John Calvin 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)

He is now carried away into hyperbolic expressions, so that he might confirm us more fully in those things we are to experience. Whatever, he says, there is in life or in death that seems capable of tearing us away from God, will accomplish nothing; even the very angels, if they were to attempt to overturn this foundation, will do us no harm.

It is no objection that angels are ministering spirits, appointed for the salvation of the elect (Hebrews 1:14), for Paul reasons here about what is impossible, as he does in Galatians 1:8; and from this we may observe that all things should be considered worthless compared with the glory of God, since it is permissible to dishonor even angels in vindicating His truth.

Angels are also meant by principalities and powers, and they are so called because they are the primary instruments of the Divine power. These two words were added so that if the word 'angels' sounded too insignificant, something more might be expressed. Perhaps you would prefer this meaning: “Nor angels, and whatever powers there may be.” This is a way of speaking used when we refer to things unknown to us and exceeding our capacities.

Nor present things, nor future things, etc. Though he speaks hyperbolically, yet he declares that by no length of time can we be separated from the Lord’s favor. It was necessary to add this, for we not only have to struggle with the sorrow we feel from present evils, but also with the fear and anxiety with which impending dangers may harass us. The meaning then is that we should not fear that the continuance of evils, however long, might obliterate the faith of adoption.

This declaration is clearly against the schoolmen, who idly claim that no one is certain of final perseverance except through the gift of special revelation, which they claim is very rare. By such a dogma, the whole faith is destroyed, which is certainly nothing unless it extends to death and beyond death. But we, on the contrary, should feel confident that He who has begun a good work in us will carry it on until the day of the Lord Jesus.