Assurance of God's Love: Nothing Can Separate Us
Romans 8:28-39
Rom.8.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- δε: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αγαπωσι: VERB,pres,act,ptc,dat,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- συνεργει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- αγαθον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- κατα: PREP
- προθεσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κλητοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- ουσιν: PART,pres,act,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Genesis 50:20 (thematic): Joseph recognizes that what others intended for harm God turned into good—echoes Romans’ claim that God works all things together for good.
- Jeremiah 29:11 (thematic): God’s declaration of having plans for welfare and a future parallels the idea that God directs events toward a good purpose for his people.
- Romans 8:30 (structural): Immediate literary parallel: 'called according to his purpose' is developed further in 8:29–30 (foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified), showing the worked-together outcome.
- Philippians 1:6 (thematic): Paul’s assurance that God who began a good work in believers will complete it complements Romans’ assurance that God cooperates in all things for their good.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (thematic): Paul’s teaching that present light affliction produces an eternal weight of glory aligns with the motif that current circumstances serve God’s good ultimate purposes for believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Rom.8.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- προεγνω: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- προωρισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- συμμορφους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εικονος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- πρωτοτοκον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- πολλοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- αδελφοις·: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Romans 8:30 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: the predestination in v.29 is followed by calling, justification, and glorification in v.30—showing the soteriological sequence tied to being conformed to Christ's image.
- Ephesians 1:4-5 (verbal): Uses the language of divine fore‑choosing and predestination to adoption as sons in Christ, paralleling Paul’s emphasis on foreknowledge/predestination in Rom 8:29.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 (thematic): Speaks of believers being transformed 'into the same image' from glory to glory, echoing Rom 8:29’s goal of conformity to the Son’s image.
- Colossians 1:18 (verbal): Describes Christ as 'the firstborn' and head of the body (the church), paralleling Rom 8:29’s ‘firstborn among many brothers’ motif and Christ’s preeminence.
- Philippians 3:21 (thematic): Promises that Christ will transform believers’ lowly bodies to be like his glorious body—another expression of the eschatological conformity to Christ’s image described in Rom 8:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Rom.8.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- προωρισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τουτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εκαλεσεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εκαλεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τουτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εδικαιωσεν·ους: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- εδικαιωσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τουτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εδοξασεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Romans 8:29 (structural): Immediately precedes v.30 and supplies the opening term (foreknowledge/predestination), forming the full sequence foreknew → predestined → called → justified → glorified.
- Ephesians 1:4-5, 11 (verbal): Uses the same vocabulary of choosing and predestination (chosen, predestined, adoption) and presents God's eternal plan that parallels Paul's sequence of purposes for believers.
- John 6:44 (thematic): Jesus teaches that coming to him depends on the Father's drawing/calling, paralleling Paul's emphasis that the initiative and effectiveness of 'calling' originate with God.
- Romans 11:29 (thematic): Affirms the irrevocability of God's gifts and calling, supporting the assurance implicit in v.30 that God's justifying work leads to glorification.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 (verbal): Speaks of God 'who saved us and called us' and predestined according to his purpose before the ages, echoing the themes of calling, salvation, and eternal purpose in Rom 8:30.
Alternative generated candidates
- And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Rom.8.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τι: PRON,nom,sg,neut
- ουν: CONJ
- ερουμεν: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,pl
- προς: PREP
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- καθ᾽ημων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- Psalm 118:6 (verbal): ‘The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?’ — closely parallels the wording and confidence expressed in Rom 8:31.
- Deuteronomy 31:6 (thematic): ‘Be strong and of good courage... the LORD thy God, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ — the OT assurance of God’s presence and protection behind Israel.
- Isaiah 41:10–11 (allusion): ‘Fear not... I will help thee... they shall be ashamed and confounded that strive with thee’ — prophetic assurance that God’s help renders opponents powerless.
- Hebrews 13:6 (quotation): Quotes Psalm 118:6 (‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’) to affirm the same confidence that God’s presence removes cause for fear.
- 1 John 4:4 (thematic): ‘He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world’ — New Testament affirmation that God’s presence or power with believers overcomes worldly opposition.
Alternative generated candidates
- What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Rom.8.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- γε: PART
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ιδιου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εφεισατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- αλλα: CONJ
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- παρεδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- πως: ADV
- ουχι: PART
- και: CONJ
- συν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- χαρισεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 3:16 (verbal): Both verses foreground God's giving of his Son as the decisive expression of divine love and the basis for believers' hope ('for God so loved... he gave his only Son').
- Romans 8:31-34 (structural): Immediate context: 8:32 is part of the argument begun in 8:31–34 about God's commitment to believers—if God did not spare his Son, who can bring a charge against God's elect?
- Romans 5:6-8 (thematic): Echoes the theme that Christ died for us while we were helpless/sinners; both passages present Christ's sacrificial giving as proof of God's love and justification for believers' assurance.
- 1 John 4:9-10 (thematic): Affirms the same theological point: God's love is manifested in sending his Son as atonement for sin, framing the gift of the Son as the basis for life and reconciliation.
- Philippians 2:6-8 (thematic): Describes Christ's self-emptying and obedience unto death—a parallel emphasis on the Son's voluntary giving up of status/life that undergirds the claim that God 'gave' his Son for our sake.
Alternative generated candidates
- He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—will he not also with him freely give us all things?
Rom.8.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εγκαλεσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- κατα: PREP
- εκλεκτων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δικαιων·: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Romans 8:34 (structural): Immediate continuation: the question of accusation is answered by pointing to Christ (who died, was raised, and intercedes) — parallel argument about who can oppose God's people.
- Romans 8:1 (verbal): Closely related claim of the chapter: 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,' which affirms that believers are not subject to accusation or condemnation.
- Romans 3:24-26 (verbal): Paul's broader teaching that believers are 'justified by his grace' and that God 'declares righteous' the one who has faith — directly connects to 'God is the justifier.'
- 1 John 2:1 (thematic): Presents Jesus as an advocate/defender for believers before the Father ('we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous'), addressing accusations against sinners.
- John 5:24 (thematic): Jesus' promise that the believer 'will not come into judgment' parallels the assurance that no one can successfully bring a charge against God's elect.
Alternative generated candidates
- Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Rom.8.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κατακρινων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- Χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αποθανων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- μαλλον: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- εγερθεις: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- δεξια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εντυγχανει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων·: PRON,gen,pl,NA
Parallels
- Rom.8.33 (structural): Immediate context/parallel question — who brings a charge? Romans 8:33–34 form a unit answering that God justifies and Christ (dead, risen, exalted) intercedes.
- Heb.7.25 (thematic): States Christ’s continual intercession for believers (‘able to save completely those who draw near to God through him’), echoing Rom 8:34’s claim that he intercedes for us.
- Heb.9.24 (thematic): Speaks of Christ entering heaven itself to appear in the presence of God on our behalf, paralleling Rom 8:34’s emphasis on his exaltation and advocacy at God’s right hand.
- 1 John 2:1 (thematic): Calls Jesus our Advocate with the Father (‘if anyone sins… we have an Advocate’), a Johannine counterpart to Paul’s statement that Christ intercedes for us.
- Eph.1:20 (verbal): Affirms that God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, paralleling the specific elements (died, risen, at God’s right hand) in Rom 8:34.
Alternative generated candidates
- Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
Rom.8.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- χωρισει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αγαπης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- θλιψις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- στενοχωρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- διωγμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- λιμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γυμνοτης: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- κινδυνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μαχαιρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Rom.8.38-39 (verbal): Immediate parallel and conclusion to v.35: Paul explicitly states that nothing (neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, etc.) can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus—the direct answer to the question posed in v.35.
- Rom.8.31-34 (structural): Close structural precedent: Paul's argument that God is for us, that Christ died and intercedes, undergirds the claim that no accusation or hostile power can separate believers from Christ's love.
- John 10:28-29 (thematic): Jesus' promise that no one can snatch his sheep out of his hand parallels the assurance that believers cannot be separated from the saving, sustaining love of Christ.
- Hebrews 13:5 (thematic): God's pledge 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' echoes the guarantee of God's abiding presence and thus the impossibility of ultimate separation from his love.
- Isaiah 43:2 (allusion): Prophetic promise of God's presence through trials ('when you pass through the waters... the fire...') parallels Paul's catalogue of sufferings (tribulation, peril, sword) and the assurance that such trials do not sever God's saving care.
Alternative generated candidates
- Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Rom.8.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- καθως: CONJ
- γεγραπται: VERB,perf,pass,ind,3,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- Ενεκεν: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- θανατουμεθα: VERB,pres,mp,ind,1,pl
- ολην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ημεραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ελογισθημεν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,1,pl
- ως: ADV
- προβατα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- σφαγης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Psalm 44:22 (quotation): Romans 8:36 directly quotes this verse (’For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter’), source in the Psalter for the language of suffering and persecution.
- Isaiah 53:7 (verbal): The Suffering Servant imagery—’like a lamb that is led to the slaughter’—echoes the same sacrificial/sheep metaphor for unjust suffering and vicarious affliction.
- 1 Peter 2:20–25 (allusion): Peter’s discussion of Christ’s unjust suffering and the believer’s example (esp. references to being like a lamb led to the slaughter and suffering without retaliation) alludes to the same Isaianic/psalmic motif cited in Romans.
- John 1:29 (thematic): ’Behold the Lamb of God’ frames Jesus as the sacrificial lamb; thematically connected to the sheep/slaughter imagery in Romans that locates Christian suffering within a redemptive, sacrificial schema.
Alternative generated candidates
- As it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.”
Rom.8.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλ᾽εν: CONJ
- τουτοις: DEM,dat,pl,m
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- υπερνικωμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αγαπησαντος: PART,aor,act,gen,sg,m
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 (verbal): ‘But thanks be to God… He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ’ — similar victory-language and identifies Christ as the source/agent of believers’ triumph.
- John 16:33 (thematic): Jesus: ‘In the world you will have tribulation… I have overcome the world.’ Connects the believer’s confidence and overcoming to Christ’s victory.
- Romans 8:35 (structural): Immediate context: Paul’s rhetorical question ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’ leads directly to the claim that in all these things we are more than conquerors.
- Romans 8:38-39 (structural): Continuation of the same argument listing nothing that can separate us from Christ’s love, reinforcing the assurance of being ‘more than conquerors’ through that love.
- Romans 5:8 (thematic): ‘God shows his love for us…while we were sinners Christ died for us’ — grounds the claim that we are victorious ‘through the one who loved us,’ by locating the basis of that love in Christ’s sacrificial action.
Alternative generated candidates
- No—in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Rom.8.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πεπεισμαι: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,1,sg
- γαρ: PART
- οτι: CONJ
- ουτε: CONJ
- θανατος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουτε: CONJ
- ζωη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ουτε: CONJ
- αγγελοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ουτε: CONJ
- αρχαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- ουτε: CONJ
- ενεστωτα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- ουτε: CONJ
- μελλοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,n
- ουτε: CONJ
- δυναμεις: NOUN,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Romans 8:35 (structural): Immediate context and parallel question/theme—both passages ask what can separate the believer from Christ's love and list dangers/realities (affliction, death, life, powers).
- John 10:28–29 (thematic): Jesus' assurance that no one can snatch his sheep from his hand parallels Paul's conviction that death, life, angels, or powers cannot separate believers from God's saving relationship.
- Colossians 1:16 (verbal): Uses similar cosmic vocabulary (thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities) as in Romans 8:38, situating 'angels' and 'rulers/authorities' within Pauline discourse about cosmic powers and Christ's sovereignty.
- Psalm 139:7–10 (thematic): Speaks of God's intimate presence that cannot be escaped in life, death, height or depth—echoing the motif that no realm or circumstance can separate one from God's care/presence.
Alternative generated candidates
- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come,
Rom.8.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτε: CONJ
- υψωμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ουτε: CONJ
- βαθος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ουτε: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- κτισις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ετερα: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- δυνησεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- χωρισαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αγαπης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- John 10:28-29 (verbal): Jesus declares that no one can snatch his sheep from his hand or the Father's hand—closely parallels Paul's claim that nothing can separate believers from God's love in Christ.
- Psalm 139:7-10 (verbal): The psalmist asks where one could go from God's presence (heaven/Sheol), echoing Romans' imagery of 'height' and 'depth' and the impossibility of escape from God.
- Ephesians 3:17-19 (thematic): Paul prays that believers may grasp the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love—an expansion of the same theme that God's love in Christ is all-encompassing and inseparable.
- Hebrews 13:5 (thematic): God's promise 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' complements Romans' assurance of the abiding, inseparable presence and love of God.
- Isaiah 54:10 (allusion): God's steadfast, covenantal love that will not be removed despite changes ('mountains may depart') parallels Paul's affirmation that nothing can separate us from God's love.
Alternative generated candidates
- nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—will he not, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is he who died—rather, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
No— in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.