He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

ROMANS 8:32KJV
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Romans 8:32 (KJV)

What does Romans 8:32 mean?

Paul argues that God’s giving of his own Son for believers is the strongest reason to expect God also to give them everything that comes with belonging to Christ. The question “how shall he not” expects the answer: God certainly will.

The key is “freely give,” which translates χαρίσεται (charisetai), meaning “will graciously give.” God’s further giving rests on his generosity, not on a debt owed to believers. Paul is writing to Christians in Rome, and the surrounding passage concerns suffering, their coming glory, and whether anything can defeat God’s purpose for them.

The Greek behind Romans 8:32

  • “spared not” — οὐκ ἐφείσατο (ouk epheisato): “Spared” means to refrain from subjecting someone to harm or loss. Here God did not spare his Son from death. The wording closely echoes the Greek account of Abraham, who did not withhold his son Isaac in Genesis 22.

  • “his own Son” — ἰδίου υἱοῦ (idiou huiou): “Own” marks the Son as God’s own Son. That relationship gives the argument its force: Paul measures God’s further giving against the gift of the Son himself.

  • “delivered him up” — παρέδωκεν (paredōken): The verb means “handed over” or “gave over.” “Delivered” and “up” together translate this one Greek verb. In context, God handed his Son over to death; Paul’s next sentences explicitly speak of Christ dying and being raised.

  • “all things” — τὰ πάντα (ta panta): The expression means “everything” or “all things,” but the surrounding argument supplies its scope. Paul has been discussing resurrection, glory, and the completion of God’s purpose for believers. “With him” ties these gifts to Christ.

Why Romans 8:32 matters

  • The verse argues from the greater gift to the gifts that follow. “His own Son” is the decisive gift; “with him also” presents God’s further giving as accompanying that gift.

  • “For us all” includes the whole believing community Paul is addressing. “For,” ὑπέρ (hyper), means “on behalf of” here. Paul presents the Son’s being handed over as an act done for their benefit.

  • “All things” belongs within an argument that includes suffering. Romans 8:35–36 names persecution, hunger, danger, and death. The promised giving therefore concerns God’s purpose reaching its completion even through those hardships.

Where else these words appear

“that” Greek G1065 · used in 9 verses

  • Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
  • Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
  • 1 Corinthians 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

“spared” Greek G5339 · used in 9 verses

  • Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
  • 2 Corinthians 13:2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

“he” Greek G5483 · used in 19 verses

  • Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
  • Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
  • Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

“not” Greek G3780 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
  • Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
  • 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?