The purpose of God: An exegetical and theological study of Romans 8:28

Abstract

This study aims to attempt a full treatment of Romans 8:28. First, there are preliminary observations of the verse. Second, there is a detailed word-for-word analysis of it. Third, there is a theological consideration of the relation between Oἱ ἀyαпὣυτες τòυ θεόυ and Oἱ ҡλητοί. Fourth, there is an approach made to it in its first- century setting. Among the major conclusions are these: (1) A chiasmus and a parallelism can be discerned in v. 28. (2) The new evidence in support of the longer text is suggested. The fact that the word order of the shorter text (пἀυτα συυεργεί), which order should normally be "συυεργεί пἀυτα " from its context, is the same as that of the longest text (пἀυτα συυεργεί ό θεός) proves that the longer text lost 6 8e6g for some reason or other and keeps the order of the remaining part of them the same as before. (3) It is pointed out that Paul expresses from both sides purely human and purely divine an act which God leads the elect to do. This two-sidedness which Paul frequently uses is one of Paul's theological features. Human free will for Paul is exercised under the control of God's sovereign will. (4) It is assumed that Paul dared to pick up the common Stoic expression of pantheistic and impersonal optimism and to Christianize it (e.g. by adding ό θεός as expressed subject, replacing ἀρετη with ἀγαθόυ, etc.).