Examining the Evidence: Romans 8:28-39

STRUCTURE

Structure of the Book
There is little difference in the ways the book is separated; almost all modern analysis agrees in the same general points, though some are more exhaustive in subdividing the passages than others. The book is in three general sections: a large doctrinal section spanning chapters one (after the introductory remarks) to eight; a smaller section regarding the dispensation of Israel's restoration, discussed in chapters nine to eleven; and a final section dealing with practical issues of duty and privilege of believers, chapters twelve to sixteen. This includes a brief concluding section of greetings and benediction (15:4-16:27). A brief outline is as follows:

1. Doctrinal (1:1­8:39)
   1. Introduction (1:1­17)
      1. Greetings & Introduction (1:1­15)
      2. Theme (1:16, 17)
   2. Condemnation: The Need of God's Righteousness (1:18­3:20)
      1. Unrighteous Gentiles (1:18­32)
      2. Unrighteous Jews (2:1­3:8)
      3. Unrighteous Mankind (3:9­20)
   3. Justification: The Provision of God's Righteousness (3:21­5:21)
      1. The Source of Righteousness (3:21­31)
      2. The Example of Righteousness (4:1­25)
      3. The Blessings of Righteousness (5:1­11)
      4. The Imputation of Righteousness (5:12­21)
   4. Sanctification: The Demonstration of God's Righteousness (6:1­8:39)
2. Dispensational­the Case of Israel (9:1­11:36)
   • Restoration: Israel's Reception of God's Righteousness (9:1­11:36)
3. Practical (12:1­16:27)
   1. Application: The Behavior of God's Righteousness (12:1­15:13)
      1. The Christian's service (12:1­13:14)
      2. Christian service and questionable things (14:1­15:3)
      3. Christian service and God's worldwide glory (15:4­13)
   2. Conclusion, Greetings, and Benediction (15:14­16:27^{5, 6}

Structure of the Passage
Romans is a work of prose, but as is typical of Paul's eloquent and educated style, it has poetic elements interwoven. For instance, in the target passage, verses 28­32 read almost like a legal brief; this is typical of Paul and a suitable writing style for the Roman mindset. Verses 33­39, however, have such balance and lilt as to almost be poetic, especially vv. 35 ff. In fact, were it not for the words "As it is written" in verse 36, the entire block of verses could be presented as poetry with minimal change to actual wording, let alone meaning.

The passage is about confidence, and breaks down into five basic sections: an opening claim of confidence in v.28; a description of this confidence for its receptors in vv.29­30; a reasoning for this confidence in vv.31­32; a certainty of confidence in vv.33-37; and finally a foundation for confidence in vv.38­39.

⁵Unger, Merrill F. The New Unger's Bible Handbook. Rev. by Gary Larson. (Moody Press: 1984), 475.
⁶MacArthur, 1690.