Romans 8:33
in Romans 8Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth;
KJV
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
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This verse in Romans 8
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; who is he that condemns? It is Christ Jesus who died, yes rather, who rose again, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us." It seems to me that when he says, "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" he is speaking of the devil.
This site's exposition
It is God who justifies
on Romans 8:33-34
A courtroom is set with no prosecutor able to stand, and the judge has already declared the verdict. Verse 34 stacks four facts about Christ as the defense: He died, He was raised, He sits at God's right hand and intercedes.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
It is clear that nobody would dare or be able to override the judgment and foreknowledge of God. For who could reject what God has approved, given that nobody is equal to God?
Paul says that we cannot accuse God, because he justifies us, nor can we condemn Christ, because he loved us to the point of dying for us and rising again to intercede for us with the Father. Christ's prayers on our behalf are not to …
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" Here he is against those who say, that faith is no profit, and will not believe the complete change. And see how swiftly he stops their mouths, by the worthiness of Him that elected. He does not say, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's" servants? or of God's faithful ones? but "of God's elect?" And election is a sign of virtue. For if when a horse-breaker has selected colts fit for the race, no one can find fault with them, but he would get laughed at who should find fault; much more when God selecteth souls are they that "lay any charge against" them deserving of laughter. "It is God that justifieth." He does not say, it is God that forgave our sins, but what is much greater, "It is God that justifieth." For when the Judge's sentence declares us just, and a Judge such as that too, what signifieth the accuser? Hence neither is it right to fear temptations, for God is for us, and hath shown it by what He hath done; nor again Jewish triflings, for He has both elected and justified us, and the wondrous thing is that it was also by the death of His Son that He did so.
The Medieval Church2 voices
After showing that the holy ones God advances can suffer no loss, as though from the evil of punishment, the Apostle now shows that they can suffer no loss as though from the evil of guilt. First, he presents his proposition; second, he excludes an …
Since believers encountered from the Jews, among other trials, also the reproach that they had easily changed and instantly converted to Christianity, he says: God has chosen you, so who shall bring a charge against God's chosen ones? If a human craftsman selects something, no …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And as the separating the Christians from the Jews was a like event, no wonder it was expressed in like words and phrases only with this difference, the term elect was of old applied to all the members of the visible church; whereas in the New Testament it is applied only to the members of the invisible.
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Who shall lay anything to the charge - This expression is taken from courts of law, and means, who shall accuse, or condemn, or so charge with crime before the tribunal of God as to cause their condemnation? God’s elect - His chosen people. Those who have been chosen according to his eternal purpose; Note, Rom 8:28. As they are the chosen of God, they are dear to him; and as he purposed to save them, he will do it in such a way as that none can bring against them a charge that would condemn them.
This and the two following verses contain a string of questions, most appropriately introduced and most powerfully urged, tending to show the safety of the state of those who have believed the Gospel of the grace of God. I shall lay these verses down as they are pointed by the best Greek critics: - “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? - God who justifieth? Who is he that condemneth? - Christ who died? or, rather, who is risen again? He, who is at the right hand of God? He, who maketh intercession for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? - Tribulation? or distress? or persecution? or famine? or nakedness? or peril? or sword?” In all these questions the apostle intimates that if neither God nor Christ would bring any charge against them who love him, none else could. And as God justifies through Christ who died, consequently no charge can lie against these persons, as God alone could produce any; and He, so far from doing this, has justified them - freely forgiven their trespasses. For the proper meaning and sense of the terms chosen, elect, called, etc., etc., see the discourse prefixed to this epistle; and especially Section 6, p. 19, etc., and Section 7, p. 23, etc.
Modern Voices1 voice
It is the elect who enjoy the guarantee of this inseparable love.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τίς | tis | Who | G5101 → | 563 times |
| ἐγκαλέσει | egkalesei | will bring an accusation | G1458 → | |
| κατὰ | kata | against | G2596 → | 468 times |
| ἐκλεκτῶν | eklekton | [the] elect | G1588 → | |
| θεοῦ; | theou | of God? | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God [is] | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ὁ | ho | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δικαιῶν· | dikaion | is justifying; | G1344 → | 38 times |
ΤίςWho
tisG5101 →563 times
ἐγκαλέσειwill bring an accusation
egkaleseiG1458 →
κατὰagainst
kataG2596 →468 times
ἐκλεκτῶν[the] elect
eklektonG1588 →
θεοῦ;of God?
theouG2316 →1312 times
θεὸςGod [is]
theosG2316 →1312 times
ὁwho
hoG3588 →19766 times
δικαιῶν·is justifying;
dikaionG1344 →38 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
it leads to
- John 3:18–19
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
- Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- John 3:18–19
Through
Isaiah 54:17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the…
it leads to
- Romans 8:28–39
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Isaiah 54:15
If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.
- John 10:28–30
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
- Isaiah 50:8
The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!
- Romans 8:28–39
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies43
On this verse
On this chapter
- Abba, Father
- The God Who Gets Named
- The Binding of Isaac
- The Bronze Serpent
- Creation to New Creation
- Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews
Show the next 6 titles
- Firstfruits
- The Fruit of the Spirit
- Gethsemane (The Garden Called the Oil Press)
- The Goodness of God and the Problem of Evil
- In All Circumstances
- Hebel: the word the Berean text renders futility
Show the next 6 titles
- Hope That Does Not Disappoint
- How Scripture Shapes Christian Ethics
- How to Study the Bible
- Jesus on the Father
- Led by the Spirit
- Love
Show the next 6 titles
About Romans
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 15; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; R. C. Sproul, The Inseparable Love of God; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.