37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:37 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
As if the apostle had said, “We are so far from being separated from Christ by the afflictions and persecutions which we undergo, that we are conquerors by our patience, nay, more than conquerors: we do not only bear our trials, but we glory in tribulations; we conquer by our patience, we are more than conquerors by our cheerfulness.”
But because these words, more than conquerors, look big, and sound great, the apostle instantly subjoins, that ’tis by Christ’s strength, and not by our own that we overcome and conquer; More than conquerors through him that loved us, which words are a periphrasis of Christ: It is both a proper description of him, and a comprehensive description.
When the apostle said, he that loved us, he does in effect say everything else; he that was born for us, that died for us, that redeemed and saved us; all these were the effects and fruits of his love, and they are all comprehended in this saying, Him that loved us.
Note, lastly, how the believer is said to overcome with the help of this person. More than conquerors through him that loved us.
Whence learn, That all a Christian’s strength lies in Christ, and not in himself; all his strength for victory over sin and all his strength for victory over suffering are all received from Christ, are all to be attributed and ascribed to Christ; the strength of every saint, yea, the whole host of the saint, lies in the Lord of hosts.