The importance of Romans 8:34

Preamble:

That the resurrection is a key for Paul can be proved by looking at one verse (among many!), namely, Romans 8:34.

Romans 8:34:

Who is the one condemning?  Christ Jesus the one having died, but rather having been raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes on behalf of us.

The "but rather" in Greek is used to supplement or even correct what has preceded.  Paul is saying that Jesus resurrection is a more key factor in what he is going to say.  This is brought out even more clearly when we compare Romans 8:31-39, which contains our verse in question, and Romans 5:1-11, and especially 5:9-10.

Links between Romans 5:1-11 and 8:31-39:

There are common themes in these two sections, which probably should not surprise us since chapters 5-8 forms a rather distinct unit within Romans.  Here are some of the commonality:

• Just: 5:1,9  ----------- 8:33
• Suffering 5:3 -------------- 8:35-37
• God's love 5:5,8 ------------------ 8:35,39
• death 5:6,8,10 ----------------------- 8:34
• saved from wrath  5:9 ----------------- 8:34
• resurrection 5:10 --------------------- 8:34
• 'for us' 5:5-6 ----------------------------8:31,32,34

These common themes are instructive because in 5:9-10 Paul uses language very similar to 8:34.

Romans 5:9-10:

By much then rather having been justified now by the blood of him will we be saved through him from the wrath; for if enemies being we were reconciled to God through the death of the Son of him by much rather having been reconciled will we be saved by the life of him.

The present reality enjoyed by the death of Jesus is the lesser and the future enjoyed by the resurrection of Jesus is the greater.  This trades on the death/life theme.  If Jesus' death does things, then his resurrected life does better thing (or things made more sure).  The same Greek word used in 8:34 for "rather" is used here.

Theological upshot:

Jesus' resurrection is the key to Romans.  The small correction made in 8:34 is very telling.  Without the resurrection we have no enthronement and without the enthronement we do not have Jesus as our intercessor.