Historic pastoral reading
God can use even hard things. That is not the same as calling every event good, or every event a secret lesson.
Romans 8:28
Everything happens for a reason.
The text
WEB
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.
KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
What kind of text
- Letter
- To a church
- Providence
Paul writes to the Roman church about God working for the good of those who love him.
How Christians have read this
Common misuse
Said at funerals and accidents as if the slogan itself were Scripture.
What the next verse does
Verses 29-30 name the purpose: conformed to the image of his Son.
Older commentary
Matthew Henry
Henry on Romans 8:28: all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Charles Spurgeon
Spurgeon preached providence without calling every wound a tidy lesson.