38 For G1063 I am persuaded, G3982 that G3754 neither G3777 death, G2288 nor G3777 life, G2222 nor G3777 angels, G32 nor G3777 principalities, G746 nor G3777 powers, G1411 nor G3777 things present, G1764 nor G3777 things to come, G3195
Who G3739 is gone G4198 into G1519 heaven, G3772 and is G2076 on G1722 the right hand G1188 of God; G2316 angels G32 and G2532 authorities G1849 and G2532 powers G1411 being made subject G5293 unto him. G846
And I G2504 give G1325 unto them G846 eternal G166 life; G2222 and G2532 they shall G622 never G3364 G1519 G165 perish, G622 neither G2532 G3756 shall G726 any G5100 man pluck G726 them G846 out of G1537 my G3450 hand. G5495
Far above G5231 all G3956 principality, G746 and G2532 power, G1849 and G2532 might, G1411 and G2532 dominion, G2963 and G2532 every G3956 name G3686 that is named, G3687 not G3756 only G3440 in G1722 this G5129 world, G165 but G235 also G2532 in G1722 that which is to come: G3195
Be sober, G3525 be vigilant; G1127 because G3754 your G5216 adversary G476 the devil, G1228 as G5613 a roaring G5612 lion, G3023 walketh about, G4043 seeking G2212 whom G5101 he may devour: G2666 Whom G3739 resist G436 stedfast G4731 in the faith, G4102 knowing G1492 that the same G846 afflictions G3804 are accomplished G2005 in your G5216 brethren G81 that are in G1722 the world. G2889 But G1161 the God G2316 of all G3956 grace, G5485 who G3588 hath called G2564 us G2248 unto G1519 his G846 eternal G166 glory G1391 by G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus, G2424 after that ye have suffered G3958 a while, G3641 G846 make G2675 you G5209 perfect, G2675 stablish, G4741 strengthen, G4599 settle G2311 you.
And having spoiled G554 principalities G746 and G2532 powers, G1849 he made a shew of them G1165 openly, G1722 G3954 triumphing over G2358 them G846 in G1722 it. G846
For G3754 by G1722 him G846 were G2936 all things G3956 created, G2936 that are in G1722 heaven, G3772 and G2532 that are in G1909 earth, G1093 visible G3707 and G2532 invisible, G517 whether G1535 they be thrones, G2362 or G1535 dominions, G2963 or G1535 principalities, G746 or G1535 powers: G1849 all things G3956 were created G2936 by G1223 him, G846 and G2532 for G1519 him: G846
For G2532 G1063 we that are G5607 in G1722 this tabernacle G4636 do groan, G4727 being burdened: G916 not G3756 for that G1894 we would G2309 be unclothed, G1562 but G235 clothed upon, G1902 that G2443 mortality G2349 might be swallowed up G2666 of G5259 life. G2222 Now G1161 he that hath wrought G2716 us G2248 for G1519 the selfsame thing G846 G5124 is God, G2316 who G3588 also G2532 hath given G1325 unto us G2254 the earnest G728 of the Spirit. G4151 Therefore G3767 G2532 we are always G3842 confident, G2292 knowing G1492 that, G3754 whilst we are at home G1736 in G1722 the body, G4983 we are absent G1553 from G575 the Lord: G2962 (For G1063 we walk G4043 by G1223 faith, G4102 not G3756 by G1223 sight:) G1491 We are confident, G2292 I say, and G1161 G2532 willing G2106 rather G3123 to be absent G1553 from G1537 the body, G4983 and G2532 to be present G1736 with G4314 the Lord. G2962
Whether G1535 Paul, G3972 or G1535 Apollos, G625 or G1535 Cephas, G2786 or G1535 the world, G2889 or G1535 life, G2222 or G1535 death, G2288 or G1535 things present, G1764 or G1535 things to come; G3195 all G3956 are G2076 yours; G5216 And G1161 ye G5210 are Christ's; G5547 and G1161 Christ G5547 is God's. G2316
These G3778 all G3956 died G599 in G2596 faith, G4102 not G3361 having received G2983 the promises, G1860 but G235 having seen G1492 them G846 afar off, G4207 and G2532 were persuaded of G3982 them, and G2532 embraced G782 them, and G2532 confessed G3670 that G3754 they were G1526 strangers G3581 and G2532 pilgrims G3927 on G1909 the earth. G1093
For G1223 the which G3739 cause G156 I G3958 also G2532 suffer G3958 these things: G5023 nevertheless G235 I am G1870 not G3756 ashamed: G1870 for G1063 I know G1492 whom G3739 I have believed, G4100 and G2532 am persuaded G3982 that G3754 he is G2076 able G1415 to keep G5442 that which I G3450 have committed unto him G3866 against G1519 that G1565 day. G2250
According G2596 to my G3450 earnest expectation G603 and G2532 my hope, G1680 that G3754 in G1722 nothing G3762 I shall be ashamed, G153 but G235 that with G1722 all G3956 boldness, G3954 as G5613 always, G3842 so now G3568 also G2532 Christ G5547 shall be magnified G3170 in G1722 my G3450 body, G4983 whether G1535 it be by G1223 life, G2222 or G1535 by G1223 death. G2288 For G1063 to me G1698 to live G2198 is Christ, G5547 and G2532 to die G599 is gain. G2771 But G1161 if G1487 I live G2198 in G1722 the flesh, G4561 this G5124 is the fruit G2590 of my labour: G2041 G3427 yet G2532 what G5101 I shall choose G138 I wot G1107 not. G3756 For G1063 I am in a strait G4912 betwixt G1537 two, G1417 having G2192 a desire G1939 to G1519 depart, G360 and G2532 to be G1511 with G4862 Christ; G5547 which is far G4183 G3123 better: G2908
Put on G1746 the whole armour G3833 of God, G2316 that G4314 ye G5209 may be able G1410 to stand G2476 against G4314 the wiles G3180 of the devil. G1228 For G3754 we G2254 wrestle G3823 not G3756 against G2076 G4314 flesh G4561 and G2532 blood, G129 but G235 against G4314 principalities, G746 against G4314 powers, G1849 against G4314 the rulers G2888 of the darkness G4655 of this G5127 world, G165 against G4314 spiritual G4152 wickedness G4189 in G1722 high G2032 places.
G1161 We having G2192 the same G846 spirit G4151 of faith, G4102 according as G2596 it is written, G1125 I believed, G4100 and therefore G1352 have I spoken; G2980 we G2249 also G2532 believe, G4100 and G2532 therefore G1352 speak; G2980
So G1161 when G3752 this G5124 corruptible G5349 shall have put on G1746 incorruption, G861 and G2532 this G5124 mortal G2349 shall have put on G1746 immortality, G110 then G5119 shall be brought to pass G1096 the saying G3056 that is written, G1125 Death G2288 is swallowed up G2666 in G1519 victory. G3534 O death, G2288 where G4226 is thy G4675 sting? G2759 O grave, G86 where G4226 is thy G4675 victory? G3534 G1161 The sting G2759 of death G2288 is sin; G266 and G1161 the strength G1411 of sin G266 is the law. G3551 But G1161 thanks G5485 be to God, G2316 which G3588 giveth G1325 us G2254 the victory G3534 through G1223 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547 Therefore, G5620 my G3450 beloved G27 brethren, G80 be ye G1096 stedfast, G1476 unmoveable, G277 always G3842 abounding G4052 in G1722 the work G2041 of the Lord, G2962 forasmuch as ye know G1492 that G3754 your G5216 labour G2873 is G2076 not G3756 in vain G2756 in G1722 the Lord. G2962
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Romans 8
Commentary on Romans 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
The apostle, having fully explained the doctrine of justification, and pressed the necessity of sanctification, in this chapter applies himself to the consolation of the Lord's people. Ministers are helpers of the joy of the saints. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,' so runs our commission, Isa. 40:1. It is the will of God that his people should be a comforted people. And we have here such a draught of the gospel charter, such a display of the unspeakable privileges of true believers, as may furnish us with abundant matter for joy and peace in believing, that by all these immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation. Many of the people of God have, accordingly, found this chapter a well-spring of comfort to their souls, living and dying, and have sucked and been satisfied from these breasts of consolation, and with joy drawn water out of these wells of salvation. There are three things in this chapter:
Rom 8:1-9
Rom 8:10-16
In these verses the apostle represents two more excellent benefits, which belong to true believers.
Rom 8:17-25
In these words the apostle describes a fourth illustrious branch of the happiness of believers, namely, a title to the future glory. This is fitly annexed to our sonship; for as the adoption of sons entitles us to that glory, so the disposition of sons fits and prepares us for it. If children, then heirs, v. 17. In earthly inheritances this rule does not hold, only the first-born are heirs; but the church is a church of first-born, for they are all heirs. Heaven is an inheritance that all the saints are heirs to. They do not come to it as purchasers by any merit or procurement of their own; but as heirs, purely by the act of God; for God makes heirs. The saints are heirs though in this world they are heirs under age; see Gal. 4:1, 2. Their present state is a state of education and preparation for the inheritance. How comfortable should this be to all the children of God, how little soever they have in possession, that, being heirs, they have enough in reversion! But the honour and happiness of an heir lie in the value and worth of that which he is heir to: we read of those that inherit the wind; and therefore we have here an abstract of the premises.
Rom 8:26-28
The apostle here suggests two privileges more to which true Christians are entitled:-
Rom 8:29-30
The apostle, having reckoned up so many ingredients of the happiness of true believers, comes here to represent the ground of them all, which he lays in predestination. These precious privileges are conveyed to us by the charter of the covenant, but they are founded in the counsel of God, which infallibly secures the event. That Jesus Christ, the purchaser, might not labour in vain, nor spend his strength and life for nought and in vain, there is a remnant given him, a seed that he shall see, so that the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. For the explication of this he here sets before us the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, which cannot be broken. There are four links of it:-
Rom 8:31-39
The apostle closes this excellent discourse upon the privileges of believers with a holy triumph, in the name of all the saints. Having largely set forth the mystery of God's love to us in Christ, and the exceedingly great and precious privileges we enjoy by him, he concludes like an orator: What shall we then say to these things? What use shall we make of all that has been said? He speaks as one amazed and swallowed up with the contemplation and admiration of it, wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things the less we wonder at them; but the further we are led into an acquaintance with gospel mysteries the more we are affected with the admiration of them. If Paul was at a loss what to say to these things, no marvel if we be. And what does he say? Why, if ever Paul rode in a triumphant chariot on this side of heaven, here it was: with such a holy height and bravery of spirit, with such a fluency and copiousness of expression, does he here comfort himself and all the people of God, upon the consideration of these privileges. In general, he here makes a challenge, throws down the gauntlet, as it were, dares all the enemies of the saints to do their worst: If God be for us, who can be against us? The ground of the challenge is God's being for us; in this he sums up all our privileges. This includes all, that God is for us; not only reconciled to us, and so not against us, but in covenant with us, and so engaged for us-all his attributes for us, his promises for us. All that he is, and has, and does, is for his people. He performs all things for them. He is for them, even when he seems to act against them. And, if so, who can be against us, so as to prevail against us, so as to hinder our happiness? Be they ever so great and strong, ever so many, ever so might, ever so malicious, what can they do? While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with a holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness. Let Satan do his worst, he is chained; let the world do its worst, it is conquered: principalities and powers are spoiled and disarmed, and triumphed over, in the cross of Christ. Who then dares fight against us, while God himself is fighting for us? And this we say to these things, this is the inference we draw from these premises. More particularly.
Mr. Hugh Kennedy, an eminent Christian of Ayr, in Scotland, when he was dying, called for a Bible; but, finding his sight gone, he said, "Turn me to the eighty of the Romans, and set my finger at these words, I am persuaded that neither death nor life,' etc. "Now,' said he, "is my finger upon them?' And, when they told him it was, without speaking any more, he said, "Now, God be with you, my children; I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night;' and so departed.