Romans 8:18-30

Nineteenth Passage (Romans 8:18-30). Completion of the Plan of Salvation, notwithstanding the Miseries of our present Condition.

In speaking of the full victory gained by the Spirit of Christ over the last remains of condemnation, Paul seemed to assume that the work had already reached its goal, and that nothing remained but to pass into glory. But in the words: “If so be we suffer with Him,” he had already given it to be understood that there remained to the children of God a career of suffering to be gone through in communion with Christ, and that the era of glory would only open to them after this painful interval. These two thoughts: the present state of suffering, and the certain glory in which it is to issue, are the theme of the following passage. This piece, as it appears to me, is one of those, the tenor of which has been most misunderstood even in the latest commentaries. It has been regarded as a series of consolatory themes, presented by the apostle to suffering believers. They are the following three, according to Meyer: 1. The preponderance of future glory over present sufferings (Romans 8:18-25); 2. the aid of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27); 3. the working together of all things for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28-30). M. Reuss says on reaching Romans 8:28: After hope (Romans 8:18-25) and the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27), the apostle mentions yet a third fact which is of a nature to support us, namely, “that everything contributes to the good of them that love God.” A little further on he adds: “To this end Paul recapitulates the series of acts whereby God interposes in the salvation of the individual.” A third fact..., to this end! Such expressions hardly suit our apostle's style; and when one is obliged to have recourse to them, it simply proves that he has not grasped the course of his thoughts. The same is the case with the division recently offered by Holsten, who here finds the hope of the Christian founded: 1. on the state of creation; 2. on the groaning of believers; 3. on the groaning of the Spirit; 4. on the consciousness of believers that their very sufferings must turn to their good. How can one imagine that he has understood St. Paul, when he lacerates his thoughts in this fashion?

The following passage develops two ideas: the world's state of misery in its present condition, a state demonstrated by the groaning of the whole creation, by that of believers themselves, and finally by that of the Holy Spirit; then in contrast, the certainty, notwithstanding all, of the perfect accomplishment of the glorious plan eternally conceived by God for our glory. The transition from the first idea to the second is found in the οἴδαμεν δέ, but we know, of Romans 8:28, where the adversative particle δέ, but, expressly establishes the contrast between the second idea and the first.

And first of all, the general theme, Romans 8:18, enunciating the two ideas to be developed: 1. The sufferings of the present time (the συμπάσχειν, to suffer with, Romans 8:17), and 2. The glory yet to be revealed in us (the συνδοξασθῆναι, being glorified together with, Romans 8:17).