2:8a
But: Paul now wrote about the second group. They are very different from the first group, so many English versions translate the Greek conjunction as But.
are self-seeking: The meaning of the Greek word is not entirely certain, but most scholars think it means “ambitious in a selfish way.” This kind of person does everything for his own personal benefit, not to benefit God or other people. Here are other ways to translate this word:
selfishly ambitious (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
selfish (New Century Version)
-or-
just think of themselves
-or-
the only thing they think about is what they want
who reject the truth: These people do not do what they know God would want them to do. In some languages the word truth must be translated with a phrase. For example:
who do not obey the true words ⌊of God⌋
follow wickedness: This is the opposite of obeying the truth. These people do what they know God would want them not to do. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
follow what is wrong (God’s Word)
-or-
live lives of wickedness (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
obey unrighteousness (English Standard Version)
2:8b
there will be wrath and anger: The Berean Standard Bible supplies the words there will be. The context implies “he will give” from 2:7c. It indicates that God will have wrath and anger toward this second group of people. For example:
on them God will pour out his anger and fury (Good News Translation)
-or-
⌊God will be⌋ angry and furious
wrath and anger: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wrath can mean both “anger” and “punishment.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as anger can mean both “passion” and anger. They probably have similar meanings here. Together they would indicate a great amount of anger.
Some languages have only one word for the meaning of “anger.” If that is true in your language, indicate a great amount of anger. For example:
great anger
Some scholars think this phrase is a figure of speech where one term describes the other even though they are connected with and. For example:
the fury of retribution (New Jerusalem Bible)
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