What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Parallel translations
- WEB What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- BSB What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- NKJV What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- NASB What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
- NLT What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If God himself is for us, no opponent can ultimately prevail against us. This rhetorical question turns the preceding promises into bold assurance.
Overview
Paul begins his triumphant conclusion to chapter 8 by drawing out the implications of God's saving work. Since the sovereign God has set his purpose to save and glorify his people, no enemy can succeed against them. This is not a claim that believers face no opposition, but that no opposition can separate them from God or thwart his purpose, a confidence grounded entirely in what God has done in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Ps 118:6The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
- Jer 1:19And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
- Ps 56:11In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
- 1 Jn 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
- Isa 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
- Jer 20:11But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
- Ps 56:4In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
- Ps 27:1–3The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Ps 84:11–12For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
- Num 14:9Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
- John 10:28–30And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
- Isa 50:7–9For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
- Gen 15:1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
- Deut 33:29Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
- Ps 46:7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- 1 Sam 17:45–47Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
- Josh 10:42And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
- Ps 46:1–3God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- Ps 46:11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- 1 Sam 14:6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
- Rom 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 8:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.