“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. — Liberation (ἐλευθερόω, eleutherōō) of the κτίσις (ktisis, "creation") is parallel to humanity's rescue: both move from δουλεία (douleia, "bondage") toward ἐλευθερία (eleutheria, "freedom") and δόξα (doxa, "glory"). The new creation will be characterized by shared freedom and radiance.
Church Fathers on Romans 8:21
“That the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption.” Now what is this creation? Not yourself alone, but that also which is your inferior, and partakes not of reason or sense, this too shall be a sharer in your blessings. For “it shall be freed,” he says, “from the bondage of corruption,” that is, it shall no longer be corruptible, but shall go along with the beauty given to your body; just as when this became corruptible, that became corruptible…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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