Romans 8:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“If God is for us, who is against us?” But who is not against us, you ask? The whole world is against us, as are tormentors, nations, relatives, and fellow citizens. Yet all those who are against us are so far from being able to harm us that, against their will, they become causes of crowns for us and mediators of countless blessings. The Wisdom of God turns every plot to our salvation and glory.

Do you see how no one proves to be against us? Job became renowned because the devil took up arms against him. The devil stirred up against him friends, wife, wounds, servants, and countless other devices. Yet nothing was against him. And this was not yet the great thing for Job, though in itself it was very great. Far more important for him was that everything ended for his benefit. Since God was for him, everything that seemed to be against him proved to be for him.

The same happened with the apostles. Jews, Gentiles, false brethren, rulers, nations, hunger, poverty, and countless afflictions rose up against them, yet nothing was against them. All this made them especially renowned, glorious, and worthy of praise before God and men.

Understand, then, that the word Paul spoke about the faithful and the truly crucified could not be said of himself even by one crowned with a diadem. Many foreign peoples take up arms against such a man. Enemies make attempts against him. Bodyguards plot against him. Often many of his subjects rise up against him. But against the believer who strictly fulfills the law of God, neither man, nor demon, nor anything else can rise up. If you deprive him of property, by this you furnish him a reward. If you speak evil of him, by your slander you make him more radiant before God. If you bring him to hunger, this means greater glory and greater recompense for him. If you hand him over to death, the most terrible thing of all, you weave for him a martyr’s crown.

What can compare with the life of a man against whom nothing can stand? Those who intend to harm him benefit him no less than his benefactors themselves. Therefore the Apostle says, “If God is for us, who is against us?” Then, not content with these words, he presents here also that greatest sign of God’s love for us, to which he always returns, namely, the death of the Son.

To this the Apostle adds that Jesus Christ will be not only Judge, but also our Advocate. He is an all-powerful Advocate, sharing the fullness of authority with the Father and the Spirit, since He sits at the right hand of the Father. In a word, the fullness of future glory will undoubtedly belong to us, if we truly love God.

St. John Chrysostom says, “The whole world is against us, as are tormentors, nations, relatives, and fellow citizens. Yet all those who are against us are so far from being able to harm us that, against their will, they become the cause of crowns for us and mediators of countless blessings. God forgives sins, but what is far greater, God justifies. Does the one who condemns such a man deserve any attention? Therefore we must fear neither temptations, because God is for us and has proved this by His deeds, nor Jewish empty talk, because God has chosen and justified us. What is still more wondrous, He justified us by the death of the Son.”

“Who will condemn us, when God Himself crowns us, when Christ is slain for us, and after being slain intercedes for us? Having appeared after the Ascension in His own dignity, He did not cease His providential care for us, but intercedes for us and preserves the same love toward us. Why then are you afraid? Why do you tremble while enjoying such love? Only those who do not love God ought to tremble. But we love Him, and in love for Him we have a new proof that our hopes will be fulfilled, and of the greatness of Christianity altogether.”

Photius, in Oecumenius, writes: “‘What then shall we say to these things?’ To what things? To the fact that He predestined, called, justified, and glorified.

“Looking at this abundance of benefactions, what shall we say? We do not even have enough words of thanksgiving to give thanks, much less works to repay.

“So ineffable is His grace toward us. Then, as though filled with these blessings, he says, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’

“He gives us to understand that no one can be. But how is it evident that God is for us? From that good which strikes every mind with amazement: He did not spare even His own Son for us.

“Therefore, if God is for us, it is clear that He will turn everything to our benefit. He will make even what seems grievous a cause of joy.

“So He turned sorrows, persecutions, and deaths for the Apostles and martyrs into something deserving crowns and rewards, opening the door into the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Thus, if only we ourselves do not stumble in anything, no one has power against us.”

Saint Chrysostom sets forth at greater length how many foundations for hope the Apostle provides in this brief saying.

“The Apostle speaks as though saying: do not mention to me the afflictions and snares that meet you everywhere.

“Let some not believe in the future. Yet they can say nothing against the blessings already given, such as God’s ancient love for you, justification, and glory.

“But who is not against us, you ask? The whole universe is against us: torturers, nations, relatives, and fellow citizens.

“Yet all who are against us are so far from being able to harm us that, unwillingly, they become for us a cause of crowns and mediators of countless blessings.

“So God’s wisdom turns every snare to our salvation and glory. Do you see how no one is against us?

“Job became famous because the devil armed himself against him. The devil raised up against him friends, wife, wounds, household members, and countless other devices.

“Yet nothing was against him. Since God was for him, everything that seemed to rise against him was for him.

“The same happened with the Apostles. Jews, Gentiles, false brethren, rulers, nations, hunger, poverty, and countless misfortunes rose against them.

“But nothing was against them. All this made them especially renowned, glorious, and worthy of praise before God and men.

“So also no man, no demon, nor anyone else can do any evil to a believer who strictly fulfills the law of God.

“If you deprive him of possessions, by this you weave a reward for him. If you speak evil of him, by your slander you make him more radiant before God.

“If you bring him to hunger, there is greater glory and greater recompense for him. If you even hand him over to death, which is most terrible, you weave for him a martyr’s crown.

“What can compare with the life of a man against whom nothing can stand, and to whom even those plotting evil seem to bring no less benefit than benefactors?

“Therefore the Apostle says, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’

“Then, not content with these words, he sets forth here that greatest sign of God’s love for us to which he always turns. I mean the death of the Son.

“God not only justified, Paul says, and glorified, and made us like His image. He also did not spare His Son for your sake.

“Therefore he continues.”