John Bengel Commentary - Romans 8:21 - 8:21

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John Bengel Commentary - Romans 8:21 - 8:21


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Rom 8:21. Ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι [super spe: resting on hope], in hope) It is construed with, was made subject, so, in hope [super spe], is put absolutely, Act 2:26; and comp. by hope [spe], Rom 8:24.-αὐτὴ ἡ κτίσις) itself, to wit, the creature.-ἐλευθερωθήσεται, shall be delivered [set free]) Deliverance is not accomplished by means of complete destruction; otherwise quadrupeds, when they are butchered, would fall with pleasure.[95]-ἈΠῸ Τῆς ΔΟΥΛΕΊΑς Τῆς ΦΘΟΡᾶς ΕἸς ΤῊΝ ἘΛΕΥΘΕΡΊΑΝ Τῆς ΔΌΞΗς, from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty) Ἀπὸ, from, and εἰς, into, are opposed to each other. From denotes the point, from which we set out; into, the point at which we arrive. Bondage and liberty belong to the creature; corruption and glory to men, even believers [the latter, glory to believers alone: the former, corruption, to men in general]. Vanity, Rom 8:20, is something more subtle than φθορὰ, corruption. Not only deliverance, but also liberty, is that goal, to which the creature in its own way is directing its course.-εἰς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν, into the liberty) In order that they may in freedom be subservient to the glory of the sons [of God].-Cluverus.

[95] i.e., were death and annihilation a deliverance. Therefore the coming restoration of the creature and its deliverance will not consist in their destruction and annihilation.-ED.