28Now we know that for those loving God all things work together for good — for those being called according to purpose, for those being called. [8:29] For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be firstborn among many brothers; [8:30] and those whom He predestined, these He also called; and those whom He called, these He also declared righteous; and those whom He declared righteous, these He also glorified. [8:31] What then will we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? [8:32] He who indeed did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also with Him grant us all things? [8:33] Who will bring an accusation against the elect of God? God is the one who is justifying; [8:34] who is the one condemning? Christ — the one having died, but rather having been raised — who also is at the right hand of God, who also is interceding for us, and is interceding for us.
ROM 8:28-34
God Works in All Things
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman world, the concept of divine sovereignty and foreknowledge was familiar, particularly in Stoic philosophy, which emphasized a predetermined order to the universe. However, Paul’s audience, a mix of Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome, would have heard this passage through the lens of Jewish covenantal theology and Roman legal frameworks. The term '' (foreknew) would evoke God’s covenantal choice of Israel, while '' (predestined) echoed the Roman legal practice of marking out boundaries or determining outcomes in advance. The idea of being 'conformed to the image of the Son' would resonate with Jewish eschatological hopes of restoration and Gentile notions of transformation through divine favor. The legal language of '' (justified) would be understood in the context of Roman courts, where acquittal meant vindication before the law. Paul’s assertion that God 'gave up' His Son would evoke Roman patronage, where a patron’s ultimate sacrifice demonstrated loyalty and secured the client’s standing.
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How other translations render this
ROM 8:28
- KJV
- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- BSB
- And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Koinōnos
- Now we know that for those loving God all things work together for good — for those being called according to purpose, for those being called.
ROM 8:29
- KJV
- For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
- BSB
- For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
- Koinōnos
- For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be firstborn among many brothers;
ROM 8:30
- KJV
- Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
- BSB
- And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
- Koinōnos
- and those whom He predestined, these He also called; and those whom He called, these He also declared righteous; and those whom He declared righteous, these He also glorified.
ROM 8:31
- KJV
- What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
- BSB
- What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Koinōnos
- What then will we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
ROM 8:32
- KJV
- 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?
- BSB
- He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Koinōnos
- He who indeed did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also with Him grant us all things?
ROM 8:33
- KJV
- Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
- BSB
- Who will bring any charge against Godʼs elect? It is God who justifies.
- Koinōnos
- Who will bring an accusation against the elect of God? God is the one who is justifying;
ROM 8:34
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
- Koinōnos
- who is the one condemning? Christ — the one having died, but rather having been raised — who also is at the right hand of God, who also is interceding for us, and is interceding for us.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ROM 8:28
- works together:The word translated 'works together' implies a cooperative effort, where multiple agents are actively contributing to a shared outcome, rather than a passive or singular action.
ROM 8:29
- He foreknew,:The term translated 'He foreknew' suggests more than just intellectual awareness of future events; it implies a prior, intimate relationship and a deliberate choice or selection.
- He predestined [to be]:The word translated 'He predestined' means to determine or set boundaries in advance, indicating a pre-established purpose or plan for someone's destiny.
ROM 8:30
- He justified;:The word translated 'He justified' is a legal term, meaning to declare righteous or innocent in a court of law, rather than to make someone inherently righteous.