For I am persuaded,.... These words with the following, express the strong persuasion, and full assurance of faith the apostle had, that nothing whatever could separate him and the rest of God's people, from his love towards them in Christ Jesus. This persuasion not only regards himself, but others; and is not conjectural, but certain; and which did not arise from any special and extraordinary revelation, but is founded upon the nature of the love of God itself, the security of it in Christ, and of the persons of God's elect in him; upon eternal predestination, and the unalterable purposes of God; upon the promise and oath of God; upon adoption, and the gracious witnessings, assistances, and inhabitation of the Spirit; and is greatly increased by the consideration of the death, resurrection, and intercession of Christ. The things enumerated, which are not able to separate from the love of God, are as follow:

continued...

Powers (ἀρχαί)

Angelic, higher than mere angels.

Things present (ἐνεστῶτα)

continued...

For I am persuaded - I have a strong and unwavering confidence. Latin Vulgate, "I am certain." The expression here implies unwavering certainty.

continued...

For I am persuaded - After the blessed experience we have had of support by the grace and Spirit of him that loved us, that neither fear of death, nor hope of life, nor evil angels, nor principalities, nor powers, persecuting us for Christ's sake; nor the things we endure at present, nor the things to come, whatever tribulation we may be called to suffer in future;

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

8:38 For I am persuaded. No hostile power of the universe can lead us away, is the apostle's holy confidence.

That neither death nor life. These adversaries seem to advance in pairs. Death is named first, because death by martyrdom threatens. The next pair is

nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers. The angels are good angels, while malignant angels are meant by the other terms.

Nor things present, nor things to come. The present or the future.

8:38 I am persuaded - This is inferred from the thirty - fourth verse , in an admirable order: - Neither death shall hurt us; For Christ is dead: Nor life; 'is risen Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers; nor things pre - sent, nor things to come; is at the right hand of God: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature; maketh intercession for us. Neither death - Terrible as it is to natural men; a violent death in particular, Rom 8:36. Nor life - With all the affliction and distress it can bring, Rom 8:35; or a long, easy life; or all living men. Nor angels - Whether good (if it were possible they should attempt it) or bad, with all their wisdom and strength. Nor principalities, nor powers - Not even those of the highest rank, or the most eminent power. Nor things present - Which may befal us during our pilgrimage; or the whole world, till it passeth away. Nor things to come - Which may occur either when our time on earth is past, or when time itself is at an end, as the final judgment, the general conflagration, the everlasting fire. Nor height, nor depth - The former sentence respected the differences of times; this, the differences of places. How many great and various things are contained in these words, we do not, need not, cannot know yet. The height - In St. Paul's sublime style, is put for heaven. The depth - For the great abyss: that is, neither the heights, I will not say of walls, mountains, seas, but, of heaven itself, can move us; nor the abyss itself, the very thought of which might astonish the boldest creature. Nor any creature - Nothing beneath the Almighty; visible enemies he does not even deign to name. Shall be able - Either by force, Rom 8:35; or by any legal claim, Rom 8:33, and c. To separate us from the love of God in Christ - Which will surely save, protect, deliver us who believe in, and through, and from, them all.

38, 39. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers-whether good or bad. But as the bad are not called "angels," or "principalities," or "powers," save with some addition to show that such are meant (Mt 25:41; Col 2:15; Eph 6:12; 2Pe 2:4-except perhaps 1Co 6:3), probably the good are meant here, but merely as the same apostle supposes an angel from heaven to preach a false gospel. (So the best interpreters).

nor things present, nor things to come-no condition of the present life and none of the unknown possibilities of the life to come.

Romans 8:38 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible