Him who loved us
refers to
Jesus Christ; or
God the Father.
Paul has in mind Jesus Christ. For we know from Romans 8:35 that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Further, in Galatians 2:20 Paul writes something similar, that Jesus Christ loved him and gave himself up for him. Likely, Paul has the same theme in mind here, stating that we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, who is the one who loved us and was willing to die on the cross for our sins.
Some contend that the one who loved us is God the Father. These point out that in Romans 8:31–32 Paul indicates that God is for us, and this is demonstrated by the fact that he did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us. Clearly, not sparing his own Son was an act of God’s love, so we are more than conquerors through the Father who loved us and gave up his Son for us.
While Paul could be referring to God the Father when he refers to the one who loved us in Romans 8:37, the context partially suggests otherwise. For we know that believers are united with Christ in their suffering, and Paul articulates a list of items that might cause suffering to believers in this section. Still, he writes, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. In other words, by union with Christ we conquer whatever suffering we encounter.
Thus, while the one who loved us could refer to either God the Father or Jesus Christ, the immediate context and Galatians 2:20 slightly favour Jesus Christ.
Interpretation 1:
The one who loved us is Jesus Christ.
Summary:
Jesus Christ loved us so much that he freely gave up his life on the cross in order that we might be spared the punishment of God’s wrath. And through union with Christ, we are empowered by the Spirit to overcome all suffering and temptation. Thus, we are more than conquerors through him who displayed his love for us on the cross, Jesus Christ.
Knowing that Jesus Christ loves us so much that he would not spare his life for us should motivate us to love God and others with that same enthusiasm. Christ shows us that love is the greatest quality for us to embody, and we are free when we follow him in this.
Advocates:
Brendan Byrne
John MacArthur
Douglas Moo
Thomas Schreiner
Frank Thielman
Minor differences:
Our authors agree that when Paul refers to the one who loved us, he has in mind Jesus Christ.
Douglas Moo interprets Romans 8:37 in light of Romans 8:35 where Paul asks, Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
1 The answer of course is no one, because we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, namely, Jesus Christ.
Brendan Byrne generally agrees with Moo, noting that the love of Christ was concretely shown by his giving himself up to death on our behalf.2
Arguments
Interpretation 2:
The one who loved us is God the Father.
Summary:
God the Father loved us so much that he did not spare his own Son to save us. Instead, he gave up his Son so that we might be saved.
Advocates:
James Dunn
Richard Longenecker
Leon Morris
Minor differences:
Our authors agree that the one who loved us is God the Father.
James Dunn points out that Paul uses the simple past tense for the one who loved us,
which implies something done in the past. Specifically, according to Dunn, it refers to God’s love expressed in the fact that he did not spare his own Son.6
Longenecker has a similar view, which he reaches by interpreting Romans 8:37 in light of Romans 8:31–32, where we read that God did not spare his own Son for us.7
Arguments
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.