Romans 8:28

[darinhouston]

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. (NASB)

Two questions:

1. KJV adds "the called." On what basis do they do this, and what difference does it make? It makes it sound more Calvinistic (though depending on how you answer 2 below, it doesn't necessarily have to).

2. The comma would seem to make a difference here, too -- without a comma, it sounds like those who are "called" are a subset of those who love God (rather than simply a restatement of who does love Him). If so, then the calling involved here is not necessary, and could relate not to a calling to salvation/relationship with Him, but a calling to perform some part of His great plan, which would suggest that this is not a general promise to all Christians about all their work (in His will), but to those specifically called to perform a specific task for His purposes (His plans will not be thwarted.)

Any comments or elaboration?

[TK]

The prior verses read:

26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Not sure why I wanted to add that- I guess just to add some context because v. 28 begins with the word "And."

Your alternative reading might be possible, Darin, although it seems as if the words after the comma are simply a "synonym" for those who love God, AND refers back to the people who allow themselves to be guided by the HS as noted in vv. 26-27. I am no greek scholar, but it seems that if the words after the comma constitute a "subset" of "those who love God," and that the promise at the start of verse applies only to the subset(and not to all who love God), then the verse would be worded more clearly to reflect that idea, perhaps leaving out the phrase "to those who love God" altogether.

TK