Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 8:38

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers," — Romans 8:38 (ASV)

Here Paul bursts into a magnificent piece of eloquence. This passage, like 1 Corinthians 3:21–23, is notable for largeness of conception and majesty of expression: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (v.37). That is, we win the supreme victory through Christ, who loved us. By saying “loved us,” Paul does not intend to restrict Christ’s love to the past; he rather is emphasizing the historic demonstration of this love that gives assurance of its continuance under all circumstances. “Death” cannot separate the believer from that love (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8), nor can “life,” with all its allurements and dangers and trials.

Surprisingly, Paul includes “angels” here (v.38). Since he uses other terms for hostile supernatural powers, the angels should be understood as good ones. Perhaps he means that no angel will ever seek to come between Christ’s love and the object of that love. “Demons” are evil spirits, such as those often mentioned in the Gospels. Being agents and underlings of the devil, they would delight to separate Christians from Christ, but they cannot do so.

Time is equally powerless to do this, whether it be “the present” with its temptations and sufferings or “the future” with its uncertainties. “Powers” probably refers to hostile spiritual intelligences who, though conquered by Christ (Ephesians 1:21), are nevertheless permitted to carry on spiritual warfare against the saints of God (Ephesians 6:12).

Nor can space come between us and the love of Christ (v.39). If there are other possibilities, Paul is sure they are all equally impotent. For he declares that there is nothing in all creation that can drive a wedge between the love of the Savior and his redeemed people. After all, the creation itself is his handiwork and cannot thwart the will of the Creator. God is love, and that love has been manifested in the redemption of humankind.