“but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 2:10).
Romans 2:10 highlights three important qualities that God will render to those whose faith in Christ leads them to pursue good works. The first of those qualities is “glory.”
The concept of “glory” is derived from the word doxa in the original language of this passage. This word is associated with the value we place upon an individual or an object of significant worth. It also relates to such noble characteristics as excellence, preeminence, and dignity. (1) The Old Testament uses the word kabod in a similar manner to express a sense of weight or substance. So, this passage speaks of a future life that is marked by characteristic qualities of substance, excellence, and dignity.
Next comes “honor.” Much like the word glory, “honor” expresses the qualities of value, esteem, deference, and reverence. While those who seek to honor God may not receive such recognition today, Jesus offers the following assurance: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (John 12:26).
Finally, we have a reference to peace. “Peace” is typically defined by a sense of contentment and/or well-being. Thus, we can find peace in the absence of external conflicts (ranging from warfare all the way to personal disputes) and internal conflicts (like worries or anxieties). Therefore, a person who is free of these types of conflict is someone who is likely to be “at peace.”
The Biblical book of Galatians tells us that peace is a product of the Spirit of God (see Galatians 5:22). As we await the eternal peace that is reflected in the promise of Romans 2:10, we can find temporal peace in a turbulent world as we seek to be led by God’s Spirit.
One commentator follows with an important reminder regarding this reference to “everyone who works what is good…”
“Salvation is achieved by Christ for all who are to be saved, and it becomes theirs by simple faith in him and his work… It is an equal error, as Paul also shows, to think that one can be saved by faith and then continue down the same path he or she has been treading, doing no good works at all. A person doing that is not saved, regardless or his or her profession.” (2)
Our text then concludes with a mirror image of the previous verse. Just as God will prioritize the Jewish people in judgment (Romans 2:9), He will also prioritize their receipt of these blessings.
(1) G1391 doxa Vine’s Expository Dictionary https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1391&t=NKJV
(2) Boice, J. M. (2005). Romans: Justification by Faith (Romans 1-4). Baker Books. p.230