Thomas Aquinas Commentary Romans 8:33-39

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God`s elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 8:33-39 (ASV)

1. After showing that the holy people God advances can suffer no loss from the evil of punishment, the Apostle now shows that they can suffer no loss from the evil of guilt.
   1. First, he presents his proposition.
   2. Second, he excludes an opposing view, at Christ Jesus.
2. Regarding the first point, it should be noted that a person suffers injury from guilt from two sources: first, from an accusation, and second, from the judge who condemns.

   First, therefore, he shows that no accusation can harm God’s holy people, and this is because of divine election. For whoever chooses a person seems, by that very fact, to approve of them. But the saints are chosen by God: he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy (Ephesians 1:4). On the other hand, whoever accuses, disapproves of the one accused. Therefore he says, who will accuse—that is, successfully—against the elect, meaning, against those God has chosen to be saints? Hence it is said, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down (Revelation 12:10).

3. Second, he shows that no condemnation can be harmful to the saints.

   He shows this by referring to another of God’s benefits, namely, that God justifies us. This benefit is mentioned when he says, God is he who justifies, in keeping with what he had said above: and whom he called, them he also justified (Romans 8:30); you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11).

   But condemnation is reserved for the unjust. Who is he who will condemn those justified by God? When he is quiet, who can condemn? (Job 34:29).

4. Then he excludes an opposing view. Someone could fear that a person might be accused by Jesus Christ as a violator of Christ’s commandment, just as the Lord says of Moses: it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope (John 5:45). They might also fear being condemned by him, for he is the one ordained by God to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). Furthermore, he is immune to sin—who did no sin (1 Peter 2:22)—and consequently, he seems qualified to accuse and condemn, as it says in John: let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7).

   And so he says, Christ Jesus. It is as if to say: Will Christ Jesus make accusations against God’s elect or even condemn them? And he says this is not so, because even according to his human nature, he confers great benefits on the saints, just as he also does according to his divinity.

5. Then he mentions four benefits from his humanity.
   1. First, from his death, when he says, who died, namely, for our salvation: for Christ also died for sins once for all (1 Peter 3:18).
   2. Second, from his resurrection, through which he enlivens us both with spiritual life now and with bodily life later. Hence he adds, who is risen also again, as it says above: he rose for the sake of our justification (Romans 4:25). He says, yea, because it is preferable to remember him now for the power of his resurrection rather than for the weakness of his passion: he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God (2 Corinthians 13:4).
   3. Third, from his session with the Father, when he says: who is at the right hand of God, that is, equal to God the Father according to the divine nature and recipient of his choicest blessings according to his human nature. And this is also for our glory because, as it is said, he made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). For since we are his members, in him we sit with God the Father: he who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne (Revelation 3:21).
   4. Fourth, from his intercession, when he says, who also intercedes for us as our advocate: we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). But an advocate’s duty is not to accuse or condemn, but to repel an accuser and prevent condemnation.
6. Christ is said to intercede for us in two ways.
   • In one way, by praying for us, as it says in John: I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word (John 17:20). But now his intercession for us is his will that we be saved: Father, I desire that they also may be with me where I am (John 17:24).
   • In another way, he intercedes by presenting to his Father’s gaze the human nature he assumed for us and the mysteries accomplished in it: he entered into heaven itself to appear in the presence of God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24).
7. Then he draws his conclusion, when he says, who then shall separate us. But because this conclusion might not seem credible to the inexperienced, he presents it in the form of a question. Hence he does three things:
   1. First, he presents the question.
   2. Second, he shows the need for this question, at as it is written.
   3. Third, he presents the solution, at but in all these things.
8. This question can be derived in two ways from the preceding arguments.
   • One way is this: So many and such powerful benefits have been conferred on us by God that no one can count them. Furthermore, they all lead to one thing, namely, that we be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17). Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ, that is, the love by which we love Christ and neighbor as he commanded: a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another (John 13:34).
   • Another way is this: God bestows great benefits on his holy people, and when we consider them, such love for Christ burns in our hearts that nothing can quench it: many waters cannot quench love (Song of Solomon 8:7).
9. He mentions the evils which might induce someone to abandon love for Christ.

   First, he mentions those that relate to life; second, the one which relates to death.

   Regarding those which threaten us in the course of our lives, he mentions present evils and future evils. Regarding present evils, he mentions evils to be endured and, second, the loss of good things.

   Evils to be endured can be considered in two ways.

   • In one way, as they are present in the sufferer, who is afflicted by them in two ways. First, externally in the body; hence he says, tribulation. This word is related to tribulus, a prickly herb: thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you (Genesis 3:18). But the just are not overcome by them: many are the tribulations of the just, and the Lord frees them from all of these (Psalms 34:19). A person is also afflicted by them internally in the form of mental anxiety, when they do not know where to go or which way to turn. In regard to this he says, or distress: I am hemmed in on every side, and I do not know what to choose (Daniel 13:21).
   • In another way, such evils can be considered as they are present in the one inflicting them. In this respect he says, or persecution, for although persecution in the strict sense would imply pursuit of someone to make them flee—if they persecute you in one city, flee to another (Matthew 10:23)—yet in a general sense it can mean the infliction of any injury: Many are they that persecute me and afflict me (Psalms 119:157).

   Then he mentions the evils which consist in the removal of good things necessary for life, namely, food and clothing: if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (1 Timothy 6:8). In regard to the removal of food he says, or famine; of clothing, or nakedness: to the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad (1 Corinthians 4:11).

   Regarding future evils he adds, or danger, threatening at any moment: in danger from rivers, danger from robbers (2 Corinthians 11:26).

   Regarding death he says, or the sword: they were killed with the sword (Hebrews 11:37).

10. Then when he says, as it is written, he shows the importance of this question, since he says that all these things are ready to be suffered by the saints for the love of Christ. He quotes the words of the Psalmist as though spoken by the martyrs. These words mention:
    1. First of all, the cause of the suffering, for, as Augustine says, "it is not the suffering but the cause that makes the martyr." Hence he says, for your sake: he who loses his life for my sake shall find it (Matthew 10:39); let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed (1 Peter 4:15). One suffers for Christ by suffering not only for the faith of Christ but for any just deed done for the love of Christ: blessed are those who are persecuted for justice’s sake (Matthew 5:10).
    2. Second, he mentions the severity of the suffering when he says: we are put to death, that is, handed over to death: for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed (Esther 7:4).
    3. Third, the duration of the persecution when he says, all the day long, that is, during the whole period of life: while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 4:11).
    4. Fourth, the persecutor’s readiness to kill, when he says, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, that is, marked to be killed in the meat market. So, too, the saints are intentionally killed: the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God (John 16:2); feed the flock doomed to slaughter (Zechariah 11:4).
11. Then he answers the question, at but in all these things.
    1. First, he gives the answer, saying, but in all these things, namely, the evils mentioned above, we are victorious, as long as we preserve our love undefiled: in his arduous contest she gave him the victory .
    2. But we do not succeed by our own strength but through Christ’s help; hence he adds, because of him who has loved us, that is, on account of his help or on account of the affection we have for him. Not as though we first loved him, but because he first loved us (1 John 4:19); thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).
12. Second, he clarifies the answer, showing that the saints’ love is inseparable, at for I am sure.
    1. First, he shows that it cannot be separated by creatures that exist.
    2. Second, nor by creatures that do not exist but could, at nor any other creature.
13. In regard to the first point, he does two things. First, he mentions things that exist within a person, saying, I am sure that neither death, which is the first among things we fear, nor life, which is first among things we desire, will be able to separate us from the love of God: if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord (Romans 14:8).

    In these two are included all the ones previously mentioned. For six evils previously mentioned relate to life, but one, namely, the sword, relates to death, as was said above.

14. Then he mentions things outside of man. Among these are, first, spiritual creatures; hence he says: nor angels, that is, the lower ones assigned to guard individual people: he will give his angels charge of you (Psalms 91:11). Nor principalities, that is, those assigned to guard nations: now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come. And there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael (Daniel 10:20). He adds, nor powers, which is the highest order of ministering angels: the powers of heaven will be shaken (Luke 21:26).

    This can be understood in two ways. In one way, it refers to wicked angels, who struggle against the saints: our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). In another way, it can refer to the good angels. Here Chrysostom, in his book On Compunction of Heart, says that the Apostle said this not because the angels would at some time try to separate him from Christ. Rather, it would be more possible, so to speak, for these impossible things to happen than for him to be separated from the love of Christ.

    He speaks this way to show how great the strength of divine love is in him, and to lay everything out in the open. For this is the way of lovers: they cannot hide their love in silence but assert and bare it to their friends and to the beloved, and they cannot confine the flames within their heart. They speak of them frequently, so that by constantly recounting their love they may gain some relief, some cooling of the tremendous burning within them. In just this way, blessed Paul here acts as an outstanding lover of Christ: he gathers up in one sentence all things that are and that were, everything that can be and even those that cannot. It is similar to what is said in Galatians: but even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach to you another gospel than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8).

15. Then he mentions visible creatures, and he makes two distinctions.
    1. First, according to time, by which they are distinguished as present and future. Hence he says, nor things present, whether they cause pain or pleasure: we look not to the things that are seen (2 Corinthians 4:18). Then he adds, nor things to come. Whether we fear them or desire them, they cannot separate us from the love of Christ. Hence it is said: for I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13).
16. Then he distinguishes tangible creatures on the basis of magnitude. First, he touches on magnitude of power, when he says, nor might, that is, no powerful creature, such as a raging fire or sea, can separate me from the love of Christ, because love is as strong as death (Song of Solomon 8:6).
17. Second, he mentions magnitude of dimension, describing them by what properly belongs to physical objects, namely height and depth. Hence he says, nor height, from which someone might threaten to cast me headlong, as in Luke: they led Jesus to the brow of the hill, that they might throw him down headlong (Luke 4:29); nor depth, in which someone might submerge me: I sink in deep mire (Psalms 69:2).

    These three things can also be referred to the ways a person could turn someone away from God. In one way, by the force of might; but as it is said, no one is strong as our God (1 Samuel 2:2). Second, by the lofty height of one’s authority; but God is the highest of the kings of the earth (Psalms 89:27). Third, by the depth of one’s wisdom; but God’s knowledge is deeper: deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Job 11:8).

18. These two, height and depth, can be referred to adversity and prosperity: with the weapons of justice for the right and for the left (2 Corinthians 6:7). Or, according to Chrysostom, who says in the book On Compunction of Heart: "height and depth seem to me to signify nothing other than the kingdom of heaven and Gehenna." It is as if he is saying: I should not fear this, even if it were necessary for me to fall away from the kingdom or be dragged into Gehenna for Christ's sake.
19. With regard to creatures that do not exist but could, he says, nor any other creature. According to Chrysostom, he says this about the things that are not, as though all things that exist do not suffice, but he must, so to speak, challenge to battle even the things that are not.

    None of them, he says, will be able to separate us from the love of God: love never falls away (1 Corinthians 13:8). This love of God is in Christ Jesus our Lord, because it was given to us through him, since he gave it to us through the Holy Spirit: I have come to cast fire on the earth and what more do I want than for it to be kindled? (Luke 12:49).

20. But since it says in Ecclesiastes, a man does not know whether he is worthy of love or hatred, but all things are kept uncertain (Ecclesiastes 9:1), why does the Apostle say he is certain that nothing can separate him from the love of God?

    One can answer that the Apostle is not speaking of himself personally but is speaking for all the predestined, about whom he declares that nothing can separate them from the love of God because of the certainty of predestination. This certainty can be understood through the power of charity, which, by its very nature, cannot be separated from certain people, since it is love for God above all things. Hence if a person falls away from love, it is not on account of a shortcoming in this virtue but on account of a defect in one’s free choice.

    But if Paul is speaking for himself, he could be certain of it only by a revelation, because it was said to him: my grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). For as to the outcome of free choice he says elsewhere: lest while speaking to others, I myself become a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).