“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. — Believers, possessing the ἀπαρχή (aparkhē, "firstfruits") of the πνεῦμα (pneuma, "Spirit"), also στενάζω (stenazō, "groan")—sighing toward eschatological fullness. The redemptio corporis (ἀπολύτρωσις τοῦ σώματος, apolytrōsis tou sōmatos, "redemption of the body") is still pending. Present possession of the Spirit intensifies awareness of incompleteness. The groaning is the Spirit's and the believer's intercession.
Church Fathers on Romans 8:23
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves.” That is, having had a taste of the things to come. For even if any should be quite stone hard, he means what has been given already is enough to raise him up, and draw him off from things present, and to wing him after things to come in two ways, both by the greatness of the things that are given, and by the fact that, great and numerous as they are,…
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!