Why do most people miss the impact of Romans 8:31?
The impact of Romans 8:31 is often missed because readers skim over it without realizing the assurance it should produce. It concludes Paul's building argument from Romans 8:1—no condemnation in Christ—asking what we shall say to these things, with God for us and none against us.
Les teaches that Romans 8:31 is a tremendous verse, but he bets most people who read their Bible just skim right over it and don't realize what an impact it should make. He explains that Paul asks, 'What shall we say then?' referring to everything he has written before, building from Romans 8:1's statement that there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. Les also notes that some words in the verse are italicized—added by translators—such as 'be' and 'can be,' and he prefers to leave them out: 'What shall we say to these things if God for us, who against us?'
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
More Questions
How does Romans 8:31 connect to Romans 8:1?
Paul's argument in Romans 8 builds from the opening assurance 'no condemnation' in verse 1 all the way down to the climactic statement in verse 31 about God being for us.
If you remove the italicized words from Romans 8:31, what does the verse actually say?
In Romans 8:31, the italicized words 'be' and 'can be' are additions by the translators; when you leave those out, the verse reads 'What shall we say to these things if God for us, who against us?'
How does Paul build his argument from Romans 8:1 to Romans 8:31?
Paul builds his argument in Romans 8 from the assurance of no condemnation in verse 1 to the climactic statement in verse 31.
How does Paul get to Romans 8:31 - what has he been building toward?
Paul builds his argument progressively through Romans 8, starting from the assurance in verse 1 ('no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus') and building up to this point at verse 31.
What is the promise we should never lose sight of in Romans 8:31?
Because God is for us, consequently nothing can be against us, and believers should never lose sight of that promise.