Roma 8:28

8:28 And we know that all things work together ¹  for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,

Roma 9:32

9:32 Why not? Because they pursued ²  it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. ³  They stumbled over the stumbling stone, ⁴ 

Roma 10:5-6

10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.” ⁵  10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ⁶  ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” ⁷  (that is, to bring Christ down)

¹ tc ὁ θεός (Jo qeos, “God”) is found after the verb συνεργεῖ (sunergei, “work”) in v. 28 by Ì⁴⁶ A B 81 sa; the shorter reading is found in א C D F G Ψ 33 1739 1881 Ï latt sy bo. Although the inclusion is supported by a significant early papyrus, the alliance of significant Alexandrian and Western witnesses favors the shorter reading. As well, the longer reading is evidently motivated by a need for clarification. Since ὁ θεός is textually suspect, it is better to read the text without it. This leaves two good translational options: either “he works all things together for good” or “all things work together for good.” In the first instance the subject is embedded in the verb and “God” is clearly implied (as in v. 29). In the second instance, πάντα (panta) becomes the subject of an intransitive verb. In either case, “What is expressed is a truly biblical confidence in the sovereignty of God” (C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans [ICC], 1:427).

² tn Grk “Why? Because not by faith but as though by works.” The verb (“they pursued [it]”) is to be supplied from the preceding verse for the sake of English style; yet a certain literary power is seen in Paul’s laconic style.

³ tc Most mss, especially the later ones (א² D Ψ 33 Ï sy), read νόμου (nomou, “of the law”) here, echoing Paul’s usage in Rom 3:20, 28 and elsewhere. The qualifying phrase is lacking in א* A B F G 6 629 630 1739 1881 pc lat co. The longer reading thus is weaker externally and internally, being motivated apparently by a need to clarify.

tn Grk “but as by works.”

⁴ tn Grk “the stone of stumbling.”

⁵ sn A quotation from Lev 18:5.

⁶ sn A quotation from Deut 9:4.

⁷ sn A quotation from Deut 30:12.