Romans 8:38

I am persuaded Same word as Romans 14:14, Rom 15:14; 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 6:9. The word implies firm assurance on good grounds. Here, of course, this amounts (unless the passage is to end with an anticlimax) to the utmost certainty of expectation.

death Through which we "depart, and are with Christ." Philippians 1:23. Cp. also, throughout this passage, 1 Corinthians 3:22-23.

life With its allurements or its sufferings.

angels, principalities, powers The last word is to be transferred, perhaps, to stand after things to come." In that case it may include the widest meanings of the word "power." As placed in E. V., it must specially refer to (evil) angelicpowers, "Principalities:" cp. Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:15; which assure us that the word here, standing close to "angels," means not earthly but supernatural(and here evil) dominions. For suggestions howsuch powers might seem to tend to "separate" the saint from the love of God, see Ephesians 6:12.

things present things to come Phrases in themselves quite exhaustive, whether or no they refer (as they may) to the present world and the future world respectively. He who holds His saints in His hand "is, and is to come."