Romans 2:8

Verse 8. Who are contentious. This expression usually denotes those who are of a quarrelsome or litigious disposition; and generally has reference to controversies among men. But here it evidently denotes a disposition towards 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 Seventy use the verb to translate the Hebrew word HEBREW, marah, in De 21:20. One striking characteristic of the sinner is, that he contends with God; that is, that he opposes and resists his claims.