SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:31
¶ ¿Pues qu diremos a esto? Si Dios es por nosotros, ¿quin ser contra nosotros?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 8:31
Verse 31. What shall we then say to these things?] What conclusion should we draw from the above premises? From all that was already laid down in the preceding chapters, but especially in the preceding verses, from ver. 28-30 inclusive. As if he had said: What comfort may we derive from these doctrines? God has called us all to holiness, and to love to him, which is the principle of holiness. We are persecuted and despised, it is true, and we may be more so; but, as God has called us to love him, and all things work together for good to them that love him; and, as his covenant with Abraham, while he was in his Gentile state, shows his gracious purpose towards us Gentiles, whom he has foreknown, who have been objects of his gracious foreknowledge, as well as the Jews, and who have now the fullest proof that we were so, by his sending us the Gospel, and showing us, in it, that if the Israelites were to be a holy priesthood, a royal nation, we are no less favoured, as he has predestinated, from the beginning determined, that we should be conformed to the image of his Son, who is to be the first-born among many brethren, the head and chief of all converted Jews and Gentiles, and, in order to our final salvation, has called, invited us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, has justified those who do believe, and has glorified, highly honoured, and adorned them with innumerable gifts and graces, and, if they continue to possess that faith which worketh by love, will bring them, both body and soul, to his eternal glory, their bodies being made like unto his glorious body:-seeing, therefore, all these things are so, what comfort in our tribulations shall we derive from them?-Why this: If God be for us, who can be against us? He who is infinitely wise has undertaken to direct us: He who is infinitely powerful has undertaken to protect us: He who is infinitely good has undertaken to save us. What cunning, strength, or malice, can prevail against his wisdom, power, and goodness? None. Therefore we are safe who love God; and not only shall sustain no essential damage by the persecutions of ungodly men, but even these things work together for our good.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 31. What shall we then say to these things? etc. , Either to these afflictions, shall we murmur and repine at them? no, since they work together for our good, and are not to be compared with our future glory, which is certain; for if we suffer with, and for Christ, we shall be glorified together: or to these blessings just now mentioned, as the foreknowledge of God, divine predestination, effectual calling, free justification, and eternal glorification, what can be said to these? nothing can be added to them, they are a complete set of blessings, wanting nothing; nor can the greatness of them be fully expressed, or the freeness of God's grace displayed in them, sufficiently declared: what remains for us to do, but to be thankful for them, and glory in them? or what can be said against them? nothing at all, they cannot be contradicted or gainsaid; they are true and faithful sayings; they can never be made void, and of no effect, by hell or earth; nor ought our unbelieving hearts to have anything to say against interest in them: or what is to be said, or inferred from them? why, the free, sovereign, unchangeable, and everlasting love of God, in providing and bestowing such benefits; and the certainty of salvation, which is infallibly secured hereby: if God be for us ; or, seeing he is for us, has an affection for us, which appears from the gift of himself, Son, and Spirit, and all the blessings of grace and glory; and is on our side: as that he is on the side of his people, is evident from his preservation of them from the evils of the world and their own corruptions; from the supports he gives them under afflictions and temptations; from his carrying on the work of grace upon them, notwithstanding all the opposition made unto it; and from their safety and security they enjoy by him, notwithstanding the power of their enemies; he is so for them, and on their side, as that he will certainly save them. This he has determined to do, he has sent his Son to obtain salvation for them, his Spirit to apply it to them, and keeps them by his power to the full enjoyment of it: and since this is the case, who can be against us ? none can be against them. There are some that cannot possibly be against them; if Jehovah the Father is not against them, the Son cannot be against them, nor the Spirit; good angels cannot be against them, so far from it, that they rejoice at their good, minister to them, and are a guard about them; the law cannot be against them, because it is fulfilled in them; nor justice, because it is satisfied, and all its demands answered: and though there may be some who may be against them, and oppose themselves to them, yet their opposition is to no purpose; they will never prevail over them to their ruin and destruction; as neither sin, nor Satan, nor the world, nor death itself.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 28-31 - That is good for the saints which does their souls good. Ever providence tends to the spiritual good of those that love God; i breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning the from the world, and fitting them for heaven. When the saints act out of character, corrections will be employed to bring them back again. An here is the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, on which cannot be broken. 1. Whom he did foreknow, he also di predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. All that God designed for glory and happiness as the end, he decreed to grace an holiness as the way. The whole human race deserved destruction; but for reasons not perfectly known to us, God determined to recover some by regeneration and the power of his grace. He predestinated, or befor decreed, that they should be conformed to the image of his Son. In thi life they are in part renewed, and walk in his steps. 2. Whom he di predestinate, them he also called. It is an effectual call, from sel and earth to God, and Christ, and heaven, as our end; from sin an vanity to grace and holiness, as our way. This is the gospel call. The love of God, ruling in the hearts of those who once were enemies to him, proves that they have been called according to his purpose. 3 Whom he called, them he also justified. None are thus justified but those that are effectually called. Those who stand out against the gospel call, abide under guilt and wrath. 4. Whom he justified, them he also glorified. The power of corruption being broken in effectua calling, and the guilt of sin removed in justification, nothing can come between that soul and glory. This encourages our faith and hope for, as for God, his way, his work, is perfect. The apostle speaks a one amazed, and swallowed up in admiration, wondering at the height an depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passet knowledge. The more we know of other things, the less we wonder; but the further we are led into gospel mysteries, the more we are affecte by them. While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness.
Greek Textus Receptus
τι 5101 I-ASN ουν 3767 CONJ ερουμεν 2046 5692 V-FAI-1P προς 4314 PREP ταυτα 5023 D-APN ει 1487 COND ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM υπερ 5228 PREP ημων 2257 P-1GP τις 5101 I-NSM καθ 2596 PREP ημων 2257 P-1GP
Robertson's NT Word Studies
8:31 {For these things} (pros tauta). From #8:12 on Paul has made a triumphant presentation of the reasons for the certainty of final sanctification of the sons of God. He has reached the climax with glorification (edoxasen in verse #30). But Paul lets the objector have his say as he usually does so that in verses #31-39 he considers the objections. {If God is for us, who is against us?} (ei ho qeos huper hemwn, tis kaq' hemwn?). this condition of the first class carries Paul's challenge to all doubters. There is no one on a par with God. Note the two prepositions in contrast (huper, over, kata, down or against).
