ROM 8:38 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor governments, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

UST In fact, God has persuaded me that none of these things—whether being dead, or what happens while we are alive, or angels, or demons who rule, or things that are happening to us, or things that will happen to us, or powerful demons,

8:38 CT neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers

BLB For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

AICNT For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither present nor future, nor powers,

OEB For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor archangels, nor the present, nor the future, nor any powers,

WEBBE For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(31-39)So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

NET For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers,

LSV for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor messengers, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,

FBV I'm absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor devils, neither the present nor the future, nor powers,

TCNT For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor [fn]powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

8:38 powers, nor things present, nor things to come ¦ things present, nor things to come, nor powers CT

T4T I am absolutely certain that neither being dead (OR, being killed), nor what happens to us while we live, nor angels, nor demons, nor present events, nor future events, nor powerful beings/forces,

LEB For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

BBE For I am certain that not death, or life, or angels, or rulers, or things present, or things to come, or powers,

Moff For I am certain neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future,

Wymth For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither the lower ranks of evil angels nor the higher, neither things present nor things future, nor the forces of nature,

ASV For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

DRA For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,

YLT for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor messengers, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,

Drby For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

RV For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

SLT For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor beginnings, nor powers, nor things having stood, nor things about to be,

Wbstr For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

KJB-1769 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

KJB-1611 For I am perswaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps For I am sure, that neither death, neither lyfe, neither angels, nor rule, neither power, neither thynges present, neither thynges to come,
(For I am sure, that neither death, neither life, neither angels, nor rule, neither power, neither things present, neither things to come,)

Gnva For I am perswaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, )

Cvdl For sure I am, that nether death ner life, nether angell, ner rule, nether power, nether thinges present, nether thinges to come,
(For sure I am, that neither death nor life, neither angel, nor rule, neither power, neither things present, neither things to come,)

TNT Ye and I am sure that nether deeth nether lyfe nether angels nor rule nether power nether thinges present nether thinges to come
(Ye/You_all and I am sure that neither death neither life neither angels nor rule neither power neither things present neither things to come )

Wycl But Y am certeyn, that nethir deeth, nether lijf, nether aungels, nethir principatus, nether vertues, nether present thingis, nether thingis to comynge, nether strengthe,
(But I am certain, that neither death, neither life, neither angels, neither principatus, neither virtues, neither present things, neither things to coming, neither strength,)

Luth Denn ich bin gewiß, daß weder Tod noch Leben, weder Engel noch Fürstentum noch Gewalt, weder Gegenwärtiges noch Zukünftiges,
(Because I am certainly, that neither Tod still life, neither angel still prince(s)/ruler(s)tum still violence, neither Gegenwärtiges still Zukünftiges,)

ClVg Certus sum enim quia neque mors, neque vita, neque angeli, neque principatus, neque virtutes, neque instantia, neque futura, neque fortitudo,[fn]
(Certus I_am because because nor death, nor life, nor messengers/angels, nor principality, nor by_virtues, nor instantia, nor the_future, nor strength, )

8.38 Neque angeli, neque principes, neque virtutes. Hi ordines accipiuntur de malis angelis, et de bonis si fieri posset.

8.38 Neither messengers/angels, nor leaders, nor by_virtues. They in_orders are_accepted from/about bad_things to/by/with_the_messengers/angels, and from/about good when/but_if to_be_done could.

UGNT πέπεισμαι γὰρ ὅτι οὔτε θάνατος, οὔτε ζωὴ, οὔτε ἄγγελοι, οὔτε ἀρχαὶ, οὔτε ἐνεστῶτα, οὔτε μέλλοντα, οὔτε δυνάμεις,
(pepeismai gar hoti oute thanatos, oute zōaʸ, oute angeloi, oute arⱪai, oute enestōta, oute mellonta, oute dunameis,)

SBL-GNT πέπεισμαι γὰρ ὅτι οὔτε θάνατος οὔτε ζωὴ οὔτε ἄγγελοι οὔτε ἀρχαὶ οὔτε ⸂ἐνεστῶτα οὔτε μέλλοντα οὔτε δυνάμεις⸃
(pepeismai gar hoti oute thanatos oute zōaʸ oute angeloi oute arⱪai oute ⸂enestōta oute mellonta oute dunameis⸃)

RP-GNT Πέπεισμαι γὰρ ὅτι οὔτε θάνατος οὔτε ζωὴ οὔτε ἄγγελοι οὔτε ἀρχαὶ οὔτε δυνάμεις οὔτε ἐνεστῶτα οὔτε μέλλοντα
(Pepeismai gar hoti oute thanatos oute zōaʸ oute angeloi oute arⱪai oute dunameis oute enestōta oute mellonta)

TC-GNT Πέπεισμαι γὰρ ὅτι οὔτε θάνατος οὔτε ζωὴ οὔτε ἄγγελοι οὔτε ἀρχαὶ οὔτε [fn]δυνάμεις οὔτε ἐνεστῶτα οὔτε μέλλοντα
(Pepeismai gar hoti oute thanatos oute zōaʸ oute angeloi oute arⱪai oute dunameis oute enestōta oute mellonta )

8:38 δυναμεις ουτε ενεστωτα ουτε μελλοντα ¦ ενεστωτα ουτε μελλοντα ουτε δυναμεις CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:31–39: Nothing can separate us from God’s love

In this section, Paul asked a number of rhetorical questions. In asking them he expected the believers in Rome to agree with him in these ways: God is for us and no one has greater power than him when they stand against us. God has made us right with him, so no one can accuse us of wrongdoing that God has not already forgiven. Jesus died for our sins and rose again, so no one can say we are worthy of God punishing us. Nothing of this earth or of the demons and spirits can separate us from God’s love. With God’s power we can overcome all those things.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God’s love for us because of Jesus Christ

The love of God will not abandon/leave us

8:38a–39c

neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord: The word neither means “not” and introduces a list of things that are introduced with nor. The word nor means “and not.” Many languages will use “and” and “not” here. For example:

not death and not life, and not angels and not principalities, and not the present and not the future, and not any powers, and not height and not depth, and not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God

death and life, and angels and principalities, and the present and the future, and any powers, and height and depth, and anything else in all creation, cannot separate us from the love of God cannot

not death or life, or angels or principalities, or the present or the future, or any powers, or height or depth, or anything else in all creation, is able to separate us from the love of God

Some English versions group together pairs of terms (for example, the BSB says death nor life) by not using a comma inside each pair.

8:38a

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

For I am certain that death or life,
For I am convinced that nothing, either death or life,

For: This word introduces an explanationLenski (page 576). about conquering in all those situations (8:37).

I am convinced: This clause indicates that Paul was certain about what he was about to say. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I am sure (ESV)

I am certain (GNT)

death: Here this word refers to physical death.

life: Here this word refers to life here on earth.

8:38b

neither angels nor principalities,

or evil angels or leaders,
or demons or earthly leaders,

angels: The Greek word that the BSB translates as angels means “messengers.” It refers here to spirit beings whom God made to serve him. Some angels rebelled against God, and the Bible sometimes calls these angels “demons” or “evil spirits.” Only demons would try to separate believers from Christ’s love.Jewett (page 552). If the word or phrase you use for angels only refers to good spirit beings, you may want to:

Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
evil angels
Use the word “demons” or the phrase “evil spirits.” For example:
demons

principalities: Some scholars think this word refers here to demons who are leaders. Other scholars think this word refers here to people who are leaders. If possible, translate this word in a way that it could refer to either group. If you must refer either to people or demons, refer to people who are leaders here, because of the meaning of “angels” above and “powers” in 8:38b–c.Jewett (page 552) says that this word refers to leaders who are “political,” meaning earthly leaders.

8:38c

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

or anything that exists today or anything that will someday exist, or those with power,
or whatever happens now or whatever will/might happen in the future, or anyone having power,

the present: There are two ways to translate the Greek word that the BSB translates as the present:

It refers to things that exist at the time called now for the reader of this verse. For example:
anything in the present (GW) (RSV, NJB, NASB, KJV, NABRE, ESV, GW, NET, REB, NCV)
It refers to the time called “the present” for the reader of this verse. For example:
the present (BSB) (BSB, NIV, GNT, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Paul spoke of objects or events that can possibly separate us from Christ. So speaking about a time we call the present doesn’t seem to fit here.Moo, Longenecker, Cranfield, Dunn, Schreiner, Jewett, Witherington, Barrett, Lenski, and Alford support interpretation (1). Fitzmyer supports interpretation (2). None of them explain their choice. Here are other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1):

things that exist now

what happens todayKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

the future: There are two ways to translate the Greek word that the BSB translates as the future:

It refers to things that will exist later for the reader of this verse. For example:
anything in the future (GW) (RSV, NJB, NASB, KJV, NABRE, ESV, GW, NET, REB, NCV)
It refers to the time called “the future” for the reader of this verse. For example:
the future (BSB) (BSB, NIV, GNT, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Paul spoke of objects or events that can possibly separate us from Christ. So speaking about a time we call the future doesn’t seem to fit here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1):

things that will exist later

what has not yet happenedKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

any powers: There is a textual issue in 8:34: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have words in this order nor things present nor things in the future nor powers (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, NABRE, NLT, GW, NET, REB, ESV). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have the words in this order nor powers nor things present nor things in the future (KJV). It is recommended that you follow option (1). The UBS Handbook says, “The GNT has slightly reordered the list, placing the present and the future together, so as to make the list sound more natural to the English reader,” and seems to always follow the UBS Greek New Testament (option (1) here, which they consider certain). This word can refer to any being that has power of any kind. But here it refers to any powerful being that might try to separate believers from Christ’s love for them. Here are other ways to translate this word:

those with power

others that have powerKankanaey Back Translation on TW, which moves it to after “angels nor leaders” to make a clearer connection to those beings.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πέπεισμαι Γάρ ὅτι οὔτε θάνατος οὔτε ζωή οὔτε ἄγγελοι οὔτε ἀρχαί οὔτε ἐνεστῶτα οὔτε μέλλοντα οὔτε δυνάμεις)

For indicates that what follows this word explains what came before it. Here, it indicates that what follows in this verse and the next verse is an explanation of what Paul said in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [In fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

πέπεισμαι

˱I˲_˓have_been˒_persuaded

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [God convinced me]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

θάνατος & ζωὴ & ἀρχαὶ & δυνάμεις

death & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πέπεισμαι Γάρ ὅτι οὔτε θάνατος οὔτε ζωή οὔτε ἄγγελοι οὔτε ἀρχαί οὔτε ἐνεστῶτα οὔτε μέλλοντα οὔτε δυνάμεις)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of death, life, governments, or powers, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [being dead … being alive … those who govern … powerful things]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀρχαὶ

Here, governments could refer to: (1) demons, which is usually how Paul uses this word ([1 Corinthians 15:24](../1co/15/24.md), [Ephesians 6:12](../eph/06/12.md)). Alternate translation: [ruling demons] (2) human kings and rulers. Alternate translation: [human rulers]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

δυνάμεις

powers

This could refer to: (1) demons with power, which is how Paul uses this word in [1 Corinthians 15:24](../1co/15/24.md) and [Ephesians 1:21](../eph/01/21.md). Alternate translation: [demonic powers] (2) human beings with power. Alternate translation: [powerful people]

Parallel ROM 8:38

Section 8:31–39: Nothing can separate us from God’s love

8:38a–39c

8:38a

8:38b

8:38c