“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. — Sonship entails κληρονόμος (klēronómos, "heir"); the believer is συγκληρονόμος (sygklēronómos, "co-heir") with Christ. Yet inheritance is conditional: it includes sharing (κοινωνέω, koinōneō, "participate in") Christ's sufferings now in order to share his future δόξα (doxa, "glory"). The resurrection-pattern extends to believers: suffering and exaltation are inseparable.
Church Fathers on Romans 8:17
“And if children, then heirs.” Observe how he enhances the Gift little by little. For since it is a possible case to be children, and yet not become heirs (for it is not by any means all children that are heirs), he adds this besides — that we are heirs. But the Jews, besides their not having the same adoption as we, were also cast out from the inheritance. For “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out the vineyard to other husbandmen” Matthew 21:41: and…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!