Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good, etc..] There is a temporal good, and a spiritual good, and an eternal one. Temporal good is what the men of the world are seeking after, and generally have the greatest share of, and the saints the least; and yet they have as much as is needful for them, and what they have, they have with a blessing; and even sometimes afflictions work for the temporal good of God's children: spiritual good lies in a lively exercise of grace and a conformity of the soul to God; and is what the men of the world least regard, and the saints most; and sometimes afflictions issue in this sort of good, as they do also in eternal good, for they work for us an…”

“And--or, "Moreover," or "Now"; noting a transition to a new particular. we know, &c.--The order in the original is more striking: "We know that to them that love God" (compare Co1 2:9; Eph 6:24; Jam 1:12; Jam 2:5) "all things work together for good [even] to them who are the called (rather, 'who are called') according to His (eternal) purpose." Glorious assurance! And this, it seems, was a "household word," a "known" thing, among believers. This working of all things for good is done quite naturally to "them that love God," because such souls, persuaded that He who gave His own Son for them cannot but mean them well in all His procedure, learn thus to take in good part whatever He sends…”

“And we know - This verse introduces another source of consolation and support, drawn from the fact that all flyings are under the direction of an infinitely wise Being, who has purposed the salvation of the Christian, and who has so appointed all things that they shall contribute to it. All things - All our afflictions and trials; all the persecutions and calamities to which we are exposed. Though they are numerous and long-continued yet they are among the means that are appointed for our welfare. Work together for good - They shall cooperate; they shall mutually contribute to our good. They take off our affections from this world; they teach us the truth about our frail, transitory, and…”

“And we know - This in general; though we do not always know particularly what to pray for. That all things - Ease or pain, poverty or riches, and the ten thousand changes of life. Work together for good - Strongly and sweetly for spiritual and eternal good. To them that are called according to his purpose - His gracious design of saving a lost world by the death of his Son. This is a new proposition. St. Paul, being about to recapitulate the whole blessing contained in justification, (termed "glorification," Rom 8:30,) first goes back to the purpose or decree of God, which is frequently mentioned in holy writ. To explain this (nearly in the words of an eminent writer) a little more at large:…”

“we know: Rom 8:35-39, Rom 5:3, Rom 5:4; Gen 50:20; Deu 8:2, Deu 8:3, Deu 8:16; Psa 46:1, Psa 46:2; Jer 24:5-7; Zac 13:9; Co2 4:15-17, Co2 5:1; Phi 1:19-23; Th2 1:5-7; Heb 12:6-12; Jam 1:3, Jam 1:4; Pe1 1:7, Pe1 1:8; Rev 3:19 them: Rom 5:5; Exo 20:6; Deu 6:5; Neh 1:5; Psa 69:36; Mar 12:30; Co1 2:9; Jam 1:12; Jam 2:5; Jo1 4:10, Jo1 4:19, Jo1 5:2, Jo1 5:3 the called: Rom 8:30, Rom 1:6, Rom 1:7, Rom 9:11, Rom 9:23, Rom 9:24; Jer 51:29; Act 13:48; Gal 1:15; Eph 1:9, Eph 1:10, Eph 3:11; Th1 5:9; Th2 2:13, Th2 2:14; Ti2 2:19; Pe1 5:10 Romans 8:29”