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Romans 8:31-39

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

31. What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. 34. Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 8:31

Theological / Devotional

What shall we then say? Compare chs. 3:5; 4:1; 6:1; 7:7; 9:14, where this common phrase introduces a contrary conclusion. Here and in ch. 9:30 it introduces one in harmony with the preceding argument.

These things. That is, the things mentioned in the preceding verses, the revealed purpose of God and all the steps in its fulfillment. In view of these things, what conclusion should we draw in regard to the power of the Christian religion to sustain us in our trials?

If God be for us. Or, “if God is for us.” There is no uncertainty about this, as the Greek construction clearly shows. Paul has already shown how God is on our side. God regards us as His sons (vs. 15-17) and has sent His Spirit to help us (v. 26), for it is His purpose to save us (vs. 28-30).

Who can be against us? Or, “who is against us?” though in this case it seems more appropriate to supply the words “can be.” It is encouraging to recognize that, since God has purposed and is actively engaged in accomplishing salvation for believers, all our enemies are also His enemies (see Ps. 27:1 ; 118:6).

By SdaBc