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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 8:20

τῇ γὰρ ματαιότητι = the purposelessness, futility which the world of nature exhibits, until the conception of nature is itself brought under the larger conception of GOD’S eternal providence.

ὑπετάγη. Prob. ref. Genesis 3:17-18.

διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα = for the purposes of Him who so subjected it; cf. on Romans 5:10; Hebrews 2:10. S. Paul here connects the actual condition of nature with the Fall, as he does the actual condition of human nature in c. 5., no doubt in dependence on Genesis 3:17.

ἐφ' ἑλπίδι with ὑπετάγη. The subjection to vanity is a commonplace: the novelty here lies in the vision of hope.

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See also Romans 8:20 in other biblical comments:

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Old Testament