Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

8:18 The ultimate glory that Christians will receive is so stupendous that the sufferings of this present time are insignificant in comparison (cf. 2 Cor. 4:17). They look forward both to the resurrection of the body (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and to the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1-22:5; see Isa. 65:17).

8:19 Creation is personified in this verse and the following verses in order to emphasize the wonder of the future glory of God's sons (i.e., believers who have the rights of inheritance of all that God has in store for them; on "sons," see ESV Preface: Translation Style).

8:20-21 When Adam sinned, the created world was also subjected to futility. One thinks of the thorns and thistles that were to accompany work in Gen. 3:17-19, the pain in childbirth for the woman (Gen. 3:16), and the repeated refrain that all is vanity in Ecclesiastes (where the Septuagint uses the same Greek word here used for "futility"). The original creation (Genesis 1-2) did not have these things, and on the last day it also will be transformed and freed from the effects of sin and will instantly become far more beautiful, productive, and easy to live in than one can ever imagine.

8:22 Again creation is personified, showing that it also longs for the day when the salvation that has already begun in God's children will be completed.

8:23 God's people also groan and long for the completion of his saving work. The tension is seen here between the already and not yet in Paul's theology. Christians already have the firstfruits of the Spirit, but they still await the day of their final adoption when their bodies are fully redeemed and they are raised from the dead. Their adoption has already occurred in a legal sense (v. 15), and they already enjoy many of its privileges, but here Paul uses "adoption" to refer to the yet greater privilege of receiving perfect resurrection bodies.

8:26 Although Christians do not always know God's will in prayer, the Spirit himself intercedes for them in and through their unspeakable groans (cf. v. 23). This does not refer to speaking in tongues, since what Paul says here applies to all Christians and, according to 1 Cor. 12:30, only some Christians speak in tongues.

8:27 God always answers the requests of the Spirit in the affirmative, since the Spirit always prays in accord with God's will.

8:28 God weaves everything together for good for his children. The "good" in this context does not refer to earthly comfort but conformity to Christ (v. 29), closer fellowship with God, bearing good fruit for the kingdom, and final glorification (v. 30).

8:29 Verses 29-30 explain why those who believe in Christ can be assured that all things work together for good: God has always been doing good for them, starting before creation (the distant past), continuing in their conversion (the recent past), and then on to the day of Christ's return (the future). Foreknew reaches back to the OT, where the word "know" emphasizes God's special choice of, or covenantal affection for, his people (e.g., Gen. 18:19; Jer. 1:5; Amos 3:2). See Rom. 11:2, where "foreknew" functions as the contrast to "rejected," showing that it emphasizes God's choosing his people (see also 1 Pet. 1:2, 20). God also predestined (i.e., predetermined) that those whom he chose beforehand would become like Christ.

8:30 The chain that begins with the word "foreknew" in v. 29 cannot be broken. Those who are predestined by God are also called effectively to faith through the gospel (see 2 Thess. 2:14). And all those who are called are also justified (declared to be right in God's sight). Because not all who are invited to believe are actually justified, the "calling" here cannot refer to merely a general invitation but must refer to an effective call that creates the faith necessary for justification (Rom. 5:1). All those who are justified will also be glorified (receive resurrection bodies) on the last day. Paul speaks of glorification as if it were already completed, since God will certainly finish the good work he started (cf. Phil. 1:6).

8:31-39 A joyous conclusion to the argument that Paul has carefully unfolded throughout the preceding chapters. The opposition of unbelievers and Satan will never succeed, since God is for us (v. 31).

8:33 Satan, their enemies, or even their own consciences may bring charges against God's elect, but those who have come to faith in Christ will never be found guilty, for God declares them to be right before all the world at the divine tribunal.

8:34 Who is to condemn? The question posed in v. 33 is repeated. Christians may rejoice with the certainty that they will never be condemned, for (1) Christ died for them and paid the full penalty for their sin; (2) he was raised, showing that his death was effective; (3) he now is seated triumphantly at God's right hand (Ps. 110:1); and (4) he intercedes for his people on the basis of his shed blood. Interceding signifies effective intervention.

8:36 As it is written. The quotation from Ps. 44:22 shows that the difficulties listed in Rom. 8:35 do strike Christians. They are not exempted from suffering or even from being killed.

8:37 Christians are more than conquerors, because God turns everything--even suffering and death--into good.

8:38-39 For I am sure. Paul answers the question he raised in v. 35 with absolute certainty that nothing can ever sever God's people from his love . . . in Christ. Rulers and powers here likely refer to angelic and demonic authorities.