What is the meaning of Romans 8:36?

As it is written

– Paul signals that he is quoting Scripture (Psalm 44:22), rooting his argument in God’s unchanging word.

– By prefacing with this phrase, he reminds believers that every promise and prediction of the Bible stands firm (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4).

– The citation also shows that suffering for the Lord is not a New-Testament surprise; God’s people have faced it in every era (Hebrews 11:35-38).

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For Your sake

– The suffering described is “for Your sake,” meaning for God’s glory and the advancement of His purpose.

• Jesus warned that following Him would invite opposition (John 15:18-21; Matthew 5:11-12).

• The apostles rejoiced that they were “counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name” (Acts 5:41).

– Living for Christ redefines hardship: what the world sees as loss, heaven records as faithful service (Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:14).

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we face death all day long

– The phrase pictures continual exposure to danger. Paul himself said, “I die every day” (1 Corinthians 15:31) and listed beatings, shipwrecks, and prisons (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

– Suffering is not occasional but a daily reality for many believers (2 Corinthians 4:10-11).

– Yet day-long peril never cancels God’s moment-by-moment care (Psalm 91:1-2; Luke 12:4-7).

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we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered

– The world may treat believers like expendable livestock, but God never loses sight of His flock (John 10:11, 27-28).

– The image echoes Christ Himself, “led like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). Sharing His sufferings means we will also share His victory (Romans 8:17, 37).

– History confirms this perspective: Stephen (Acts 7), early martyrs, and persecuted saints today are all viewed by society as disposable, yet they are precious in the Lord’s sight (Revelation 6:9-11).

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summary

Romans 8:36 reminds us that Scripture anticipated the cost of discipleship. For God’s sake believers may face constant threat and be treated as disposable, yet this very pattern places us in the company of the faithful across the ages and in the footsteps of Christ Himself. Our hardships are neither random nor wasted; they testify to God’s faithfulness and lead straight into the triumphant promise of the next verse: “But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”