Paragraph 8:28–30

8:28a–b

God works all things: There are several ways to interpret who or what is working here. Here are the two main ones:

(1) It is all things that work here.

(New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, King James Version, God’s Word, NET Bible)

(2) It is God who works here. For example:

in all things God works (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). But if the major language version follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.

for the good of those who love Him: Here the word for introduces who benefits from the good. For example:

…the good of those who love him (New International Version)

for the good: This phrase indicates that all things that happen in a believer’s life, whether good or bad, ultimately result in benefit for him or her. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

to their good (New Jerusalem Bible)

those who love Him: This phrase refers to all believers. Your translation should indicate or imply that meaning.

8:28c

who are called according to His purpose: Here the word who introduces who benefits from the good. This group is all believers, like “those who love Him” in 8:28b. To make it clear this is the same group as in 8:28b, some languages must introduce it differently. For example:

namely, those who are called according to his purpose
-or-
I refer to those who are called according to his purpose
-or-
those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-

and he called them according to his purpose

are called: Here the word called means “chosen to be given a special benefit or purpose.” God designated people in Rome to believe in Jesus and become his people. His call was the means by which he chose them.

See how you translated this word in 1:6.

according to His purpose: The word purpose refers to what the goal or expected result is for God calling people to believe in Jesus. There are many aspects or parts to that purpose. Two parts of that purpose are in 8:30: to justify and to glorify believers. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

according to his plan (God’s Word)
-or-
because that was his plan (New Century Version)

His purpose: The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word His here, because it is God’s plan to call them.

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