Romans 8:26-39

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Adult Lectionary Class at
St Peter's Lutheran Church,
Stafford, Virginia
(Jan 07-08)

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
    • "Help and Deliverance"
    • "The Living Presence" 
    • "Predestination" 
    • "Persecution and Martyrdom" 
  • Chapter VIII, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110). (Longer Version - 4th cent interpolation)
  • II.XXII.2, III.XVI.9, IV.XVI.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • III.3, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • IV.7, IV.14, VII.7, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Concerning Flight in Persecution (paragraph 12) Tertullian (c. 212)
  • Chapter XXX, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • Chapter VII, Chapter XIII, Scorpiace,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • Chapter III, On Monogamy, Tertullian (c. 215)
  • III.I.12, III.II.5, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • II.22, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • I.Preface.3, 4, VIII.XLIII, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)
  • XII.29, XIII.8, XIII.9, XIII.27, XIII.29, XIV.17, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • Epistle VII -- Epistle XXV -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • Chapter XV, Historia Calamitatusm: The Story of My Misfortunes, Pierre Abélard / Peter Abelard, c. 1140.
  • From Martin Luther's Bible Commentary (1545).
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "...we are not afflicted, either by chance or to our harm, but by God's providence for our great profit: who as he chose us from the beginning, so has he predestined us to be made similar to the image of his Son: and therefore will bring us in his time, being called and justified, to glory, by the cross."
  • How the Spirit Enables Us to Pray, Thomas Boston (Puritan, c 1700)
    • "Let no man think that a readiness and flowing of expression in prayer, is always the effect of the Spirit's assistance."
  • What is that Good that All Things Shall Work For?, Ralph Erskine, 1730.
    • "In a word, as there would be no end of speaking of all things that work together for good to them; so, there is no end of speaking of all the good which all things work in their behalf."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Every providence tends to the spiritual good of those that love God; in breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, and fitting them for heaven."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "...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."
  • Sermons by John Wesley.
    • On Predestination (Rom 8:29-30)
      • "The sum of all is this: the almighty, all-wise God sees and knows, from everlasting to everlasting, all that is, that was, and that is to come, through one eternal now."
    • Free Grace (Rom 8:32)
      • "That assurance of faith which these enjoy excludes all doubt and fear, It excludes all kinds of doubt and fear concerning their future perseverance; though it is not properly, as was said before, an assurance of what is future, but only of what now is."
  • Effectual Calling, Thomas White.
    • "Make the best use you can of the means of grace."
  • "Predestination and Calling," Romans 8:30, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1859.
    • "He hath not published the page whereon the actual names of the redeemed are written; but that page of the sacred decree whereon their character is recorded is published in his Word, and shall be proclaimed to thee this day."
  • "The Believer's Challenge," Romans 8:34, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1859.
    • "We have before us in the text the four marvellous pillars upon which the Christian rests his hope."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "As prayer is the breath of the spiritual life, and the believer's only effectual relief under the "infirmity" which attaches to his whole condition here below, how cheering is it to be assured that the blessed Spirit, cognizant of it all, comes in aid of it all."
  • "The Holy Spirit's Intercession," Romans 8:26, 27, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1880.
    • "When Paul had alluded to that consoling subject he turned to the next ground of comfort—namely, that we are to be sustained under present trial by hope."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "God's great love for us is all shown through Christ. Nowhere has Paul shown more exultation, more overflowing emotion, than in this close of a profound argument, which shows the complete and full salvation of those who believe upon Christ and are found in him."
  • "A Challenge and a Shield," Romans 8:34, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1892.
    • "'Ah!' says the accuser, but you are still sinful. What if Christ died for all your past sins? What about your present sinfulness?'"
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:

  	Commentary, Romans 8:26-39, Paul S. Berge, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008. "Placed as the climactic words within the first eight chapters of Romans, these verses assure and announce one of the finest and most profound expressions of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
  	"When I Can't Pray," Blogging toward Sunday, Trygve David Johnson, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2008. "When I can’t pray I often turn to the end of Romans 8. Here Paul pulls back the velvet curtain of revelation. What we see is amazing: a never-ending festivity where there sounds a strained, melodious, mysterious prayer that all the suffering in this present world cannot drown out."
  	"First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 11, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia. "Paul stakes everything on God's goodness. That is also the heart of the gospel which he preaches."
  	Commentary, Romans 8:35-39, Angela R. Cowser, The African American Lectionary, 2008. "No matter the situation or struggle, God has the last word, and that word is always 'love.'"
  	"Our Deepest Prayer," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Prayer," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2009.
  	"Inseparable Love," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation. "The epistle for this week contains Paul's famously debated comments about God's election, foreknowledge, calling, and predestination. But instead of theological speculation about who is excluded by these mysteries, his clear interest is pastoral consolation about who is included in God's love."
  	Those Called According to His Purpose/More Than Conquerors, Light in August: Romans 8:18-39, Sheldon Tostengard, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1987.
  	"The Power of God's Love," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. "What gets in the way of God’s love for you? How can you put these things aside?"
  	Reflection on Romans 8:35-39, Rev. Wanda Copeland. At Environmental Reflections, Lectionary Year A, Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, Environmental Stewardship Commission. "And nothing can separate us from the love that all of creation receives from Jesus.  Simultaneously, nothing can separate us from the pain of creation as it is being destroyed."
  	"The Future Glory," "God Did Not Spare His Own Son," "The Love of God," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  	"From Groaning to Glory (Romans 8:18-27)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation. "As strange as it may sound, groaning characterizes the life of the Spirit-filled Christian."
  	"A Solace in Suffering: The Sovereignty of God (Romans 8:28)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation. "God exercises His sovereignty toward the Christian in such a way that everything that touches our lives has been allowed or brought about by Him."
  	"God's Eternal Decree (Romans 8:29)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation. "There is no limit to His power, and nothing is beyond His ability to control. We refer to this unlimited control as the sovereignty of God. When we say that God is sovereign we are saying He is in complete control."
  	"The Glory of God (Romans 8:30)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation. "If we view God’s glory as the highest good, our highest good, then we will not seek any lesser glory."
  	"Comforting Questions (Romans 8:31-39)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation. "Paul’s conclusion reminds us that biblical revelation requires a response."
  	"Principles of Christian Suffering (Outline)," Thomas F. Fischer, Ministry Health.

• Articles & Background:
  • "Romans 5-8 as Pastoral Theology," Stanley N. Olson, Word & World, 1986.
    • "The unity and functions of the exhortation and assurance in Romans 5-8 are clarified when the section is understood as pastoral theology."
  • "Soteriology and Eschatology in Romans," Robert E Longacre & Wilber B Wallis, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1998.
    • "At all events we approach this epistle not simply as an object of analysis but as a book meant to exercise a regulative and inspirational effect upon us."
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  • Bartlett, David, "Preaching for Ordinary Time," Journal for Preachers, 2008. (Section on this text begins on page 46.)
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  • Bertone, John, "The Experience of Glossolalia and the Spirit's Empathy: Romans 8:26 Revisited," Pneuma, 2003.
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  • Dillon, Richard J., "The Spirit as Taskmaster and Troublemaker in Romans 8," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1998.
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  • Forbes, Chris, "Paul's Principalities and Powers: Demythologizing Apocalyptic?" Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2001.
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  • Hiebert, D. Edmond, "Romans 8:28-29 and the Assurance of the Believer," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1991.
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  • Jaquette, James L., "Life and Death, ADIAPHORA, and Paul's Rhetorical Strategies," Novum Testamentum, 1996. (Section on this text begins on page 46.)
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  • Lamborn, Amy Bentley, "Covenant Signs Abound," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
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  • Longacre, Robert E. and Wilber B. Wallis, "Soteriology and Eschatology in Romans," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1998.
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  • Lowry, James S., "Dancing on the Distant Shore of Chaos, Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18, 20-21; Romans 8:31-35, 36-39," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
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  • Neyrey, Jerome H., S.J., "God, Benefactor and Patron: The Major Cultural Model for Interpreting the Deity in Greco-Roman Antiquity," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2005.
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  • Olson, Stanley N., "Romans 5-8 as Pastoral Theology," Word & World, 1986.
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  • Powery, Emerson B., "The Groans of 'Brother Saul': An Exploratory Reading of Romans 8 for 'Survival'," Word & World, 2004.
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  • Ross, J.M., "Further Unnoticed Points in the Text of the New Testament," Novum Testamentum, 2003. (Section on Romans 8:28 begins on page 217.)
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  • Schumacher, William K., "Homiletical Helps on LSB Series A - Epistles," (Romans 8:28-39 begins on page 120), Concordia Journal, 2008.
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  • Smith, Geoffrey, "The Function of 'Likewise' (OSAUTOS) in Romans 8:26," Tyndale Bulletin, 1998.
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  • Talbert, Charles H., "Tracing Paul's Train of Thought in Romans 6-8," Review & Expositor, 2003.
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  • Tostengard, Sheldon, "Light in August," Word & World, 1987. (Section on this text begins on p 320)
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  • Wasserman, Emma, "Paul among the Philosophers: the Case of Sin in Romans 6-8," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2008.
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  • Wilton, Carlos, "What Cancer Teaches," Journal for Preachers, 2007. (Sermon)
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• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Wild Hope," the Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2006.
  • "The Witness of the Spirit to the Spirit," Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955. At Religion Online.
  • "Principalities and Powers," (Romans 8:38-39), Paul Tillich. From The New Being (1955), at Religion OnLine.
  • "The Paradox of Prayer," (Romans 8:26-27), Paul Tillich. From The New Being (1955), at Religion OnLine.
  • "The Meaning of Providence," Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955. At Religion Online.
  • "In God We Trust," the Rev. Dr. George B. Wirth, Day 1, 2005.
  • "Christ's Spirit and Eternal Bonding," "Predestination," from a series of sermons on the book of Romans by Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Washington.
  • "More than Conquerors," the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Reaves, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2002.
  • Requiem, the Rev. Dr. A.K.M. Adam, Flesh and Bones, 2001. (Entire book of sermons is one long PDF file. Slow connections will require long download times.)
  • "Overcoming Worry," John Jewell, 1999.
  • "On Winning the Biggest Battle of Life," the Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts, Day 1, 2002.
  • "Faith to Rid You of Your Fears," Dr. Arthur Caliandro, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1997.
  • "The Patience of Unanswered Prayer," Dr. J. Philip Wogaman, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1997.
  • "Every Penny Counts," Dr. Nancy Hardesty, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1993.
  • "The Wisdom of the Body," Dr. Paul Brand, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1990.
• With Children:
  • "The Strongest Love," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • Romans 8:28, Romans 8:38-39, memory verse activity, MSSS Crafts and Resources for Bible Stories.
• Drama:
  • "The Question," Cameron Smith, dramatix.
  • "Compromise Your Integrity," Andrew Jefferson and Christina Wilson, dramatix.
  • "Is That Your Final Answer?" Denise Peterson, dramatix.
  • "A Time to Die," Joanne Miller, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Romans 8:32, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Romans 8:27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • I've Found a Friend
  • "Long Have I Suffered," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Romans