Tag: creation

Romans 8:19 – Eagerly Anticipated Revelation

Posted on by Will

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Truth to Learn

All of God’s physical creation is anticipating the glory that we will receive one day from our Heavenly Father.

 

Behind the Words

The words translated, “earnest expectation” are translated from the Greek word apokaradokia. This is a double compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “before,” kara, meaning “the head,” and a form of dokeō, meaning “to think, suppose, or watch.” Putting these all together we see that it literally means “to watch or look forward with the head.” Thus we can see why this word has the meaning of “intense anticipation” as one would strain the neck forward looking intently into the distance expecting to see something very soon.

“Creation” is a translation of the Greek word ktisis. This word means “a thing created,” but it can be taken to mean a single created thing (creature) or the singular collection of all created things (creation).

The word translated “revealing” is apokalupsis. This is a noun form of apokaluptō, which we looked at in yesterday’s verse. It refers to that thing which is “uncovered” or “revealed.”

 

Meaning Explained

Here, once again, we have a verse of Scripture that has been highly debated for centuries. The controversy revolves primarily around the word translated “creation.” Without going into an extensive exposition of this word, let me simply state that I’m in the camp of those who believe it refers to all of creation (apart from mankind and angelic creatures). Others who believe that it refers to Christians as “a created thing” (for we are a “new creation” according to 2Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15) have a valid a reason to believe that as the correct interpretation. However, Paul uses this word repeatedly in this and the following few verses, and in verse twenty-two he refers to “the whole creation,” literally “all the creation (singular).” Therefore, since he uses the same word throughout and makes no obvious distinction, it is reasonable to assume that he uses the term the same in all of these verses.

One could reasonably ask why this would refer to all of creation apart from mankind and angelic creatures rather than all of creation including mankind and angelic beings. Much of mankind (those who are not saved) clearly is not eagerly waiting for the revealing of the sons of God, and angelic beings were not subjected to futility as declared in the next verse.

In the previous verse Paul stated that our present sufferings are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us some day (when our salvation is consummated and we receive our glorified bodies). In this verse I believe he is saying that all of physical creation is eagerly anticipating this revealing of the true sons of God in our revealed glory.

 

Application

If all of creation is figuratively straining its neck in eager anticipation of the revelation of the glorified sons of God, how much more should we be eagerly anticipating it, we who will receive that glory. When we Christians suffer for our witness, we need to keep in mind that we will receive such marvelous glory from our Heavenly Father that the revelation of that glory is eagerly anticipated by all of creation. That’s something to think about!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:22 – Wait For It …

Posted on by Will

Romans 8:22 – Wait For It …

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Truth to Learn

All of creation eagerly awaits the end of time when they will be made anew.

Behind the Words

The word translated “groans” is sustenadzō, which is a compound word made up of “sun” meaning “together” and stenadzō, which means “to groan or to sigh.” Thus we see it means “to groan together” or “to sigh together.”

“Labors with birth pangs together” is from a single Greek word, sunōdinō. This is also a compound word. It is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of ōdinō, which means “to be in pain as a woman who is in the process of giving birth.” Therefore, this word means “to be in labor pains together.”

This is the only place in the entire New Testament that these two words appear. Notice that both of these verbs contain sun. Hence, we could translate this verse as, “For we know that all creation groans together and is in labor pains together until now.

Meaning Explained

Back in verse nineteen we talked about whether ktisis referred to a single creature or to creation as a single collection of created things. The current verse gives us evidence that it refers to all of the visible creation. First, the entire flow of these few verses makes sense if the word ktisis is referring to the same thing or collection of things throughout. Secondly, the fact that both of the verbs we talked about above are in the third person singular and yet are done “together” implies that ktisis refers to a collection of created things rather than a single created thing.

With that under our belt, we can see that Paul is probably talking metaphorically about how all of the visible creation is waiting to be delivered from the bondage of corruption as we talked about in the previous verse. And why do I think Paul is being metaphorical? Because, just as I started out this paragraph with a metaphor (none of us really put the first two paragraphs under our belt), I believe that creation doesn’t really feel pain, nor is it about to give birth. However, it is quite possible that all of creation is groaning, or sighing.

Paul is saying that all of creation is eagerly anticipating the revelation of the sons of God because it (creation) has been placed in a condition where it is not fully useful and is decaying due to the sin of man. In verse twenty-one Paul told us that creation will be set free from the bondage of decay and corruption. All creation is now in a state of travail or painful waiting until sin is dealt with and all is recreated in the new heavens and the new earth. The new heavens and new earth will be free from decay and will no longer be groaning or sighing.

Application

The next time you hear a tree creak from the wind blowing through it or hear of an earthquake, a massive storm, or a tidal wave, remember that all of creation is groaning and in pain until the consummation of time, waiting for our salvation to be completed and for all things to be made perfectly new.

In God’s service, for His glory,

signature

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:e-mail address

Romans 8:21 – Curse Go Bye-Bye

Posted on by Will

Romans 8:21 – Curse Go Bye-Bye

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Truth to Learn

The curse on God’s creation will be lifted when we are glorified as the children of God.

Behind the Words

“Delivered” is translated from eleutheroō, which is the verb form of the noun eleutheros, meaning “free to move about, unrestrained, or independent.”

The word “corruption” is from phthora, which refers to “decay” or “spoiling.”

“Into” is from the Greek word eis. This preposition is most often translated “into” but it can have a lot of nuance translations as well. When this word is used in relation to time, it can be translated as “unto” or as “in expectation of.” This is very likely the use of the word in today’s verse.

Meaning Explained

We recently learned that the whole of creation was placed in a state or condition where it is not fully useful; it is perishable, and it is decaying. We also learned that God subjected creation in hope. This hope is explained in today’s verse.

Paul tells us that the reason creation was subjected “in hope” is because creation will be set free from this bondage of decay at the glorious liberty of the children of God. In other words, when God completes the final judgment and we who are saved are all given our eternal bodies, all of creation will also be freed from the bondage of corruption and it will be re-created. Here’s how the Apostle John described it in the book of Revelation:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:1-5a)

I am eagerly looking forward to that day when all sin and all sinners will have been judged and the current heavens and earth are no more, when the new heavens and the new earth have been created and we will spend eternity in peace and joy (in Matthew 25:21, 23 it’s called the joy of the Lord). There, in God’s new creation which will have been freed from the bondage of decay, we will be serving and praising God eternally, for He is worthy!

Application

When you see corruption and decay all around, don’t despair. Some day in the not too distant future God will give His children glorified bodies, and He will recreate the heavens and earth as a perfect place for us to serve Him!

In God’s service, for His glory,

signature

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:e-mail address

Romans 8:20 – Imperishable Expectation

Posted on by Will

Romans 8:20 – Imperishable Expectation

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

Truth to Learn

We live within perishable bodies in a dying and decaying world, but some day God will make all things imperishable.

Behind the Words

The word translated “subjected” is the Greek word hupotassō, which we have looked at before. It is a military term meaning to place in order (or rank) under another. It is often translated as “submit.”

“Futility” is translated from the Greek word mataiotēs, which is a form of mataios, meaning “without purpose, fruitless, aimless or empty.” It refers to “labor which is done with no purpose in mind” or, as is probably the meaning that Paul intended here, “a perishable and decaying condition.”

The word translated “willingly” is hekōn, which means “voluntarily, willingly, or without coercion.”

“Hope” is another word which we looked at back in chapter five. It comes from the Greek word elpis, which means “hope” or “anticipation.” In English when we think of “hope,” we think of desiring something but not really expecting it to happen, or at best, thinking that there is a chance of it happening. This Greek word, however, means, “the desire of something with the expectation that it will happen.” It is more than just simple hope, it is expectant hope. For this reason, this word is often translated as “faith.”

Meaning Explained

When Paul says that creation was “not willingly subjected to futility” he is saying that it was placed in a state or condition where it is perishable and decaying, and that this condition was imposed on creation; it wasn’t voluntary. The subjection of all creation to a state of perishableness and continual decay was imposed by the only one who could impose it: God. This very likely is referring to the curse that God placed on the ground when Adam and Eve sinned:

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. (Genesis 3:17-18)

This subjection of all of creation as a result of Adam’s sin was done by God with the promise that someday there would be a Redeemer who would conquer death and sin and who would restore all of creation to its former condition. I believe that is what Paul is referring to in the second half of this verse.

Paul will continue this thought in the next verse.

Application

The beauty of this verse is the promise of hope. No matter what happens to us, we always have the hope of God’s eventual triumph over evil, and we will share in that triumph with Him! And, even though we now exist in a perishable body in a dying and decaying world, we have expectant hope that God will honor his faithful children with a glorious body and a glorious creation, neither of which will ever decay or perish again.

In God’s service, for His glory,

signature

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:e-mail address

Romans 8:19 – Eagerly Anticipated Revelation

Posted on by Will

Romans 8:19 – Eagerly Anticipated Revelation

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Truth to Learn

All of God’s physical creation is anticipating the glory that we will receive one day from our Heavenly Father.

Behind the Words

The words translated, “earnest expectation” are translated from the Greek word apokaradokia. This is a double compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “before,” kara, meaning “the head,” and a form of dokeō, meaning “to think, suppose, or watch.” Putting these all together we see that it literally means “to watch or look forward with the head.” Thus we can see why this word has the meaning of “intense anticipation” as one would strain the neck forward looking intently into the distance expecting to see something very soon.

“Creation” is a translation of the Greek word ktisis. This word means “a thing created,” but it can be taken to mean a single created thing (creature) or the singular collection of all created things (creation).

The word translated “revealing” is apokalupsis. This is a noun form of apokaluptō, which we looked at in yesterday’s verse. It refers to that thing which is “uncovered or revealed.”

Meaning Explained

Here, once again, we have a verse of Scripture that has been highly debated for centuries. The controversy revolves primarily around the word translated “creation.” Without going into an extensive exposition of this word, let me simply state that I’m in the camp of those who believe it refers to all of creation (apart from mankind and angelic creatures). Others who believe that it refers to Christians as “a created thing” (for we are a “new creation” according to 2Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15) have a valid a reason to believe that as the correct interpretation. However, Paul uses this word repeatedly in this and the following few verses, and in verse twenty-two he refers to “the whole creation,” literally “all the creation (singular).” Therefore, since he uses the same word throughout and makes no obvious distinction, it is reasonable to assume that he uses the term the same in all of these verses.

One could reasonably ask why this would refer to all of creation apart from mankind and angelic creatures rather than all of creation including mankind and angelic beings. Much of mankind (those who are not saved) clearly is not eagerly waiting for the revealing of the sons of God, and angelic beings were not subjected to futility as declared in the next verse.

In the previous verse Paul stated that our present sufferings are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us some day (when our salvation is consummated and we receive our glorified bodies). In this verse I believe he is saying that all of physical creation is eagerly anticipating this revealing of the true sons of God in our revealed glory.

Application

If all of creation is figuratively straining its neck in eager anticipation of the revelation of the glorified sons of God, how much more should we be, we who will receive that glory. When we Christians suffer for our witness, we need to keep in mind that we will receive such marvelous glory from our Heavenly Father that the revelation of that glory is eagerly anticipated by all of creation. That’s something to think about!

In God’s service, for His glory,

signature

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:e-mail address