Verses taken out of context || Romans 8:28 || Exegesis || Hermeneutics || Bible reading || Bible study || Context || Never read a verse || 2025

 

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"Not to discourage you from using and applying the verse from the scripture but to make you aware how not to read, interpret and apply the verse."

Verses Taken Out Of Context

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

The most common way to twist this verse is to read it like this: “In all things God works for the [material] good of everybody.” It’s amazing what you can do to Scripture when you form it to your own thoughts.

But read it again, and you’ll see that this isn’t talking about the good of all people. It says that God works for the good of “those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In other words, believers. And what exactly is the “good” that God works out for his people? Let’s look at the context.

The whole of Romans 8 is about the difference between life in the flesh and life in the Spirit. When we get to verse 28, Paul has just finished writing about how our sin causes weaknesses that only belief in Jesus and the power of the Spirit can cover. So before looking at the good, it’s important to see what “all things” are that lead to this good in the first place. I think it’s safe to say that the “all things” emphasizes the adverse things we experience which cause us weakness and suffering. And what good does God work through these experiences of weakness and suffering? Simply read ahead one more verse. “For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29, emphasis mine).

God uses seasons of weakness and suffering and “groaning” (vs. 18-23) to make us more like him. The good is becoming more like Christ!

This is why defining the terms is so important. Take this verse out of context and twist it a bit and you’ve got a great verse about living your best life. But read it with the surrounding verses and you realize that yet again it’s not actually about you. It’s about Jesus. It’s about seeing our suffering and letting it be used to conform us to His image instead of conforming him to ours.

~ Emily Richardson