Romans 2:8

“But unto them that are contentious, etc..] This is a description of the other sort of persons to whom God will render according to their deeds, “who are of the contention”; who contend for victory, and not truth; strive about words to no profit; are quarrelsome, and sow discord among men, and in churches; and do not obey the truth; neither attend to the light of nature, and to that which may be known of God by it; nor regard and submit to the Gospel revelation and so design both the Gentiles, which knew not God, and Jews, and others, who obey not the Gospel: but obey unrighteousness; are servants of sin: to these God renders indignation and wrath; wrathful or fiery indignation, the hottest…”

“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, &c.--referring to such keen and determined resistance to the Gospel as he himself had too painfully witnessed on the part of his own countrymen. (See Act 13:44-46; Act 17:5, Act 17:13; Act 18:6, Act 18:12; and compare Th1 2:15-16). indignation and wrath--in the bosom of a sin-avenging God.”

“Who are contentious - This expression usually denotes those who are of a quarrelsome or litigious disposition; and generally has reference to controversies among people. But here it evidently denotes a disposition toward God, and is of the same signification as rebellious, or as opposing God. They who contend with the Almighty; who resist his claims, who rebel against his laws, and refuse to submit to his requirements, however made known. The Septuagint use the verb to translate the Hebrew word מרה maarah, in Deuteronomy 21:20. One striking characteristic of the sinner is, that he contends with God, that is, that he opposes and resists his claims. This is the case with all sinners; and it…”

“But to them that are contentious - Like thee, O Jew, who thus fightest against God. The character of a false Jew is disobedience, stubbornness, impatience. Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish - Alluding to Psa 78:49, "He cast upon them," the Egyptians. "the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble;" and finely intimating, that the Jews would in the day of vengeance be more severely punished than even the Egyptians were when God made their plagues so wonderful. Romans 2:9”

“2:8 Live for themselves translates a rare Greek word (eritheia) that seems to convey the idea of selfish ambition or strife. Using this word, Aristotle scolded the politicians of his day for seeking public office for selfish gain rather than from a desire to serve the people (Aristotle, Politics 5.3; see also 2 Cor 12:20; Gal 5:20; Phil 1:17; 2:3; Jas 3:14, 16).”

“contentious: Pro 13:10; Co1 11:16; Ti1 6:3, Ti1 6:4; Tit 3:9 and do not: Rom 1:18, Rom 6:17, Rom 10:16, Rom 15:18; Job 24:13; Isa 50:10; Th2 1:8; Heb 5:9, Heb 11:8; Pe1 3:1, Pe1 4:17 but obey: Joh 3:18-21; Th2 2:10-12; Heb 3:12, Heb 3:13 indignation: Rom 9:22; Psa 90:11; Nah 1:6; Heb 10:27; Rev 14:10, Rev 16:19 Romans 2:9”