Romans 8 · Verse 31

Romans 8:31

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31, King James Version

Romans 8:31 in other translations

BSB	What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
WEB	What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
ASV	What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
YLT	What, then, shall we say unto these things? if God is for us, who is against us?
DARBY	What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who against us?
BBE	What may we say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Webster	What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

What does Romans 8:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

31. What shall we then say to these things?--"We can no farther go, think, wish" [Bengel]. This whole passage, to Ro 8:34, and even to the end of the chapter, strikes all thoughtful interpreters and readers, as transcending almost every thing in language, while Olshausen notices the "profound and colossal" character of the thought. If God be for us, who can be against us?--If God be resolved and engaged to bring us through, all our enemies must be His; and "Who would set the briers and thorns against Him in battle? He would go through them. He would burn them together" (Is 27:4). What strong consolation is here! Nay, but the great Pledge of all has already been given; for,

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 31. What shall we then say, etc. What fairly follows from the facts stated? or what conclusion shall we draw in regard to the power of the Christian religion to support us in our trials from the considerations which have been stated? What the influence is he proceeds to state.

If God be for us. Be on our side, or is our friend, as he has shown himself to be by adopting us, (Rom 8:15) by granting to us his Spirit, (Rom 8:16,17,26,27) and by his gracious purpose to save us, (Rom 8:29,30.)

Who can be against us? Who can injure or destroy us? Sinners may be against us, and so may the great enemy of our souls, but their power to destroy us is taken away. God is more mighty than all our foes; and he can defend and save us. See Ps 118:6, "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man can do unto me." The proposition advanced in this verse Paul proceeds to illustrate by various specifications, which continue to the end of the chapter.

(n) "If God" Ps 118:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 31 What shall we then say to these things? - What conclusion should we draw from the above premises? From all that was already laid down in the preceding chapters, but especially in the preceding verses, from Rom 8:28-30 inclusive. As if he had said: What comfort may we derive from these doctrines? God has called us all to holiness, and to love to him, which is the principle of holiness. We are persecuted and despised, it is true, and we may be more so; but, as God has called us to love him, and all things work together for good to them that love him; and, as his covenant with Abraham, while he was in his Gentile state, shows his gracious purpose towards us Gentiles, whom he has foreknown, who have been objects of his gracious foreknowledge, as well as the Jews, and who have now the fullest proof that we were so, by his sending us the Gospel, and showing us, in it, that if the Israelites were to be a holy priesthood, a royal nation, we are no less favored, as he has predestinated, from the beginning determined, that we should be conformed to the image of his Son, who is to be the first-born among many brethren, the head and chief of all converted Jews and Gentiles, and, in order to our final salvation, has called, invited us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, has justified those who do believe, and has glorified, highly honored, and adorned them with innumerable gifts and graces, and, if they continue to possess that faith which worketh by love, will bring them, both body and soul, to his eternal glory, their bodies being made like unto his glorious body: - seeing, therefore, all these things are so, what comfort in our tribulations shall we derive from them? - Why this: If God be for us, who can be against us? He who is infinitely wise has undertaken to direct us: He who is infinitely powerful has undertaken to protect us: He who is infinitely good has undertaken to save us. What cunning, strength, or malice, can prevail against his wisdom, power, and goodness? None. Therefore we are safe who love God; and not only shall sustain no essential damage by the persecutions of ungodly men, but even these things work together for our good.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 8:28-31

That is good for the saints which does their souls good. Every providence tends to the spiritual good of those that love God; in breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, and fitting them for heaven. When the saints act out of character, corrections will be employed to bring them back again. And here is the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, one which…

Read the full comment on Romans 8:28-31 →

Romans 8:31 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤίTiWhatG5101

οὖνounthenG3767

ἐροῦμενeroumenwill we sayG4483

πρὸςprostoG4314

ταῦτα;tautathese things?G3778

εἰeiIfG1487

ὁho<the>G3588

θεὸςtheosGod [is]G2316

ὑπὲρhuperforG5228

ἡμῶν,hēmōnus,G3165

τίςtiswho [can be]G5101

καθ᾽kath᾽againstG2596

ἡμῶν;hēmōnus?G3165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 8:31

Psalms 118:6
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Jeremiah 1:19
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.
Psalms 56:11
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 20:11
But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
Psalms 56:4
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Psalms 27:1-3
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Psalms 84:11-12
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Numbers 14:9
Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
John 10:28-30
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
Isaiah 50:7-9
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

What.
4:1
If.
Ge 15:1; Nu 14:9; De 33:29; Jos 10:42; 1Sa 14:6; 17:45-47; Ps 27:1-3
Ps 46:1-3,7,11; 56:4,11; 84:11,12; 118:6; Isa 50:7-9; 54:17
Jer 1:19; 20:11; Joh 10:28-30; 1Jo 4:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:32
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?

Read all of Romans 8

Romans 8:31 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	¿Pues qué diremos á esto? Si Dios por nosotros, ¿quién contra nosotros?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Que dirons-nous donc à ces choses? Si Dieu est pour nous, qui sera contre nous?
German Elberfelder 1871	Was sollen wir nun hierzu sagen? Wenn Gott für uns ist, wer wider uns?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quid ergo dicemus ad hæc? si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nos?