with hoti, the first word in v. 29? It seems likely that it means for or because here and is not merely an unimportant connective. If so, then vv. 29 and 30 will explain why all things work together for good for believers. This working together for good happens because all along God has had a plan for believers. Therefore v. 29 says that “those believers whom God knew in advance he also destined beforehand to share the form of the image of his Son.” Is Paul then talking about a pretemporal election