Things present (1764) (enistemi from en = in, with + hÃstemi = to stand, to set, to place) is literally to stand on, to place in, to set in (something that has begun) and to be at hand. It means to be present or be imminent. To have come. In Galatians it points to the present transitory age. Vincent writes that enistemi... literally means to stand in sight. Hence to impend or threaten. So 2Th 2:2; 2Ti 3:1-note; 1Cor. 7:26. Used of something that has set in or begun. So some render here. Bengel says “Things past are not mentioned, not even sins, for they have passed away.” present may also express something which is not simply present, but the presence of which foreshadows and inaugurates something to come. Hence it may be rendered impending or setting in. In Romans 8:38 the enistemi speaks of the present events and/or circumstances that believers encounter and in regard to which we are super-victors! Enistemi is used twice in the Lxx (1Ki 12:24, Esther 3:13) and 7 times in the NT... Romans 8:38 (note) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 1 Corinthians 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 1 Corinthians 7:26 I think then that this is good (Paul's giving of opinion concerning virgins) in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. Galatians 1:4 (Christ Jesus) Who gave Himself for (preposition huper = in this context speaks of substitution - Christ died in our place that we might live in Him) our sins, that He might deliver (study on rhuomai = snatched us out of danger and unto Himself) us out of this present (perfect tense = speaks of the permanence of this state!) evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 2 Thessalonians 2:2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. ("is now present" or as Lightfoot has it "is imminent") 2 Timothy 3:1 (note) But realize (present imperative = continually know) this, that in the last days difficult (perilous, hard to bear, dangerous, troublesome, fierce, dangerous) times will come (more literally = "will set in" and so "will be present"). Hebrews 9:9 (note) which (the fact that the outer tabernacle was still standing - this indicates Hebrews was written before the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD) is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, Things to come (3195) (mello) to be about to or about to be. To be about to do something. The idea is something is to take place at a future point of time and so to be subsequent to another event. Newell adds that... Nor things present nor things to come-In Job's case, Satan dealt in "things present"-and they were as bad as hellish enmity could make them. But they did not separate from God s love, for look at "the end of the Lord, " with Job. In the cases of David and Elijah, Satan dealt in "futures": David said, "I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul." Yet shortly he sat on the throne! And Jezebel threatened, "I will make thy life as the life of one of them the slain prophets by tomorrow about this time." When Elijah saw that, (alas, these "thats" of the devil!) "he arose, and went for his life." Yet God took him up by a chariot of fire into heaven! (Romans 8: Expository Notes Verse by Verse) Matthew Henry... Nor things present, nor things to come-neither the sense of troubles present nor the fear of troubles to come. Time shall not separate us, eternity shall not. Things present separate us from things to come, and things to come separate and cut us off from things present; but neither from the love of Christ, whose favour is twisted in with both present things and things to come. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_837-39.htm#present