Read & explore together
More than Conquerors
Paul asks whether anything can separate believers from the love of Christ, then answers with strong confidence. This short part of Romans 8 names real troubles and ends by saying God’s love in Christ Jesus cannot be broken by any created thing.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In these verses, Paul writes as a teacher in a letter. He lists suffering, quotes words about being treated like sheep for slaughter, and then states his settled conviction that nothing in all creation can separate believers from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35–39Main takeaway
This passage teaches that suffering and every created power fail to separate believers from God’s love in Christ Jesus.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A question about separationPaul begins with a question: who shall separate us from the love of Christ? He then names heavy pressures such as oppression, anguish, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword.
Explanation
Paul begins with a question: who shall separate us from the love of Christ? He then names heavy pressures such as oppression, anguish, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. The list shows that he is speaking about real hardship, not small inconveniences or passing discomforts.
02Suffering is not deniedPaul supports his point with written words: “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Explanation
Paul supports his point with written words: “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” He does not pretend God’s people avoid pain. The quotation shows that being under threat or treated as helpless does not surprise Scripture.
03More than conquerorsAfter naming hardship, Paul says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Explanation
After naming hardship, Paul says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” The victory here is not escape from every trouble in advance. It is confidence that these troubles do not defeat Christ’s love for his people.
04Nothing created can break God’s lovePaul says he is persuaded that neither death nor life, angels nor principalities, present things nor future things, powers, height, depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from God’s love.
Explanation
Paul says he is persuaded that neither death nor life, angels nor principalities, present things nor future things, powers, height, depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from God’s love. He finishes by locating that love clearly: it is God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul list things like oppression, famine, peril, and sword?
Look at how the list in Romans 8:35 sets up his claim that even severe troubles do not separate believers from Christ’s love.
02What does the quotation about sheep for slaughter add to the passage?
Notice that Romans 8:36 acknowledges suffering openly, so the passage offers confidence in the middle of danger, not a promise that danger never comes.
03What exactly does Paul say cannot separate believers from God’s love?
Read Romans 8:38 and Romans 8:39 carefully and list the categories Paul names, ending with “any other created thing”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 8:35–39
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.