Romans 8:29–30
What does Romans 8:29–30 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 8:29–30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 8:29–30 means
Romans 8:29
Those whom God foreknew he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son. Foreknowledge here carries the sense of God’s prior loving regard, not mere foresight of actions. The goal is Christlikeness; salvation aims at reshaping us to reflect the Son’s character. Christ is the “firstborn among many brethren,” the preeminent elder brother whose resurrection inaugurates a family resemblance in a vast redeemed people. God’s purpose is thus both relational and transformative. He is not simply rescuing individuals but forming a Christ-shaped community. This verse anchors our hope: our destiny is fixed by God’s design to make us like Jesus, honoring the Son as head of a redeemed family.
Romans 8:30
Paul traces the unbreakable sequence of God’s saving work: those foreordained are also called; those called are justified; those justified are glorified. The past tense for “glorified” underscores the certainty of the future; in God’s purpose it is as good as done. This chain is not a bare outline but a comfort: the God who began the work will bring it to completion. Each link highlights divine initiative and faithfulness. Our assurance rests not on our grip on God but on God’s grip on us. This does not nullify human response, but it grounds that response in God’s effective grace, ensuring that the people he set his love upon will surely reach glory.
Romans 8:29–30 in context
Romans 8 — No Condemnation, No Separation
The high-water mark of Paul's letters. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. The Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death; the same Spirit cries 'Abba, Father' in our hearts and assures us we are children and heirs. Suffering is real, but the glory ahead is incomparably greater. All things work together for good to those who love God. And nothing — neither death nor life nor angels nor things present nor things to come — shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Justification
- Indwelling Spirit
- Adoption
- Final perseverance
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because those of whom he had knowledge before they came into existence, were marked out by him to be made like his Son, so that he might be the first among a band of brothers: And those who were marked out by him were named; and those who were named were given righteousness; and to those to whom he gave righteousness, in the same way he gave glory.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because whom He did foreknow, He also did fore-appoint, conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be first-born among many brethren; and whom He did fore-appoint, these also He did call; and whom He did call, these also He declared righteous; and whom He declared righteous, these also He did glorify.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son: that he might be the Firstborn amongst many brethren. And whom he predestinated, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Because whom he has foreknown, he has also predestinated [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be [the] firstborn among many brethren. But whom he has predestinated, these also he has called; and whom he has called, these also he has justified; but whom he has justified, these also he has glorified.
Context
v.29Verse 28 mentioned God’s purpose; verse 29 explains it: conformity to Christ, rooted in God’s foreknowledge and foreordination. This sets up verse 30’s “golden chain,” tracing the unbroken sequence from foreordination to calling, justification, and glorification. The argument is cumulative: God’s purpose is comprehensive and effectual, supplying the strongest possible grounds for the triumphant assurance that follows in verses 31–39.
v.30Having stated God’s purpose (v. 29), Paul shows its effectual outworking in verse 30. The cumulative force of these verbs prepares the rhetorical crescendo of verses 31–39. If God has so determined and executed salvation from start to finish, what opposition can finally prevail? The next verses take up that question in a series of triumphant challenges, moving from God’s favor (v. 31) to the gift of the Son (v. 32), justification (v. 33), Christ’s intercession (v. 34), and inseparable love (vv. 35–39).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 15:49
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
- John 17:19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
- John 17:16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
- Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
- John 17:26
and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them.
Sermon ideas from Romans 8:29–30
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Romans 8:29–30 teaches us about justification
What Romans 8:29–30 teaches us about indwelling spirit
What Romans 8:29–30 teaches us about adoption
What Romans 8:29–30 teaches us about final perseverance
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