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Romans 8:26-39
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St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
West Milwaukee, WI

• 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: NRSV, RSV, 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• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • 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, J.R. Daniel Kirk, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "Jesus holds in himself the eschatological destiny of humanity and the cosmos as a whole, a purpose envisioned and enacted by God, and one that began through the Spirit who not only raised Jesus but will also raise us up through his power."
  • "More than Conquerors: Romans 8:26-39 & Disability," Jaime Clark-Soles, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2014.
    • "How are people with disabilities integrated into your church? Are they "ministered with" or "ministered to"? Is the architecture of your church accessible to people who use wheelchairs?"
  • "Good Advice and Good News," Alyce M McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, 2014.
    • "When we are living into a difficult calling, we need to be able to discern the difference between good advice and good news."
  • "You belong to God," Dan Clendenin, Journey with Jesus, 2014.
    • "How could prayer be a key weapon in our ministry arsenals this week?"
  • *sigh*, Rick Morley, 2014.
  • "Paul," sermon discussion from Frederick Buechner, Frederick Buechner Blog.
    • "And how long was the whole great circus to last? Paul said, why, until we all become human beings at last, until we all 'come to maturity,' as he put it; and then, since there had been only one really human being since the world began, until we all make it to where we're like him, he said - 'to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ' (Ephesians 4:13). Christs to each other, Christs to God. All of us. Finally. It was just as easy, and just as hard, as that."
  • Commentary, Romans 8:26-39, Mary Hinkle Shore, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "Without the future hope, God's present involvement in the lives of the suffering might amount to little more than a feeble expression of the company that misery loves."
  • 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."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 7, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
    • "Paul stakes everything on God's goodness. That is also the heart of the gospel which he preaches."
  • 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."
  • "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."
  • "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."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Bartlett, David, "Preaching for Ordinary Time," Journal for Preachers, 2008. (Section on this text begins on page 46.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bertone, John, "The Experience of Glossolalia and the Spirit's Empathy: Romans 8:26 Revisited," Pneuma, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dillon, Richard J., "The Spirit as Taskmaster and Troublemaker in Romans 8," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Forbes, Chris, "Paul's Principalities and Powers: Demythologizing Apocalyptic?" Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hiebert, D. Edmond, "Romans 8:28-29 and the Assurance of the Believer," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Jaquette, James L., "Life and Death, ADIAPHORA, and Paul's Rhetorical Strategies," Novum Testamentum, 1996. (Section on this text begins on page 46.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lamborn, Amy Bentley, "Covenant Signs Abound," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Longacre, Robert E. and Wilber B. Wallis, "Soteriology and Eschatology in Romans," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • 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.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • 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.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Olson, Stanley N., "Romans 5-8 as Pastoral Theology," Word & World, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Powery, Emerson B., "The Groans of 'Brother Saul': An Exploratory Reading of Romans 8 for 'Survival'," Word & World, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • 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.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Schumacher, William K., "Homiletical Helps on LSB Series A - Epistles," (Romans 8:28-39 begins on page 120), Concordia Journal, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smith, Geoffrey, "The Function of 'Likewise' (OSAUTOS) in Romans 8:26," Tyndale Bulletin, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Talbert, Charles H., "Tracing Paul's Train of Thought in Romans 6-8," Review & Expositor, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tostengard, Sheldon, "Light in August," Word & World, 1987. (Section on this text begins on p 320)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wasserman, Emma, "Paul among the Philosophers: the Case of Sin in Romans 6-8," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wilton, Carlos, "What Cancer Teaches," Journal for Preachers, 2007. (Sermon)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "In God We Trust," the Rev. Dr. George B. Wirth, Day 1, 2005.
  • Proper 9, AKM Adam, Flesh and Bones, 2001. (Download is one long PDF file for book of sermons.)
  • "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.
  • "On Winning the Biggest Battle of Life," the Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts, Day 1, 2002.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," July 27, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Genesis 29:15-28 and The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett, Romans 8:26-39 and Nasreen's Secret School: a True Story from Afghanistan by Jeanette Winter, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 and The Jewel Box Ballerinas by Monique de Varennes.
  • "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:
  • “Come and Join the Celebration! ,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2010. This hymn celebrates Christian hope found in Easter with references to Romans 8. NETTLETON 8.7.8.7 D (“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”) and also ANN'S TUNE (Newly composed by Hal Hopson for this hymn).
  • Romans 8:32, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • 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

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