TIMES OF OUR LIVES: IN A MONOMYTHPreview
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Romans 8:28

Romans 8

Romans 8 is the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

It was authored by Paul the Apostle, while he was in Corinth in the mid-50s AD,[1] with the help of an amanuensis (secretary), Tertius, who added his own greeting in Romans 16:22.[2]

Chapter 8 concerns "the Christian's spiritual life".[a][3]

The reformer Martin Luther stated that this chapter is where Paul "comforts fighters" involved in an inner struggle between spirit and flesh:

The Holy Spirit assures us that we are God's children no matter how furiously sin may rage within us, so long as we follow the Spirit and struggle against sin in order to kill it.[4]

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 39 verses.

The Spirit of glory (8:18–30)

In verses 18–30, Paul further develops his whole theme of Christian assurance, which he started in chapter 5, elaborating on the Christian's hope of glory, based on the knowledge that "God has determined to bring us though to our inheritance" (18–22, 29–30), providentially working on behalf of his children (verse 28) and having given his Spirit as the guarantee for their final redemption (verse 30).[18]

Verse 28

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.

— Romans 8:28–28, King James Version[19]

Verse 28 can be seen in the context of verses 29–30 (and in larger context: verses 18–39) that "those who love God" are not promised to only experience good things, but would also suffer the woes and persecution of the present age, yet God can use all these to his divine purpose, and he has everything under control.[20]

Verse 29

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.

— Romans 8:29, King James Version[21]