1. Romans 8:18-25
18 I consider that the sufferings of this 22 We know that the whole creation has been
present time are not worth comparing with groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not
the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For only the creation, but we ourselves, who have
the creation waits with eager longing for the the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while
revealing of the children of God; 20 for the we wait for adoption, the redemption of our
creation was subjected to futility, not of its bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now
own will but by the will of the one who hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes
subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we
will be set free from its bondage to decay and do not see, we wait for it with patience.
will obtain the freedom of the glory of the
children of God.
18: The early Christians had a deeply eschatological
world view—they were convinced that the present
age is evil relative to the coming Kingdom of God.
20-21: Paul’s ‘lawless Gospel’ places much
emphasis on transcending the worldly limitations of
dogma in favor of the spiritual autonomy that God
gives us through Christ.
23-25: In 1st Corinthians, Paul sharply rebukes
parishioners for denying the Resurrection of Christ.
Here, he reminds the Romans that the Resurrection
is not just an idea but a bodily experience of eternal
life that is totally beyond our expectations.