What does 'persuaded' mean in Romans 8:38?
In Romans 8:38, persuaded means totally convinced—fully assured and settled in conviction. Paul uses it to express absolute confidence that nothing can separate believers from spending eternity with their Creator God. It is not mere opinion or hope; it is a deep, unshakable persuasion of the truth.
Les explains that Romans 8:38 records Paul saying, “I am persuaded,” and then asks what it means to be persuaded. The answer he gives is “totally convinced.” This is not a casual agreement or a wishful hope but a settled, absolute assurance. Les illustrates this with old King Agrippa in Acts, to whom Paul had witnessed more than once. Agrippa said, “Almost Paul, you've persuaded me,” yet Les does not believe Agrippa ever truly was persuaded; almost persuaded is not the same as totally convinced. Paul's persuasion, by contrast, rests on the assurance that nothing can separate us from spending eternity with our Creator God, and that though we are led as sheep to the slaughter, we are more than conquerors through the One who loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
More Questions
Should Paul's statement 'I am persuaded' in Romans 8:38 be our statement too?
Paul's words in Romans 8:38 should be our words, so that we can say exactly the same thing: 'for I am persuaded.'
Whose words should we adopt from Romans 8:38?
The apostle Paul's words in Romans 8:38 should be our words; we should be able to say exactly the same thing.