John Calvin Commentary Romans 2:7

"to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:" — Romans 2:7 (ASV)

To them indeed, who by perseverance, etc.; literally, patience; by which word something more is expressed. For it is perseverance when one is not wearied in constantly doing good; but patience is also required in the saints, by which they may continue firm, though oppressed with various trials. For Satan does not permit them to come freely to the Lord; instead, he strives with numberless hindrances to impede them and to turn them aside from the right way.

And when he says, that the faithful, by continuing in good works, seek glory and honour, he does not mean that they aspire to anything other than the favor of God, or that they strive to attain anything higher or more excellent. Instead, they cannot seek Him without striving, at the same time, for the blessedness of His kingdom, a description of which is contained in the paraphrase provided by these words. The meaning then is—that the Lord will give eternal life to those who, by attention to good works, strive to attain immortality.