τοῖς δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας: "those who are self-seeking"

Says The second group in 2:8 is τοῖς δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας καὶ ἀπειθοῦσι τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πειθομένοις δὲ τῇ ἀδικίᾳ (BSB "those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness"). One article governs both descriptions.

Says οἱ ἐξ ἐριθείας is a substantival prepositional phrase: ἐκ marks origin or characteristic, "those whose life springs from self-seeking." Paul uses the same pattern in οἱ δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας (Phil 1:17) and οἱ ἐκ πίστεως (Gal 3:7).

Says Abbott-Smith (s.v. ἐριθία, noting the spelling -εία) gives "ambition, self-seeking, rivalry" and lists Rom 2:8 with Phil 1:17. He records it in none of the Greek OT versions except Symmachus at Ezek 23:11, and for its history points to Hort and Ellicott. The other NT uses are 2 Cor 12:20; Gal 5:20; Phil 2:3 (BSB "selfish ambition"); Jas 3:14, 16. WH spell it ἐριθίας (p. 353).

Implies The contrast with 2:7 is between seeking God's glory, honor and immortality by persevering in good, and a life driven by self-interest that will not be persuaded by the truth (ἀπειθοῦσι … πειθομένοις, a play on πείθομαι). "The truth" here recalls 1:18, 25, where people suppress the truth and exchange it for a lie.