Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul's Greatest Letter

by Tom Wright

As I said in the previous chapter, the final five verses don’t have many tell-tale connecting words. The alla at the start of verse 37 indicates that, contrary to what verse 35 might have implied, these troubles are not merely unpleasant things we have to get through, but actually the setting for a greater victory than we could have imagined – just as the Messiah’s cross was not simply a ghastly event to be bravely borne, but actually his royal victory over all the powers. Yes, says verse 36, this is a deeply unpleasant place to be, but – alla – in all these things we are more than conquerors. That greater victory, in which all opposition is not just defeated but swept off the board, is then explained with the gar at the start of verse 38. Verse 37, the super-victory, may seem counter-intuitive. But it is based on the unbreakable love of God himself, of which Paul has become utterly persuaded.