Romans 8:28-39

Conclusion of the argument: the Apostle glories in the assurance of God's eternal and unchangeable love in Jesus Christ.

οἴδαμεν δὲ = further, we know: in a sense this is one ground more for believing in the glorious future: God is ever with us, and will not abandon us at last. πάντα συνεργεῖ (ὁ θεός): συνεργεῖ is naturally neuter, and if ὁ θεός is the true reading, it is probably best to render “God co-operates for good in all things (πάντα accus. of ref as in 1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Corinthians 10:33) with those,” etc. τοῖς ἀγαπ. τὸν θεὸν describes the persons in question from the human side; τοῖς κατὰ πρόθεσιν κλητοῖς οὖσιν describes them from the Divine side. It is in pursuance of a purpose of God (for πρόθεσις with reference to the eternal purpose of redemption, see Romans 9:11; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 3:11; 2 Timothy 1:9) that they are called. “Calling” in Paul never means “invitation”; it is always “effectual calling”.