Bible Commentaries
Romans 8

Verse 1

no. Greek. oudeis. Emphatic, as it stands first in the Greek.

condemnation . Greek. katakrima. See Romans 5:16 .

in . App-104 .

Christ Jesus . App-98 . Compare Romans 6:23 .

who . . . Spirit . All the texts omit. Probably a gloss from Romans 8:4 .

Verse 2

the . . . life = the spiritual law of life. Figure of speech Antimereia. App-6 .

Spirit . App-101 .

life . App-170 .

hath made me free = freed me. Greek. eleutheroo. See Romans 6:18 .

from . App-104 .

sin . App-128 .

Verse 3

what, &c . Literally the impossible thing of the law.

weak = impotent. Greek. astheneo.

through . App-104 .Romans 8:1 .

God . App-98 .

sending = having sent. App-174 . Compare John 17:3 .

Son . App-108 .

likeness . See Romans 1:23 ; Romans 6:5 . Not sinful flesh, for "in Him was no sin"; nor the likeness of flesh, because His was real flesh, but the likeness of sin 's flesh.

sinful flesh = flesh of sin (Romans 8:3 ).

condemned . App-122 .

flesh. By "the perfect humanity and perfect walk of the Incarnate Son", God exhibited a living condemnation of sinful flesh.

Verse 4

That = In order that. Greek. hina.

righteousness = righteous requirement. App-191 .

fulfilled . App-125 .

flesh = the old nature.

Verse 5

are: i.e. live.

do mind = set affection on. Greek. phroneo . Occurs ten times in Romans; here, Romans 12:3 , Romans 12:3 ; Romans 12:12 , Romans 12:16 , Romans 12:16 ; Romans 14:6 , Romans 14:6 , Romans 14:6 , Romans 14:6 ; Romans 15:6 . Compare Colossians 3:2 .

Verse 6

to be, &c. = the minding (Greek. phronema . Only here and Romans 8:7 , Romans 8:27 ) of the flesh.

is: i.e. results in.

to be spiritually, &c. = the minding of the spirit ( App-101 . as in Romans 8:2 ). Compare Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:8 , Philippians 1:9 . Colossians 3:2 .

peace . Compare Romans 5:1 .

Verse 7

carnal mind = minding of the flesh, as Romans 8:6 .

enmity . Greek. echthra. Here, Luke 23:12 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:20 . Ephesians 2:15 , Ephesians 2:16 . James 4:4 .

against . App-104 .

it is not subject to = does not submit itself to. Greek. hupotasso. See Romans 10:3 .

neither . Greek. oude.

Verse 8

So, &c. Compare Romans 7:15-17 . Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:17 .

cannot = are not (Romans 8:7 ) able to.

Verse 9

if so be . Greek. eiper.

if . App-118 .

dwell . See Romans 7:17 .

Now = But.

any man = any one. App-123 .

the . Omit.

Christ . App-98 . See also App-101 .

none = not. App-104 .

Verse 10

And = But.

body = body indeed (Greek. men) .

dead . Greek. nekros. App-139 . See Romans 6:11 .

because of. App-104 .Romans 8:2 .

righteousness . App-191 .

Verse 11

raised up . See Romans 4:24 .

Jesus . App-98 .

from the dead . Greek. ek nekron. App-139 .

also, &c . = quicken (Greek. zoopoieo. See Romans 4:17 ) your mortal (See Romans 6:12 ) bodies also.

dwelleth = indwelleth. Greek. enoikeo. Compare Romans 8:7 .

Verse 12

Therefore = So then.

debtors . Greek. opheiletes, as Romans 1:14 ; Romans 15:27 .

Verse 13

shall die . Literally are about to die. Revised Version, must die.

through . Dative case. No preposition.

do mortify = are putting to death. Greek. thanatoo. See Romans 7:4 .

deeds = practices. Greek. praxis. Occurances, Romans 12:4 .Matthew 16:27 . Luke 23:51 .Acts 19:18 . Colossians 3:9 .

Verse 14

led . See Romans 2:4 .

the Spirit . See App-101 . In this chapter we have pneuma Christou and pneuma Theou, both referring to the new nature.

Verse 15

have . Omit.

the = a.

spirit . App-101 .

bondage . App-190 .

adoption = sonship. Greek. huiothesia. Occurs here, Romans 8:23 ; Romans 9:4 .Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:5 .Ephesians 1:5 . An "adopted" child may partake of all the privileges of the family, yet it is not begotten and born in the family. But the subjects of this verse are begotten of the Spirit (John 3:6 ) and are, therefore, sons of God by spiritual generation. It is thus a real sonship-spirit that enables them to cry, "Abba, Father. "

whereby = in ( App-104 .) which.

Abba: i.e. Father. See App-94 . (Hebrew. 'ab) . It is said that slaves were never allowed to use the word "Abba". Strictly, therefore, it can be employed only by those who have received the gift of the Divine nature.

Verse 16

Spirit Itself = Spirit Himself. App-101 .

beareth witness . See Romans 2:15 .

children . App-108 . See note 2, p. 1511.

Verse 17

then heirs = heirs also.

heirs . See Romans 4:13 .

heirs of God = heirs indeed of God.

joint-heirs . Greek. sunkleronomos. Here, Ephesians 3:6 . Hebrews 11:9 . 1 Peter 3:7 .

suffer with. Greek. sumpascho. Only here and 1 Corinthians; Rom 12:26 . The "suffering together with" (Him) here is that of Romans 6:3 , Romans 6:4 , Romans 6:6 , Romans 6:8 , Romans 6:11 , and not the sufferings of this present time.

also . . . together = glorified together with (Greek. sundoxazomai. Only here) (Him) also.

Verse 18

reckon . See Romans 4:4 .

sufferings . Greek. pathema. See Romans 7:5 .

this present time . Literally the now time or season (Greek. kairos) .

with . App-104 .

revealed . App-106 .

in = unto or with regard to. App-104 .

Verse 19

earnest expectation = anxious looking with outstretched head. Greek. apokaradokia. Only here and Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:20 .

creature = creation.

waiteth for . Greek. apekdechomai. Occurs here: Romans 8:23 , Romans 8:25 , Romans 8:7 . Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:5 .Philippians 3:20 . Hebrews 9:28 .

manifestation . App-106 .

Verse 20

For, &c. This verse is in parenthesis, save the last two words.

vanity . Greek. mataiotes. Only here, Eph 4:17 . 2 Peter 2:18 . Here the meaning is disappointing misery, in which sense the word is frequently used by the Septuagint for the Hebrew hebel , e.g. Ecclesiastes 1:14 ; Ecclesiastes 2:11 , Ecclesiastes 2:17 ; Ecclesiastes 9:9 .

willingly . Greek. hekon. Only here and 1 Corinthians 9:17 .

by reason of . Greek. dia . App-104 .Romans 8:2 .

in hope . Read, (waiteth, I say) in hope (See Romans 4:18 ).

Verse 21

delivered = set free, as in Romans 8:2 .

corruption . Greek. phthora. Here, 1Co 15:42 , 1 Corinthians 15:50 . Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:8 . Colossians 2:22 . 2Pe 1:4 ; 2 Peter 2:12 , 2 Peter 2:19 .

glorious liberty = freedom of the glory.

Verse 22

groaneth = is groaning together. Greek. sustenazo . Only here.

travaileth . . . together = travails together. Greek. sunodino. Only here.

Verse 23

firstfruits of the Spirit . The gifts of the Holy Spirit as the foretaste and pledge of the eternal inheritance. Compare Ephesians 1:14 .Hebrews 6:5 . See Exodus 23:19 . Leviticus 23:10 , &c.

firstfruits . Greek. aparche. Occurs here, Romans 11:16 ; Rom 16:5 . 1 Corinthians 15:20 ; 1 Corinthians 15:23 ; 1 Corinthians 16:15 .James 1:18 . Revelation 14:4 .

groan . Greek. stenazo. Here, Mark 7:34 . 2 Corinthians 5:2 , 2 Corinthians 5:4 .Hebrews 13:17 . James 5:9 . Compare Romans 8:21 .

within . App-104 .

redemption . See Romans 3:24 .

Verse 24

are = were. See Romans 5:9 .

hope . The creation also is waiting and hoping.

a man = any one, as Romans 8:9 .

yet hope for = hope for also.

Verse 25

with = through. App-104 .Romans 8:1 .

patience . See Romans 2:7 .

Verse 26

helpeth . Greek. sunantilambanomai. Only here and Luke 10:40 .

infirmities . The texts read infirmity. Greek. astheneia. See Romans 6:19 .

pray for . Greek. proseuchomai. See App-184 .

maketh intercession . Greek. huperentunchano. Only here.

for us . All the texts omit.

with . No preposition.

groanings . Greek. stenagmos. Only here and Acts 7:34 .

which . . . uttered = unutterable. Greek. alaletos. Only here.

Verse 27

And = But.

He: i.e. the Holy Spirit.

searcheth . Greek. ereunao. See John 5:39 and 1 Corinthians 2:10 .

mind . Greek. phronema, as verses: Romans 8:6 , Romans 8:7 .

maketh intercession . Greek. entunchano. See Acts 25:24 .

saints . See Romans 1:7 .

according to . App-104 .

Verse 28

And = But.

work together . Greek. sunergeo. Only here, Mark 16:20 . 1 Corinthians 16:16 . 2 Corinthians 6:1 .James 2:22 .

love . Greek. agapao. App-135 .

purpose . Greek. prothesis. See Acts 11:23 .

Verse 29

did foreknow = foreknew. Greek. proginosko . App-132 .

also did predestinate = foreordained (Greek. proorizo. See Acts 4:28 ) also.

conformed . Greek. summorphos. Only here and Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:21 . Compare Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:10 .

image . See Romans 1:23 .

that He might be . Literally unto ( App-104 .) His being.

the firstborn . Greek. prototokos. Here, Matthew 1:25 .Luke 2:7 . Colossians 1:15 , Colossians 1:18 . Hebrews 1:6 ; Hebrews 11:28 ; Hebrews 12:23 .Revelation 1:5 (firstborn of the dead). Compare Acts 13:33 .Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:18

among . App-104 .

brethren . Compare Hebrews 2:11 , Hebrews 2:12 .

Verse 30

Moreover = But.

also called = called also. See 1 Corinthians 1:9 . a

lso justified = justified ( App-191 .) also. Compare Romans 2:13 .

also glorified = glorified (See Romans 1:21 ) also. In this beautiful Climax ( App-6 ), by another Figure of speech ( Heterosis of Tenses, App-6 ) the called ones are spoken of as already (in the Divine purpose) in Christ, justified, and glorified!

Verse 31

What, &c . See Romans 3:6 .

to . App-104 .

be = is .

can be = is .

against . App-104 .

Verse 32

spared . Greek. pheidomai. See Acts 20:29 .

delivered . . . up See John 19:30 .

freely give . App-184 .

Verse 33

lay any thing = bring charges, i.e. call to judicial account. Greek. enkaleo. See Acts 19:38 .

to the charge of. App-104 .

It . . . justifieth = Shall God Who justifies (them)?

Verse 34

It is = Shall.

even = also.

at . App-104 .

also, &c . = intercedes also.

Verse 35

separate . Greek. chorizo. See Acts 18:1 .

love . App-135 . Compare Romans 5:5 . 2 Corinthians 5:14 .

tribulation . See Romans 2:9 .

distress . Rendered "anguish" in Romans 2:9 .

persecution . See Acts 8:1 .

peril . Greek. kindunos. Only here and 2 Corinthians 11:26 . These four questions and answers in verses: Romans 8:33-35 form the Figure of speech Anaphora. Romans 8:35 gives the Figure of speech Paradiastole. See App-6 .

Verse 36

As = Even as. App-6 .

written . See Romans 1:17 .

For Thy sake = On Thine account.

accounted . See Romans 4:5 .

sheep, &c . Quoted from Psalms 44:22 .

for the = of.

Verse 37

more than conquerors . Greek. hupernikao; only here.

Verse 38

persuaded . Compare Romans 2:8 (obey). App-150 .:2.

neither, nor . Greek. oute.

principalities . Greek. arche. See Ephesians 6:12 .

powers . App-172 and App-176 :1.

present . Greek. enistemi. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 3:22 ; 1 Corinthians 7:26 . Galatians 1:1 , Gal 1:4 . 2 Thessalonians 2:2 . 2 Timothy 3:1 .Hebrews 9:9 .

Verse 39

height. Greek. hupsoma ; only here and 2 Corinthians 10:5 .

creature = created thing. See Romans 8:21 .

Lord . App-98 . The question in Romans 8:35 , followed by the answer in verses: Romans 8:38 , Romans 8:39 , is a striking example of the Figure of speech Paradiastole. App-6 . These verses: illustrate the importance also of the number 17, as there are seven things enumerated in Romans 8:35 , "tribulation", &c, and ten in verses: Romans 8:38 , Romans 8:39 , "neither death", &c. See App-10 . Compare another illustration of the number 17 in Hebrews 12:18-24 . See App-10 .