Romans 8:31 (DBY)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Romans 8:29 Because whom he has foreknown, he has also predestinated [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be [the] firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:30 But whom he has predestinated, these also he has called; and whom he has called, these also he has justified; but whom he has justified, these also he has glorified.

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who against us?

Romans 8:32 He who, yea, has not spared his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him grant us all things?

Romans 8:33 Who shall bring an accusation against God's elect? [It is] God who justifies:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "shall", "things", and "against". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "shall" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "But whom he has predestinated these also..." into verse 32's "He who yea has not spared his...", so "shall" and "things" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "shall" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.