Romans 8 30

Romans 8:30 kjv

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Romans 8:30 nkjv

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 8:30 niv

And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:30 esv

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:30 nlt

And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 30 Meaning

Romans 8:30 articulates an unbroken chain of God's saving work, an ordo salutis, spanning from eternity past to eternity future. It reveals God's continuous, unified, and purposeful activity in bringing individuals to salvation and ultimate glory. This "golden chain" outlines that those whom God foreknew and predestined, He then effectively calls; those He calls, He declares righteous; and those He justifies, He will surely glorify. It underscores the divine initiative and the absolute certainty of the believer's future glory, assured by God's eternal plan.

Romans 8 30 Context

Romans chapter 8 is a powerful and triumphant declaration of the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life, assuring salvation, hope, and freedom from condemnation. Following the struggle described in chapter 7, chapter 8 reveals the indwelling Spirit empowering believers to walk in newness of life, making them adopted children of God and heirs with Christ. It speaks of the present sufferings of this age in light of the coming glory, the groaning of creation, and the intercession of the Spirit on behalf of believers. Verses 28 and 29 build directly into verse 30, asserting God's providential working for the good of those who love Him, particularly for "those who are called according to his purpose." This leads to the divine sequence: "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son..." Romans 8:30, therefore, is the apex of Paul's argument concerning the absolute security and eternal certainty of salvation for God's chosen people, rooted deeply in His eternal decree and culminating in their full glorification. Historically, Paul addresses the believers in Rome, a church with a mix of Jewish and Gentile Christians, navigating questions of law, grace, sin, and their new identity in Christ within a pagan imperial city, often with a sense of being a distinct community amidst the dominant Roman polytheism and legalism.

Romans 8 30 Word analysis

• Moreover: Connects this verse as a continuation and further elaboration of the preceding thoughts, particularly Rom 8:28-29.
• whom he did predestinate (οὕς προώρισεν, hous proōrisen):
  • proōrisen (aorist active indicative of προορίζω, proorizō) means "to mark out beforehand, to determine in advance, to preordain."
  • This term refers to God's sovereign, eternal decision to choose individuals for salvation. It is not an arbitrary fate but a purposeful, loving determination rooted in His own character and wisdom. It signifies God's initiative from eternity, setting apart a people for Himself.
  • Significance: It underscores the divine sovereignty in salvation, directly linked to God's "foreknowledge" in Rom 8:29. This predetermination is "to be conformed to the image of His Son," establishing the purpose of predestination as spiritual transformation leading to glory.
• them he also called (τούτους καὶ ἐκάλεσεν, toutous kai ekalesen):
  • ekalesen (aorist active indicative of καλέω, kaleō) means "to call, summon, invite."
  • Here, "called" refers to an "effectual call" – not merely the general proclamation of the gospel (which may be heard by many) but an inward, Spirit-empowered summons that overcomes resistance and draws a person to Christ in faith and repentance. It is an internal work of grace, enabling the individual to respond positively.
  • Significance: This call is selective and effective, producing conversion. It's the practical application of God's predestinating purpose in time.
• and whom he called, them he also justified (καὶ οὕς ἐκάλεσεν, τούτους καὶ ἐδικαίωσεν, kai hous ekalesen, toutous kai edikaiōsen):
  • edikaiōsen (aorist active indicative of δικαιόω, dikaioō) means "to declare righteous, to pronounce righteous, to acquit."
  • Justification is a forensic (legal) declaration by God. Based on the atoning work of Christ, God pronounces believing sinners righteous in His sight. It's a change of status, not necessarily a change of internal character at this initial point (though sanctification follows). God imputes Christ's righteousness to the believer.
  • Significance: This highlights that all who are effectually called are simultaneously justified by grace through faith. There's no gap or possibility of failure in between. It addresses the legal standing before a holy God. Polemically, it stands against any idea of justification by works of the Law prevalent in some Jewish circles, emphasizing God's free grace.
• and whom he justified, them he also glorified (οὕς δὲ ἐδικαίωσεν, τούτους καὶ ἐδόξασεν, hous de edikaiōsen, toutous kai edoxasen):
  • edoxasen (aorist active indicative of δοξάζω, doxazō) means "to make glorious, to cause to be held in honor, to honor, to transform into glory."
  • This refers to the ultimate and complete transformation of believers into the perfect image of Christ, encompassing spiritual perfection, resurrection bodies, and reigning with Him in His glory. It signifies sharing fully in Christ's honor and radiance.
  • Significance: The use of the aorist (past) tense for "glorified" is a profound rhetorical device called a "proleptic aorist" or "aorist of prophetic certainty." It speaks of a future event (final glorification) as if it has already occurred, emphasizing its absolute certainty and completion from God's eternal perspective. This gives immense assurance to the believer regarding the fulfillment of their salvation.

Words-group analysis

• "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.": This forms a "golden chain of salvation," often referred to as the ordo salutis. The phrase "whom he did... them he also..." underscores the unbreakable link and seamless flow between each divine act. The verbs demonstrate the comprehensive, unbroken, and guaranteed nature of God's saving work from its eternal initiation to its final consummation. Each preceding action inevitably leads to the next, with no breaks or losses along the way for those encompassed in God's eternal purpose. The emphasis is on God's singular, unified purpose and His unchangeable decree, securing the believer's destiny from start to finish.

Romans 8 30 Bonus section

The ordo salutis presented in Romans 8:29-30 is not necessarily a temporal sequence from an individual's conscious experience, especially regarding foreknowledge/predestination and calling/justification. Instead, it reflects the logical progression and divine causality of God's redemptive plan. The divine progression underscores God’s complete sovereignty in salvation, highlighting that He is the author and perfecter of faith, and that His work is unwavering and without fail. It is a powerful foundation for the assurance of salvation, affirming that a believer’s hope rests not on their fluctuating merit or strength but on God’s unchanging purpose and power. This provides a deep well of confidence for living the Christian life, knowing that God will complete the work He started (Phil 1:6).

Romans 8 30 Commentary

Romans 8:30 provides the unbreakable sequence of salvation, starting from God's eternal decree to the believer's final glorification. This isn't merely a logical ordering but a statement of divine certainty and effectual purpose. Those God predetermined for salvation, He effectively draws to Himself through an inner calling. This internal call then results in their justification – a declaration of righteousness through faith in Christ. Crucially, all those thus justified are also inevitably glorified. The use of the past tense for glorification, a future event, powerfully conveys God's unassailable commitment and the absolute guarantee of this ultimate end. This chain of grace assures believers that God’s redemptive work, once begun, will certainly be brought to completion, securing their eternal destiny in glory.