AISBT ReaderRom 8:1–39
Notes · 23 on Rom 8:1–39
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Notes · Rom 8:1–39

No Condemnation, Life by the Spirit, and the Love of God in Christ

23 approved team notes on Rom 8:1–39.
Read Rom 8:1–39

Rom 8:1

exegeticalRom 2:6–16; Rom 3:20–28; Rom 4:4–5; Rom 5:1; Rom 8:1; 2 Cor 5:10
Doctrinal note: judgment according to works and justification by faith (grounded in Romans 2:6, 16; 3:20–28; 4:4–5; 5:1; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
  • SaysPaul teaches both judgment according to deeds for all, believers included (2:6, 16; 2 Cor 5:10), and justification of the ungodly by faith apart from works (3:20, 28; 4:4–5; 5:1; 8:1).
  • ImpliesJudgment according to deeds is real and impartial and is not a second way of salvation alongside faith (2:6, 9–11, 16; 3:20–28; 4:4–5; 2 Cor 5:10).
  • ImpliesWorks never form part of the ground of the verdict of justification (3:20–28; 4:4–5; 5:1; 8:1); an account in which the whole life's works form part of the ground of the final verdict falls outside this boundary.
  • UncertainWhether 2:7, 10, 13 describe believers' deeds appearing at the judgment as evidence of a living faith; the two readings differ, and it is left open.
  • SaysPaul speaks of reward and loss for a believer's work at the Day, though the builder himself will be saved (1 Cor 3:12–15).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain WCF public domain 🔒︎ Wright, NIB Romans Copyrighted
exegeticalRom 8:1–39
Introduction to Romans 8:1–39: no condemnation in Christ, life by the Spirit, and the hope that nothing can separate from God's love
  • SaysThere is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life has set them free from the law of sin and death; those led by the Spirit are sons of God and heirs; and nothing can separate believers from God's love in Christ (8:1–2, 14, 17, 39).
  • ImpliesThe chapter takes up 7:6 and answers the problem of 7:7–25 with God's act in his Son and the gift of the Spirit; it is not used to settle who the 'I' of 7:7–25 is.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain
exegeticalRom 8:1–4
No condemnation in Christ Jesus: God sent his Son as an offering for sin, so that the law's requirement is fulfilled in us (Romans 8:1–4)
  • SaysThere is now no condemnation (κατάκριμα) for those in Christ Jesus (8:1); the team text ends 8:1 at Ἰησοῦ with SBLGNT, WH, Treg, and NA28, while RP2018 and the TR add the wording of 8:4b.
  • UncertainWhether νόμος in 'the law of the Spirit of life' and 'the law of sin and death' (8:2) is a ruling power or principle (lean; as in 7:23) or the Mosaic law used by the Spirit and by sin (alternative; 7:10–13; 3:27).
  • SaysWhat the law could not do, weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and περὶ ἁμαρτίας, and he condemned sin in the flesh (8:3).
  • UncertainWhether περὶ ἁμαρτίας (8:3) means 'as an offering for sin' (lean; the LXX term for the sin offering, Lev 5:6–7; compare Isa 53:10; Heb 10:6, 8) or 'to deal with sin' generally (alternative).
  • UncertainWhether the law's δικαίωμα is fulfilled in believers (8:4) by Christ's righteousness counted to them, by Spirit-enabled obedience, or both (lean: both, grounded in God's act in Christ; passive πληρωθῇ ἐν ἡμῖν after 8:3; the walk clause).
  • ImpliesOn any reading of 8:4, justification remains by faith apart from works of the law (3:28; 4:5); the walk in the Spirit is not the ground of acceptance.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain RP2018 Unlicense TR (Scrivener 1894) public domain
languageRom 8:1; Rom 8:2; Rom 8:3; Rom 8:4
οὐδὲν … κατάκριμα … περὶ ἁμαρτίας … τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ νόμου (8:1–4)
  • SaysThere is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and God condemned sin in the flesh (8:1, 3).
  • UncertainWhether περὶ ἁμαρτίας (8:3) means 'as a sin offering' (lean; the LXX term in Lev 5:6–7; Isa 53:10) or generally 'concerning sin' (alternative; the common plain use).
  • UncertainWhether the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us (8:4) by Christ's righteousness counted to us, by Spirit-enabled obedience, or both (lean: both; passive verb after 8:3, then the walk clause); justification remains by faith apart from works (3:28; 4:5).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0

Rom 8:5

exegeticalRom 8:5–13
The mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit: the indwelling Spirit and putting to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:5–13)
  • SaysThe mind of the flesh is death and hostile to God, and does not submit to God's law; the mind of the Spirit is life and peace (8:6–7).
  • SaysThe Spirit of God, also called the Spirit of Christ, dwells in every believer; anyone without the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him (8:9).
  • UncertainWhether τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζωή (8:10) refers to the Holy Spirit, 'the Spirit is life' (lean; ζωή is a noun; πνεῦμα in 8:2, 6, 11) or the believer's spirit, 'your spirit is alive' (alternative; BSB; the contrast with τὸ σῶμα).
  • SaysGod who raised Christ will give life to believers' mortal bodies, and the life is tied to the Spirit who dwells in them (8:11).
  • UncertainWhether 8:11 reads the genitive διὰ τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος αὐτοῦ πνεύματος, 'through His Spirit' (NA28, WH, TR; BSB), or the accusative διὰ τὸ ἐνοικοῦν αὐτοῦ πνεῦμα, 'because of His Spirit' (SBLGNT, Treg, Byz); no lean (var.Rom.8.11.dia-pneumatos).
  • SaysIf believers live according to the flesh they will die; if by the Spirit they put to death the deeds of the body, they will live (8:13).
  • ImpliesPutting to death the deeds of the body is a real duty, not a condition that earns life (8:1, 13–14; 6:23).
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Rom 8:9

languageRom 8:9; Rom 8:10; Rom 8:11; Rom 8:13; Rom 8:15; Rom 8:16; Rom 8:17
τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζωή … πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας … Αββα ὁ πατήρ (8:9–17)
  • SaysGod's Spirit lives in every believer, and anyone without the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ (8:9).
  • UncertainWhether τὸ πνεῦμα ζωή (8:10) is the Holy Spirit, 'the Spirit is life' (lean; ζωή a noun; 8:9, 11), or the believer's spirit, 'your spirit is alive' (alternative; contrast with the body).
  • SaysIf by the Spirit believers put to death the deeds of the body, they will live (8:13).
  • ImpliesPutting to death the deeds of the body is real duty, not a condition that earns life (the Spirit as means; 6:23).
  • SaysBelievers received the Spirit of adoption, cry 'Abba, Father,' have the Spirit's witness that they are God's children, and are heirs with Christ if they suffer with him (8:15–17).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain

Rom 8:14

exegeticalRom 8:14–17
Led by the Spirit: adoption, "Abba! Father!", the Spirit's witness, and heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14–17)
  • SaysThose led by the Spirit are sons of God; believers received the Spirit of adoption (υἱοθεσία), by whom they cry 'Abba! Father!' (Αββα ὁ πατήρ, the Aramaic word with its Greek equivalent; Mark 14:36; Gal 4:6) (8:14–15).
  • SaysThe Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (8:16).
  • UncertainWhether συμμαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ἡμῶν (8:16) means 'testifies with our spirit' (lean; the force of συν-; two witnesses) or 'testifies to our spirit' (alternative; συν- intensive).
  • SaysChildren are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if they suffer with him so as to be glorified with him (8:17).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain

Rom 8:15

historicalRom 8:15
"Abba" as an Aramaic family address (8:15; Mark 14:36; Gal 4:6)
  • SaysRom 8:15 says believers cry 'Abba! Father!' by the Spirit of adoption; Mark 14:36 and Gal 4:6 use the same address; in all three the Aramaic Abba is followed by its Greek rendering ὁ πατήρ.
✓ Approved BSB public domain Dalman, Words of Jesus (1902) public domain 🔒︎ Jeremias, Prayers of Jesus Copyrighted 🔒︎ Barr, JTS 1988 Copyrighted Wesley, Notes NT (1755) public domain
historicalRom 8:15; Rom 8:23
Roman adoption law behind "adoption to sonship" (8:15, 23)
  • SaysRom 8:15 says believers received the Spirit of adoption to sonship; Rom 8:23 says they wait eagerly for their adoption as sons, the redemption of their bodies; Exod 4:22 calls Israel God's firstborn son, and Rom 9:4 says the adoption as sons belongs to Israel.
  • UncertainHow far Paul's adoption image in Rom 8:15, 23 draws on Roman law rather than on Israel's sonship; no lean in this note.
✓ Approved BSB public domain Gaius, Inst. (Poste–Whittuck 1904) public domain Suetonius (Rolfe) public domain 🔒︎ Lyall, TynBul 1981 Copyrighted

Rom 8:18

exegeticalRom 8:18–25
Present sufferings and coming glory: creation subjected in hope, and the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:18–25)
  • SaysPresent sufferings are not comparable to the coming glory, and the creation waits eagerly for the revelation of the sons of God (8:18–19).
  • Impliesἡ κτίσις in 8:19–22 is the non-human creation (8:20, 22–23); alternative, including humanity (Col 1:23).
  • ImpliesThe subjection to futility alludes to the curse on the ground in Gen 3:17–19, and the one who subjected creation in hope is God (8:20).
  • SaysCreation will be set free from its bondage to decay into the freedom of the glory of God's children, and believers groan as they wait for adoption, the redemption of their bodies (8:21, 23).
  • ImpliesThe hope includes the renewal of the physical creation, tied to the redemption of the body; the passage gives no sequence of end-time events (8:21, 23).
  • SaysBelievers were saved in hope, and hope for what is unseen waits patiently (8:24–25).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain

Rom 8:19

languageRom 8:19; Rom 8:20; Rom 8:21; Rom 8:22; Rom 8:23
ἡ κτίσις … τῇ ματαιότητι ὑπετάγη … συστενάζει (8:19–23)
  • Impliesκτίσις in 8:19–22 is the non-human creation: it waits for the sons of God, was subjected not by its own will, and is set beside 'we ourselves' (8:19–23).
  • SaysCreation waits in eager expectation and was subjected to futility (8:19–20).
  • ImpliesThe subjection alludes to the curse of Gen 3:17–19, and the one who subjected creation in hope is God (8:20).
  • SaysCreation will be set free from its bondage to decay into the freedom of God's children; it groans together; believers await the redemption of their bodies (8:21–23).
  • ImpliesCreation's freedom means its physical renewal, alongside the redemption of the body; the passage gives no timeline of end-time events.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Abbott-Smith public domain BSB public domain

Rom 8:20

languageRom 8:20
Rom 8:20: the ground cursed in Gen 3:17–19 (MT and LXX)
  • SaysGen 3:17 the Lord God says אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ (Qal passive participle of אָרַר, BDB p. 76); thorns and thistles (3:18); return to dust (3:19).
  • SaysSwete's Gen 3:17 has ἐπικατάρατος ἡ γῆ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις σου ("in your works") where the MT has "because of you."
  • ImpliesRom 8:20 τῇ γὰρ ματαιότητι ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη alludes to the curse on the ground in Gen 3:17–19.
  • ImpliesThe one who subjected creation (διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα) is God, who pronounces the curse in Gen 3:17 and alone could subject it in hope; some take Adam as the subjecter.
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Rom 8:26

exegeticalRom 8:26–27
The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes with groans too deep for words (Romans 8:26–27)
  • SaysThe Spirit helps believers in their weakness and, since they do not know how to pray as they ought, intercedes with groans too deep for words; God, who searches hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit, who intercedes for the saints according to God's will (8:26–27).
  • UncertainWhether the στεναγμοὶ ἀλάλητοι (8:26) are the Spirit's own unspoken intercession (Cranfield; αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα; 8:27), believers' groans prompted by the Spirit (Calvin; 8:23; συναντιλαμβάνεται), or Spirit-given prayer, linked to the gift of prayer (Chrysostom) or to tongues (Käsemann; 1 Cor 14:14–15; 8:15); no team lean.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain RP2018 Unlicense TR (Scrivener 1894) public domain
languageRom 8:26; Rom 8:27
συναντιλαμβάνεται … ὑπερεντυγχάνει στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις (8:26–27)
  • SaysThe Spirit helps believers in their weakness and intercedes for them according to the will of God, and God knows the mind of the Spirit (8:26–27).
  • UncertainWhether the wordless groans (8:26) are the Spirit's own groaning, the believers' Spirit-prompted sighs (compare 8:23), or speaking in tongues (1 Cor 14:14–15); no team lean.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Abbott-Smith public domain BSB public domain

Rom 8:28

exegeticalRom 8:28–30
All things work together for good: foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified (Romans 8:28–30)
  • SaysGod works all things together for the good of those who love him, called according to his purpose (8:28); SBLGNT, Treg, NA28, RP2018, and the TR read πάντα συνεργεῖ, and WH adds ὁ θεός.
  • UncertainWhether the subject of συνεργεῖ (8:28) is God (lean; BSB; God's purpose in the verse), πάντα, 'all things work together' (alternative; the usual intransitive use), or the Spirit of 8:26–27 (alternative; the actor of the preceding verses).
  • ImpliesThe 'good' of 8:28 is conformity to the image of God's Son (8:29).
  • SaysThose God foreknew he predestined to be conformed to his Son's image, and those he predestined he called, justified, and glorified; the chain is stated in aorists and is certain (8:29–30).
  • UncertainWhether προέγνω (8:29) means relational choice (persons as object; 11:2; Amos 3:2) or prior knowledge (Acts 26:5; 2 Pet 3:17; 8:28); no team lean.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain RP2018 Unlicense TR (Scrivener 1894) public domain
exegeticalRom 8:28–30
How election works in Romans 8:28–30: Reformed, Arminian and Wesleyan, corporate, and Lutheran views
  • UncertainHow foreknowing and predestining (8:29–30) work, with no team lean: Reformed (unconditional, individual; WCF 3; Calvin; persons as object, the unbroken chain, 9:11–16), Arminian and Wesleyan (conditioned on foreseen faith; Arminius on 8:29; Wesley's notes on 8:29–30 and his sermon on the order of salvation; Acts 26:5; 2 Pet 3:17; 8:28; 10:13; 11:20–22), corporate (a people chosen in Christ; 8:29 plural, 11:1–2, 28, Eph 1:4), and Lutheran (gracious election to salvation without reprobation, certainty in Christ and the gospel, falling away possible; Luther's preface; 8:28–39, 8:32).
  • ImpliesOn every view, salvation in 8:29–30 begins in God's purpose and grace and ends in glory, not resting on human merit (8:28; 3:24).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain WCF public domain Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain
exegeticalRom 8:28–39
Nothing can separate us from God's love: perseverance and the possibility of apostasy (Romans 8:28–39)
  • UncertainWhether a true believer can finally fall away, not settled by 8:38–39 alone and with no team lean: perseverance of the saints (WCF 17; Second London Confession 17; 8:28–30, 39) or apostasy possible (Wesleyan and Arminian, Lutheran, Roman Catholic; Augsburg Confession 12; Trent, Session 6; the list names outside powers, 8:13, 11:20–22).
  • ImpliesEvery view holds that God's love in Christ is sure and that no outside power can separate believers from it, and none treats assurance as a license to sin (8:38–39; 6:1–2, 15).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain WCF public domain 2LBC public domain
languageRom 8:28; Rom 8:29; Rom 8:30
πάντα συνεργεῖ … οὓς προέγνω, καὶ προώρισεν (8:28–30)
  • SaysFor those who love God and are called according to his purpose, all things work together for good (8:28).
  • UncertainWhether God is the subject of συνεργεῖ, 'God works all things together' (lean; τὸν θεόν, his purpose, transitive use), or πάντα, 'all things work together' (alternative; usual intransitive use).
  • ImpliesThe 'good' of 8:28 is conformity to the image of God's Son (8:29).
  • SaysGod foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified his people, and the chain is certain (8:29–30).
  • UncertainWhether προέγνω means relational choice or prior knowledge, and whether election is individual and unconditional (Reformed), conditioned on foreseen faith (Arminian and Wesleyan), or corporate in Christ; no team lean; all three affirm grace and human responsibility.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Abbott-Smith public domain BSB public domain Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain Hodge, Romans public domain

Rom 8:31

exegeticalRom 8:31–39
If God is for us: he did not spare his own Son, and nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:31–39)
  • SaysIf God is for us, no one can be against us; he who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all will with him freely give us all things (8:31–32).
  • UncertainWhether 'did not spare His own Son' (8:32) echoes Gen 22:12, 16 (lean; the LXX verb with 'son' as object; God gives up his Son as Abraham did not withhold Isaac) or uses an ordinary verb (alternative; 11:21; ἰδίου, not ἀγαπητοῦ).
  • UncertainWhether 8:33–34 answers its questions with statements, 'It is God who justifies' (lean; BSB; the pattern of 8:31–32), or with further questions expecting 'no' (alternative; Augustine; the early manuscripts are unpunctuated).
  • SaysNothing in the list of trouble, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword can separate believers from Christ's love; Paul quotes Ps 44:22 (43:23 LXX) word for word from the Septuagint (8:35–36).
  • SaysIn all these things believers are more than conquerors through him who loved them, and nothing in all creation will be able to separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (8:37–39).
  • ImpliesThe ἀρχαί and δυνάμεις of 8:38 are spiritual beings (beside ἄγγελοι, among created realities; 1 Cor 15:24; Col 1:16).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain Tischendorf⁸ public domain
languageRom 8:31; Rom 8:32; Rom 8:33; Rom 8:34; Rom 8:35; Rom 8:36; Rom 8:37; Rom 8:38; Rom 8:39
τίς ἐγκαλέσει … τίς ὁ κατακρινῶν … οὔτε ἀρχαὶ … οὔτε δυνάμεις (8:31–39)
  • UncertainWhether 'did not spare His own Son' (8:32) echoes Gen 22:12, 16 LXX (lean; same verb with 'son') or is ordinary wording (alternative; 11:21).
  • UncertainWhether 8:33–34 are questions answered by statements (lean; the answers name the judge and the advocate) or questions throughout, each expecting 'No' (alternative; Griesbach, Lachmann).
  • SaysRom 8:36 quotes Ps 44:22 (43:23 LXX); believers are more than conquerors, and nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus (8:36–39).
  • Impliesἀρχαί and δυνάμεις (8:38) are spiritual powers (beside ἄγγελοι; Eph 6:12; Col 2:15).
  • UncertainWhether a true believer can finally fall away is not settled by this passage alone; no team lean.
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Tischendorf⁸ public domain BSB public domain

Rom 8:32

languageRom 8:32
Rom 8:32: "did not spare His own Son" and Gen 22:12, 16 (MT and LXX)
  • SaysGen 22:12, 16 MT וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידְךָ (22:16 the same words, ending in pausal יְחִידֶךָ); חָשַׂךְ "withhold, refrain" (BDB p. 362).
  • SaysSwete's Gen 22:12, 16 have οὐκ ἐφείσω τοῦ υἱοῦ σου τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ, rendering "your only one" as τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ.
  • UncertainWhether Rom 8:32 τοῦ ἰδίου υἱοῦ οὐκ ἐφείσατο echoes Gen 22:12, 16: lean yes (the LXX verb with "son" as object; God gives up his Son as Abraham did not withhold Isaac); alternative, an ordinary verb, and ἰδίου is not the LXX's "beloved."
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Rom 8:36

languageRom 8:36
Rom 8:36: Ps 44:22 (MT 44:23; LXX 43:23)
  • SaysPs 44:22 (MT 44:23) כִּי־עָלֶיךָ הֹרַגְנוּ כָל־הַיּוֹם נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ כְּצֹאן טִבְחָה.
  • SaysSwete's Ps 43:23 has ὅτι ἕνεκα σοῦ θανατούμεθα ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν, ἐλογίσθημεν ὡς πρόβατα σφαγῆς; the apparatus reads Ἕνεκεν for ἕνεκα in ℵ, A, and T.
  • SaysRom 8:36 (καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι) Ἕνεκεν σοῦ θανατούμεθα ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν, ἐλογίσθημεν ὡς πρόβατα σφαγῆς follows the LXX word for word, with Ἕνεκεν as in ℵ, A, and T; its ὅτι may be recitative or the psalm's own.
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