Romans 2:8

contentious Lit. out of partisanship, or factiousness; (the same construction as "of the truth;" John 18:37). The phrase implies connexion and attachment; as here, "those who belong to, can be classed under the character of, the factious."

The "faction" in question is that of the sinful soul against the humbling terms of the Divine peace and love. Cp. Romans 10:3 for a special example of this in the case of the Jews. A pointed, though not explicit, reference to Jewish opponents of the Gospel lies in the word here.

do not obey The Gr. is sometimes rendered, "disbelieve." In all cases, however, the resistance of the willis implied in it; the element of disobediencein unbelieftowards God. See, for a suggestive example, Hebrews 4:6, compared with the history there referred to.

the truth The revelation of the eternal reality of the glory of God. (See on Romans 1:18; Romans 1:25.) It is Truth, not in mere generality, but in that speciality which attaches to the Truth of truths. See, for an important parallel, 2Th 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; where "the truth" and "unrighteousness" are contrasted, as here. See also John 8:32.

obey unrighteousness Yielding the will to the impulse of sin; "having pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12). Cp. Romans 6:6; Romans 6:16, &c.; Titus 3:3. "Unrighteousness" here, as often, means sin in its largest sense. All wrong, civil, social, moral, personal, overt, secret, violates the eternal rights, even when it least seems to touch temporal and human interests.

indignation and wrath See on Romans 1:18 and Romans 2:5.