Who does 'He' refer to in Romans 8:32?
In Romans 8:32, the pronoun 'He' refers to God, specifically the God identified in the preceding verse, Romans 8:31. He is the God who is for us, as stated in verse 31. This is the God who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.
Les explains that the 'He' in Romans 8:32 is the God being dealt with in Romans 8:31, where the question is asked, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' This same God is the one who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all. Les stresses that Paul writes only to believers, so the 'us' refers to Paul and his fellow believers. Therefore, the promise that God is for us and that nothing can ultimately be against us is directed to believers, not unbelievers. Les also points to 1 Thessalonians to illustrate the difference between Paul writing to believers and referring to unbelievers.
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?
More Questions
In Romans 8, who is included in Paul's word 'us'?
When Paul says 'us' in Romans 8:32, he is referring to himself and his fellow believers, because Paul never writes to anyone but believers.