But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
But unto them that are contentious, х tois (G3588) de (G1161) ex (G1537) eritheias (G2052)] - 'But to the men of strife,' or 'contention' (compare John 18:37, "Everyone that is of the truth, heareth my voice.") The reference is to the acrimony with which the Gospel had been resisted by the ruling party among the Jews, and this as springing from a deep-rooted enmity to the truth; of which the apostle could speak from bitter experience (see Acts 13:44-46; Acts 17:5; Acts 17:13; Acts 18:6; Acts 18:12; and cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16).
And do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, х apeithousin (G544) men (G3303) tee (G3588) aleetheia (G225), peithomenois (G3982) de (G1161) tee (G3588) adikia (G93)]. The grammatical form of these two clauses shows that they are but the negative and positive sides of out statement-`But to the men of strife, and who, instead of obeying the truth, obey unrighteousness;'
Indignation and wrath. The right order of these two words is beyond doubt the reverse of this, 'wrath and indignation' х thumos (G2372) kai (G2532) orgee (G3709), is only in D***-a corrector of the 9th or 10th century-K L, and several cursives, in the Peshito Syriac, and in Chrysostom and Theodoret. But orgee (G3709) kai (G2532) thumos (G2372) in 'Aleph (') A B (C is defective here) D* EG, and some cursives; several versions, and most fathers-Lachmann, Tischendorf, and Tregelles rightly adopt this latter reading].