“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Have you ever been at a loss for words? Maybe it was when you saw an incredibly beautiful vista. Perhaps it happened as you watched a talented musician, artist, or athlete perform. It likely happened when some of you held your new baby for the first time.

A loss for words

The apostle Paul found himself at a loss for words as he, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote the book of Romans.

In Romans 8:31,32, Paul marvels at the incredible things God has done for us: God sent Jesus to pay for our sins and declared us not guilty of every single sin. Now there is no condemnation because Jesus says, “I paid their debt. They are free to go.” What grace! What love!

Then Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (v. 35). Can things like that separate us from the love of God? It might seem like it, but Paul answers with a faith-born confidence: “No!”

And then, he finds himself at a loss for words.

It might not seem like Paul was at a loss for words because his next words are some of the most quotable in Scripture: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” But Paul really was at a loss for words. He wanted to convey just how great our victory is when we are connected to God’s love, but the right word simply didn’t exist.

An extraordinary victory

So through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul made up a new word, a word that is used only here in Scripture. It’s the Greek verb hypernikao (pronounced “he-pear-nick-ah-oh”).

Hypernikao is a combination of two words: hyper and nike. The Greek word nike means “victory,” and the related verb nikao means “to conquer.” The prefix hyper ramps up the conquering and says this type of victory is beyond the ordinary. So hypernikao isn’t just a victory. Hyper-nike is total dominance, a blowout win, a no-doubt-about-it victory. Or as our verse puts it, we are more than conquerors. We are super-conquerors!

Look at Paul’s list in Romans 8:35: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword. Can those separate us from the love of God? Paul says, “No!” But he says more. We don’t just get through these things or survive them. We hyper-conquer them. We enjoy an extraordinary victory over them.

Hyper-nike is total dominance, a blowout win, a no-doubt-about-it victory. Or as our verse puts it, we are more than conquerors.

How is that possible? “Through him who loved us.” Through God the Father, who loves us in a way that only he can, we hyper-nike the problems in life. Through God the Son, who literally loved us to death, we have an extraordinary victory over anything that seems like it could separate us from God. Through God the Spirit, who keeps us connected to God’s incredible love, we more than conquer. It’s not us. It’s God who loves us.

As I write this devotion, I’m wearing a Nike sweatshirt as a reminder of the hyper-nike we have in Jesus. The next time you see the Nike swoosh, remember how much God loves you. Remember how great your victory is. You have hyper-nike. You are more than a conqueror.

PRAYER: Gracious Father, your love for us often leaves us at a loss for words. Help us grasp the size and power of your love. Remind us that in you, we are more than conquerors. Amen.

Author: Evan Chartrand
Volume 111, Number 06
Issue: June 2024

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