Catholic Commentary on Romans 8

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

No Condemnation

Romans 8 is the summit of Paul's theology, the most sustained and glorious passage in all his letters. It opens with the declaration that answers the wretchedness of chapter 7: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. What the Law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead gives life to our mortal bodies. We are children of God, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, sharing in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed. The whole creation groans in eager expectation of the children of God to be revealed. The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us with wordless groans. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Those he foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son; those he predestined he called; those he called he justified; those he justified he glorified. This chain of salvation, from foreknowledge through glorification, is called the golden chain of redemption. The Catechism presents predestination not as arbitrary selection but as God's eternal knowledge and purpose to bring the elect, through their free co-operation, into conformity with his Son (CCC 600).

Nothing Can Separate Us

The chapter ends with a doxology of confidence that has sustained the Church through every persecution: who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Not what you have done. Not what has been done to you. Not the worst day of your past and not the most frightening day of your future. Nothing. Read this chapter slowly, aloud if possible, and let the Spirit who inspired it confirm it in your heart.

Prayer

Lord God, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Nothing in all creation can separate us from your love. In our sufferings, in our weakness, in our groaning, your Spirit intercedes and you work all things together for good. We are more than conquerors through the one who loved us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

8
Walking by the Spirit
(Ezekiel 36:16–38; Galatians 5:16–26)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.* 8:1 BYZ and TR in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you † 8:2 BYZ and TR me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin.‡ 8:3 Literally in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
 
5 Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the flesh § 8:8 Literally Those being in the flesh; similarly in verse 9 cannot please God.
 
9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive * 8:10 Or yet the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead † 8:11 NA, BYZ, and TR raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
Heirs with Christ
 
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
 
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Future Glory
(2 Corinthians 5:1–10)
 
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
 
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
 
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
God Works in All Things
(Ephesians 1:3–14)
 
28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
 
31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
More than Conquerors
(Psalms 44:1–26)
 
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
 
“For Your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”‡ 8:36 Psalms 44:22
 
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*8:1 8:1 BYZ and TR in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

†8:2 8:2 BYZ and TR me

‡8:3 8:3 Literally in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin

§8:8 8:8 Literally Those being in the flesh; similarly in verse 9

*8:10 8:10 Or yet the Spirit is life

†8:11 8:11 NA, BYZ, and TR raised Christ from the dead

‡8:36 8:36 Psalms 44:22

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