TO THOSE WHO BY PERSEVERANCE IN DOING GOOD DEEDS: tois men kath hupomonen ergou agathou:  (Ro 8:24,25; Job 17:9; Ps 27:14; 37:3,34; La 3:25,26; Mt 24:12,13; Lu 8:15; Jn 6:66-69; 1Co 15:58; Gal 6:9; 2Ti 4:7,8; Heb6:12,15;10:35,36; Js5:7,8; Rev2:10,11) (Torrey's Topic Patience; Perseverance, Easton Perseverance of the saints, ISBE Perseverance)

Perseverance in doing good deeds does not describe the way of salvation but the way the saved conduct their lives.

Perseverance (5281) (hupomone from hupo = under + meno = abide) (Click for in depth study of hupomone) means literally abiding under, as one would abide under a heavy load. As an aside he who abides in Christ  will be enabled to abide "under" the load.

Hupomone describes steadfastness and endurance when circumstances are difficult. "God...gives perseverance" (see note Romans 15:5) and thus hupomone is not simply you by yourself "gritting your teeth" nor is it a passive acceptance of the circumstances. To the contrary, hupomone is manifest strong (Spirit enabled) fortitude in the face of opposition or difficulty.

Hupomone is that spirit which bears things not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope (absolute assurance of future good not "I hope so"). In other words, if something happens in your life that is hard and painful and frustrating and disappointing, and, by grace, your faith looks to Christ and to His power and His sufficiency and His fellowship and His wisdom and His love, and you don't give in to bitterness and resentment and complaining, then your faith endures and perseveres. How did you do this past week? If you have slipped backwards, don't be discouraged for God is your "very present help in trouble" (Ps 46:1). Recall that

"The steps of a man are established by Jehovah and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong because Jehovah is the One Who holds his hand." (Ps 37:23 24 cf Jude 1:24, 25; see note on Philippians 1:6)

Dearly beloved, be encouraged for by His promise and power you shall persevere to the end.

Patient continuance in well doing does not mean that we are saved by doing good. Although a superficial reading of this verse might suggest that eternal life can be gained by doing good Romans clearly teaches justification (declared in right standing before God) is only by faith (see note Romans 3:22).

As already discussed, the subject of this verse is judgment, not justification. Believers who continue in good works will receive rewards in the life to come. Rewards will be based on works accomplished here on earth. A person’s doing good shows that his heart is regenerate. Such a person, redeemed by God, has eternal life. Conversely a person who continually does evil and rejects the truth shows that he is unregenerate, and therefore will be an object of God’s wrath.

Good deeds can not even begin until one is born again! (Click for discussion of what constitutes Good Deeds) Here Paul speaks of the reward that shall be given to those who persevere in living holy lives. Living a holy life does not save us but does prove we are saved, because the only one who can live a holy life is the one who possesses the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul is not explaining how a man is saved in this section but is showing how a man is judged. All men will be judged on the basis of deeds (see the discussion in preceding verse). 

Speaking of believers, Paul explains that

"each man's work (ergon = deeds) will become evident (NIV = "shown for what it is"), for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.  If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire." (1Cor 3:11 12 13 14, 15). (See discussion of Judgment Seat of Christ = bema)

By contrast (see Table in preceding section) unbelievers at the Great White Throne will be

"judged from the things...written in the books, according to their deeds...every one of them according to their deeds" (Rev 20:11, 12, 13, 14, 15) to determine the degree of their everlasting punishment in "the lake of fire".

William Newell sums up "patient continuance in well-doing" (KJV) as follows

The "patient continuance in well-doing" is not at all set forth as the means of their procuring eternal life, but as a description of those to whom God does render life eternal. Well-doing is subjection to and obedience to the light God has vouchsafed.

To Abel, "well-doing" meant approaching God by a sacrifice, as a sinner, as he had been taught to do.

To Noah, "continuance in well-doing" meant building an ark to save his house and preserve life upon the earth, involving years of labor, and the ridicule of man.

To Abraham, it meant leaving his country, his relatives, and his father's house, and becoming a stranger and pilgrim on earth.

To Job, it meant his God-fearing, evil-rejecting life; and afterwards, in the midst of his great affliction, bowing before the presence of God in dust and ashes.

To Matthew the publican, it meant rising from his business and following the Lord Jesus

To Cornelius the centurion, a life of patient prayer and generosity, -and then believing the gospel at Peter's lips.

To Lydia, it meant humble and faithful attendance at "the place of prayer" till Paul came and "her heart was opened" to give heed to the gospel of grace spoken by the apostle, whence followed her "obedience of faith."

In every age since man sinned there have been those like Jabez, who was "more honorable than his brethren, and called upon God" (1Chr 4:9,10) ; and like Joseph, who was "separate from his brethren."

There always have been choosers of God and rejectors of God. (Romans 2) (Bolding added)

SEEK (continuously) FOR GLORY AND HONOR AND IMMORTALITY ETERNAL LIFE: doxan kai timen kai aphtharsian zetousin (PAPMPD) zoen aionion:  (glory: see note Romans 8:18; see note Romans 9:23; Jn 5:44; 2Co 4:16-18; see note Colossians 1:27; see note 1 Peter 1:7; 1:8; see note 1 Peter 4:13, 4:14; Torrey's topic: Glory) (immortality: 1 Co 15:53,54; see note 2 Timothy 1:10 ISBE topic Immortality, Nave's topic Immortality) (eternal life: see note Romans 6:23; 1Jn 2:25) (Torrey's Topic Eternal Life; Reward of Saints)

Seek (2212) (zeteo) implies giving attention and priority to and deliberately pursuing after. The present tense speaks of habitual conduct or lifestyle, whether good or evil, both of which reveal the true condition of one's heart, whether it is regenerated or not by faith in Christ. Jesus taught (speaking of false teachers but applicable in principle) that

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?...So then, you will know them by their fruits." (see note Matthew 7:16; 7:20)

Immortality (861) (aphtharsia from a = not + phthartós = corruptible) is literally that which cannot decay or be corrupted (deteriorated or lowered in quality, implying loss of soundness, purity & integrity) and is that which experiences unending existence. 

This incorruptible existence was made possible

"by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (see note 2 Timothy 1:10)

The Latin Vulgate has incorruptio which in the context of the New Testament refers in part to the glorified resurrection body

"sown a perishable body, (but) raised an imperishable body" (1Cor 15:42) and described by Paul as when "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory" (1Cor 15:54)

Aphtharsia thus means more than simply duration, because even unbelievers will live forever, but also refers to a new quality of life (Jn 17:3). Jesus came that we

"may have life, and have it to the full" (abundantly) (NIV, Jn 10:10).

Eternal life is a not just "quantitative" but probably even more is "qualitative". That is eternal life is a kind of life, a holy life of the eternal God given to (and now within) believers. As Paul so beautiful put it...

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Writing to the saints at Colossae who were being "bombarded" with all manner of empty philosophy and false teaching regarding their position in Christ, Paul assures them that eternal life is "Christ...our life" (there is no verb "is" in the Greek text) (see notes on Colossians 3:4). We receive this present possession the moment we are converted (see note Romans 6:23; 1Jn 5:13). Eternal life is also our future possession (Mk 10:30) and as Peter said represents an..

"inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven" (see note 1 Peter 1:4)

Easton's Dictionary adds that immortality refers to

Selfishly ambitious (2052) (eritheia) is used 7 times in the NT (Romans; 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Philippians 2X; James 2X) and is translated in the KJV (7) as - contention, 1; contentious + (1537), 1; strife, 5 and in the NAS as - disputes, 2; selfish ambition, 3; selfishly ambitious, 1; selfishness, 1. It is not used in the Septuagint (LXX)

In a word, eritheia is the desire to be number one no matter the cost!

Eritheia means self seeking, strife, contentiousness, extreme selfishness, rivalry and those who seek only their own.

Thayer adds that it refers to

"a courting distinction, a desire to put oneself forward, a partisan and factious spirit which does not disdain low arts; partisanship, factiousness".

It describes personal gratification and self-fulfillment at any cost, which are the ultimate goals of all fleshly endeavors. Eritheia has no room for others, much less genuine humility. It is that ultimate self-elevation rampant in the world today which is the antithesis of what the humble, selfless, giving, loving, and obedient child of God is called to be in Christ and only possible in the power of His Spirit.

As discussed below eritheia did not originally have such a negative connotation but merely referred to a day laborer. It came to be used metaphorically, and almost exclusively, of a person who persistently seeks personal advantage and gain, regardless of the effect on others and by New Testament times, it had come to mean unbridled, selfish ambition in any field of endeavor. Eritheia was often associated with personal and party rivalry, quarreling, infighting, and strife (as KJV renders it five times). It usually conveys the idea of building oneself up by tearing someone else down, as in gambling, where one person’s gain is derived from others’ losses. The word accurately describes someone who strives to advance himself by using flattery, deceit, false accusation, contentiousness, and any other tactic that seems advantageous. It is hardly surprising, then, that Paul lists eritheia (“disputes”) as one of the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20).

Eritheia originally referred to spinning thread for hire, then more broadly to sewing for hire, then more broadly still to any sort of work or undertaking that was done for personal gain -- the work of a hired laborer (root word erithos). So it came to refer essentially to any work done for pay. Sadly eritheia degenerated into a description of the work which is done for no other motives than for pay. The one who works solely for pay works from a low motive and is out solely to benefit self. Eritheia therefore evolved into a description of one who was out for an office as a means of magnifying self and came to be connected with politics (wonder why?!) and to mean canvassing for political or public office. And so it described a person who wanted office, not from a motives of public service, but for what he could get out of it. At it's base level eritheia came to describe the utterly selfish and self-centered ambition which has no desire to serve another but is only in something for what it can get out of it for self. Furthermore, the person who is eritheia does not care what level or method it must stoop in order to attain its objective! Eritheia is more eager to display self than to display the truth. It is interested more in the victory of its own opinions than in the victory of the truth. Crooked politicians, who serve in office only for what they can get out of it, are a good example of this.

Eritheia is found before NT times only in Aristotle where it denotes a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. Thayer says it is "used of those who electioneer for office, courting popular applause by trickery and low arts." (Times haven't changed very much have they!) The idea is that this person is like a mercenary, who does his work simply for money, without regard for the issues or any harm he may be doing. Everything he does is for the purpose of serving and pleasing SELF. Certainly this fits the Bible’s emphasis that the basic problem of unregenerate man is his being totally wrapped up in SELF and having no place in his life for God.

Eritheia is used 7 times in the New Testament:

Romans 2:8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;

Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

Phil 1:16 the former (not heretics like the Judaizers but theologically orthodox jealous preachers) proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives (their problem was not what they preached but why they preached!), thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. (see note on Phil 1:16)

Phil 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself (see note on Phil 2:3)

James 3:14, 3:16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth...For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

William Barclay adds his interesting analysis of eritheia writing that it...

"is a word whose meaning degenerated, and the story of its degeneration is in itself a grim commentary on human nature...the interesting thing about this word is that...we would very naturally and almost inevitably derive it from eris, which is the word for `strife'; but that is not its derivation at all. Erithos originally meant 'a day labourer'; the word was specially connected with `spinners' and 'weavers', and the popular derivation was from erion, which means 'wool'. Eritheia therefore began by being a perfectly respectable word with the meaning 'labour for wages'. It then begins to degenerate. It began to mean that kind of work which is done for motives of pay and for nothing else; that kind of work which has no motive of service whatever and which has only one question—What do I get out of it? It therefore went on to mean 'canvassing and intriguing for public office'. It was the characteristic of the man who sought public office, not for any service he could render the State, but simply and solely for his own honour and glory and for his own profit. It then acquired two other meanings.

First, it came to be used of 'party squabbles', of the jockeying for position and the intriguing for place and power which is so often characteristic of both secular and ecclesiastical politics. Second, it ended up by meaning 'selfish ambition', the ambition which has no conception of service and whose only aims are profit and power.

It is extremely interesting to see how the NT uses it. By far its greater number of uses occur in Paul, and no one knew the inside of the Early Church better than Paul did. It was the fault which could so easily wreck a Church. It was the fault which nearly wrecked the Church of God at Corinth by splitting it into sects and factions who were more concerned with their own supremacy than the supremacy of Christ. In Philippi it had actually become the moving motive of certain preachers. They were eager rather to show their own greatness than the greatness of Christ. Long ago Denney bitingly said that no preacher can show at one and the same time that he is clever and that Christ is wonderful. It was characteristic in Paul of the works of the flesh and in James of the earthly and sensual wisdom. It is the characteristic of the man who applies earthly and human standards to everything, and who assesses things by the measuring rod of personal prestige and personal success.

It is an illuminating light on human nature that the word which began by describing the work that a man does for an honest day's pay came in the end to describe the work which is done for pay and pay alone. It is a warning to our own generation, for most of our troubles today are not basically economic troubles; they spring rather from the spirit which asks, always, What can I get out of life? and, never, What can I put into life?" (Barclay, William: New Testament Words: page 99. Westminster John Know Press, 1964)

If there could be found one who genuinely was doing good at all times, they could merit eternal life of their own accord - but there is none, because all, in some way or another are or have been or will be self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness.

William Newell observes that...

Literally, it reads here, "those who are of contention"; that is, whose hearts, instead of believing and obeying, rise in opposition to the truth, contending inwardly against the truth and outwardly with them that proclaim it. The word "contentious" here evidently refers to the first conscious risings of man's wicked heart against God's revealed will. 'Of contention' defines unbelievers, as those who are 'of faith' defines believers" (Hodge).

We need only sketch in Scripture a few of the contentious, the factious - a Cain who was angry, and hateful at God's accepting Abel's sacrifice; an Esau who despised his birthright and hated to the end the people of God; a Pharaoh who said to Moses, "Who is Jehovah that I should hearken unto His voice?" A Saul who despised the word of Jehovah and sought to destroy His elect king, David; a Jehoiakim, apostate king of Judah, who "cut with his penknife" and burned the prophecies of Jeremiah; scribes and Pharisees, who rejected John's baptism of repentance, -and, consequently, our Lord's loving offer of eternal life for sinners through faith in Himself alone; infidel Sadducees, who obeyed not the truth, by ridiculing it, as Modernists do today. All about us we perceive them, -"the factious, " those who oppose to Scripture their not