The key to the believer"s security is that, "God is for us." What He has done for us through His Son in the past and what He is doing for us through the Spirit in the present should give us confidence. He will certainly complete His work of salvation by glorifying us in the future (cf. Philippians 1:6). Nobody and nothing can stand in His way. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Romans 8:31-39 - No Separation From Christ's Love
This is the close of the Apostle's argument. He has shown that believers are dear to God because they are in Christ; that their every need has been anticipated and provided for; that their guilt has been canceled and provision made for their holy and victorious character; that the Holy Spirit is in them and with them forever; that sin is under their feet and heaven over their heads-what, then, have they to fear?
Paul then goes on to show that the love of God is unaffected by even the most extreme changes of our condition-neither death, nor life, Romans 8:38. That it is undiverted from us by any other order of beings, whether angels, principalities, or powers. That it is universally present throughout creation. And finally, that this love is in Christ Jesus our Lord. But in order to know and experience this love, we must be united to the Lord Jesus by a living faith. Then we shall be more than conquerors, that is, we shall not only be victorious, but shall get spoil out of the very things that have hurt us. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 8
1Those who are in Christ are free from condemnation 5What harm comes of the flesh; 13and what good of the Spirit 19The glorious deliverance the creation longs for, 29was beforehand decreed from God 38Nothing can sever us from his love
Greek Commentary for Romans 8:31
For these things [προς ταυτα] From Romans 8:12 on Paul has made a triumphant presentation of the reasons for the certainty of final sanctification of the sons of God. He has reached the climax with glorification But Paul lets the objector have his say as he usually does so that in Romans 8:31-39 he considers the objections. [source]
If God is for us, who is against us? [ει ο τεος υπερ ημων τις κατ ημων] This condition of the first class carries Paul‘s challenge to all doubters. There is no one on a par with God. Note the two prepositions in contrast (κατα huper over, kata down or against). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 8:31
Romans 4:1What shall we say? [τι ἐροῦμεν] See Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14,Romans 9:30. The phrase anticipates an objection or proposes an inference. It is used by Paul only, and by him only in this Epistle and in its argumentative portions. It is not found in the last five chapters, which are hortatory. [source]
Romans 8:31For these things [προς ταυτα] From Romans 8:12 on Paul has made a triumphant presentation of the reasons for the certainty of final sanctification of the sons of God. He has reached the climax with glorification But Paul lets the objector have his say as he usually does so that in Romans 8:31-39 he considers the objections. [source]
James 2:13Glorieth against [κατακαυχαται] Present middle indicative of the old compound verb κατακαυχαομαι katakauchaomai to exult over (down), in N.T. only here, James 3:14; Romans 11:18. Only mercy can triumph over justice with God and men. “Mercy is clothed with the divine glory and stands by the throne of God” (Chrysostom). See Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7. [source]
1 John 2:1That ye may not sin [ινα μη αμαρτητε] Purpose (negative) clause with ινα μη hina mē and the second aorist (ingressive, commit sin) active subjunctive of αμαρτανω hamartanō to sin. John has no patience with professional perfectionists (1 John 1:8-10), but he has still less with loose-livers like some of the Gnostics who went to all sorts of excesses without shame.If any man sin (εαν τις αμαρτηι ean tis hamartēi). Third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive again, “if one commit sin.”We have Present active indicative of εχω echō in the apodosis, a present reality like εχομεν echomen in 2 Corinthians 5:1.An advocate (παρακλητον paraklēton). See note on John 14:16, and John 14:26; and note on John 15:26; and John 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God‘s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man‘s Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25). As δικαιος dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father‘s presence (Hebrews 2:18). [source]
1 John 2:1We have [εχομεν] Present active indicative of εχω echō in the apodosis, a present reality like εχομεν echomen in 2 Corinthians 5:1.An advocate (παρακλητον paraklēton). See note on John 14:16, and John 14:26; and note on John 15:26; and John 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God‘s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man‘s Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25). As δικαιος dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father‘s presence (Hebrews 2:18). [source]
1 John 2:1An advocate [παρακλητον] See note on John 14:16, and John 14:26; and note on John 15:26; and John 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God‘s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man‘s Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25). As δικαιος dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father‘s presence (Hebrews 2:18). [source]
What do the individual words in Romans 8:31 mean?
Whatthenwill we saytothese thingsIf-God [is]foruswho [can be]against
Greek Commentary for Romans 8:31
From Romans 8:12 on Paul has made a triumphant presentation of the reasons for the certainty of final sanctification of the sons of God. He has reached the climax with glorification But Paul lets the objector have his say as he usually does so that in Romans 8:31-39 he considers the objections. [source]
This condition of the first class carries Paul‘s challenge to all doubters. There is no one on a par with God. Note the two prepositions in contrast (κατα huper over, kata down or against). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 8:31
See Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14, Romans 9:30. The phrase anticipates an objection or proposes an inference. It is used by Paul only, and by him only in this Epistle and in its argumentative portions. It is not found in the last five chapters, which are hortatory. [source]
Paul is fond of this rhetorical question (Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14, Romans 9:30). [source]
From Romans 8:12 on Paul has made a triumphant presentation of the reasons for the certainty of final sanctification of the sons of God. He has reached the climax with glorification But Paul lets the objector have his say as he usually does so that in Romans 8:31-39 he considers the objections. [source]
Present middle indicative of the old compound verb κατακαυχαομαι katakauchaomai to exult over (down), in N.T. only here, James 3:14; Romans 11:18. Only mercy can triumph over justice with God and men. “Mercy is clothed with the divine glory and stands by the throne of God” (Chrysostom). See Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7. [source]
Purpose (negative) clause with ινα μη hina mē and the second aorist (ingressive, commit sin) active subjunctive of αμαρτανω hamartanō to sin. John has no patience with professional perfectionists (1 John 1:8-10), but he has still less with loose-livers like some of the Gnostics who went to all sorts of excesses without shame.If any man sin (εαν τις αμαρτηι ean tis hamartēi). Third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive again, “if one commit sin.”We have Present active indicative of εχω echō in the apodosis, a present reality like εχομεν echomen in 2 Corinthians 5:1.An advocate (παρακλητον paraklēton). See note on John 14:16, and John 14:26; and note on John 15:26; and John 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God‘s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man‘s Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25). As δικαιος dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father‘s presence (Hebrews 2:18). [source]
Present active indicative of εχω echō in the apodosis, a present reality like εχομεν echomen in 2 Corinthians 5:1.An advocate (παρακλητον paraklēton). See note on John 14:16, and John 14:26; and note on John 15:26; and John 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God‘s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man‘s Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25). As δικαιος dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father‘s presence (Hebrews 2:18). [source]
See note on John 14:16, and John 14:26; and note on John 15:26; and John 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God‘s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man‘s Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25). As δικαιος dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father‘s presence (Hebrews 2:18). [source]