Goodness of God
• Accuse
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance

Commentaries on Romans 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings