将来的荣耀

18 我认为现在所受的痛苦与将来要显给我们的荣耀相比,简直微不足道。 19 受造之物正热切等候上帝众子的显现, 20 因为受造之物处在虚空之下并非出于情愿,而是出于上帝的旨意。 21 不过,受造之物仍然盼望脱离衰亡之律的奴役,享受上帝儿女荣耀的自由。 22 我们知道一切受造之物至今都在呻吟,如同经历分娩之痛。 23 不但如此,就是我们这些首先得到圣灵的人也在心里叹息,热切等候得到儿子的名分[a],就是我们的身体得到救赎。 24 我们得救的人有这个盼望。不过,看得见的盼望根本不算盼望,因为谁会盼望已经看见的呢? 25 但我们若盼望那尚未看见的,就会忍耐等候。

26 况且,我们软弱的时候,有圣灵帮助我们。我们本来不知道怎样祷告,但圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祈祷。 27 洞悉人心的上帝知道圣灵的意思,因为圣灵是照着上帝的旨意替圣徒祈祷。

28 我们知道,上帝使万事互相效力[b],使那些爱上帝,就是上帝按自己的旨意呼召的人得益处。 29 因为上帝预先知道谁是属祂的人,并预定这些人要被塑造成祂儿子的形象,使祂的儿子在许多弟兄中成为长子。 30 祂所预定的人,祂也呼召他们;祂所呼召的人,祂也称他们为义人;祂称为义人的,祂也使他们得荣耀。

上帝的爱

31 对于这些事,我们还可以说什么呢?上帝若帮助我们,谁能与我们对抗? 32 上帝既然连自己的儿子也不顾惜,让祂为我们牺牲,岂不也把万物和祂一同白白地赐给我们吗? 33 谁能指控上帝拣选的人呢?上帝已经称他们为义人了。 34 谁能定他们有罪呢?基督耶稣已经替他们死了,而且祂还从死里复活了,如今在上帝的右边替我们祈祷。 35 谁能使我们与基督的爱分离呢?难道是患难吗?困苦吗?迫害吗?饥饿吗?赤身露体吗?危险吗?刀剑吗? 36 正如圣经上说:“为了你,我们终日出生入死,被视为待宰的羊。”

37 然而,靠着爱我们的主,我们在这一切事上已经得胜有余了。 38 因为我深信无论是死、是生,是天使、是鬼魔,是现在的事、是将来的事, 39 是高天之上的、是大地深处的或是其他受造之物,都不能使我们与上帝在主基督耶稣里赐下的爱分离。

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Footnotes

  1. 8:23 儿子的名分”指被收养为义子,可以享受和亲生儿子一样的权利。
  2. 8:28 上帝使万事互相效力”或译“万事都互相效力”。

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(A) 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God(B) to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,(C) in hope 21 that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay(D) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.(E)

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning(F) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,(G) groan(H) inwardly as we wait eagerly(I) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.(J) 24 For in this hope we were saved.(K) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.(L) Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.(M)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit(N) himself intercedes for us(O) through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts(P) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes(Q) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good(R) of those who love him, who[b] have been called(S) according to his purpose.(T) 29 For those God foreknew(U) he also predestined(V) to be conformed to the image of his Son,(W) that he might be the firstborn(X) among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,(Y) he also called;(Z) those he called, he also justified;(AA) those he justified, he also glorified.(AB)

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?(AC) If God is for us,(AD) who can be against us?(AE) 32 He who did not spare his own Son,(AF) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge(AG) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?(AH) No one. Christ Jesus who died(AI)—more than that, who was raised to life(AJ)—is at the right hand of God(AK) and is also interceding for us.(AL) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(AM) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(AN) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[c](AO)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(AP) through him who loved us.(AQ) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[d] neither the present nor the future,(AR) nor any powers,(AS) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(AT) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(AU)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
  2. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
  3. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
  4. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers