Romans 2:12

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;

Verse 11 Read Chapter 2 Verse 13

Ambrosiaster

AD 400

How can someone sin without the law, when Paul says that everyone is subject to the law of nature? By “law” he means the law of Moses, to which the Jews are bound although they do not believe. The Gentiles are also under the judgment of the natural law, but only insofar as they have chosen not to attach themselves to it. Thus the Gentile unbelievers are doubly in trouble, because they have neither assented to the law given through Moses, nor have they received the grace of Christ. Therefore it is quite right that they should perish. So just as the person who sins without the law will perish, so also the one who has kept the law without knowing it will be justified. For the keeper of the law maintains his righteousness by nature. For if the law is given not for the righteous but for the unrighteous, whoever does not sin is a friend of the law. For him faith alone is the way by which he is made perfect. For others mere avoidance of evil will not gain them any advantage with God unless th... Read More

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Augustine of Hippo

AD 430

It is generally agreed that judgment is the usual expression for eternal damnation.

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Augustine of Hippo

AD 430

The apostle did not mean to say that those who sin in ignorance will suffer worse punishment than those who know the law. It seems that it is worse to perish than to be judged. Rather the apostle here was merely distinguishing between Jews and Gentiles.

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Cyprian of Carthage

AD 258

Paul to the Romans: "As many as have sinned without law, shall perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged also by the law."

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George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

Whosoever have sinned without the law. That is, without the written law of Moses, against their reason and conscience And also those who being Jews, have sinned under this written law, shall be judged, even with greater severity, for having transgressed against the known law. (Witham)

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Irenaeus of Lyons

AD 202

1. As I have heard from a certain presbyter,

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Jerome

AD 420

The ungodly without the law shall perish forever. But the sinner under the law who comes to faith in God will not perish.

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

Those who lived before the giving of the law will not receive the same sentence as those after the law. Those sinning after the giving of the law will undergo heavier penalties.

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

Paul says that the Jews have a much greater need of grace than the Gentiles. Because the Jews said that they were justified by the law and therefore did not need grace, Paul shows that they need it even more than the Gentiles, given that they are liable to be punished more severely.

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Tertullian of Carthage

AD 220

If, then, God will judge the secrets of men-both of those who have sinned in the law, and of those who have sinned without law (inasmuch as they who know not the law yet do by nature the things contained in the law)

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The Apostolic Constitutions

AD 375

As many as have sinned in law shall be judged according to law, and as many as have sinned without law shall perish without law.

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