Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Romans 8:23 - 8:23

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Romans 8:23 - 8:23


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23. καὶ αὐτοὶ. We Christians, though we have the earnest of the Spirit and of freedom, ourselves still find our body in bondage, not yet fully emancipated.

τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τ. πν. ἀπ. only here in this connexion; cf. ἀρραβών, Eph 1:14; 2Co 5:5 : and cf. 2Co 5:1-5 for a fuller expression of this thought.

υἱοθεσίαν. Cf. 15; Eph 1:5. υἱὸς marking privilege rather than nature, υἱοθεσία = putting into that position of privilege; to privilege character must be brought to correspond; consequently the word suggests a process, and may be used either of the beginning of the process (Rom 8:15) or of the end as here, or of the whole (Eph. l. c[163]); cf. Westcott on Eph. l. c[164]

[163] l. c. locus citatus

[164] l. c. locus citatus

τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν. Cf. on Rom 3:24. This word too indicates a process, not a finished act; cf. Eph 1:7; Col 1:14. Here and Eph 1:14; Eph 4:30 it is used to name the object for which the Spirit is given. So 1Co 1:30 Christ is our ἁγιασμὸς καὶ ἀπολύτρωσις. The simple verb is used of the beginning of the process, 1Pe 1:18; cf. Heb 9:12. The fundamental texts are Mat 20:28; |[165] Mar 10:45. N. Eph 1:10 connects man’s redemption and the destiny of creation, as here.

[165] | parallel to

τοῦ σώματος ἡ. The body: because (1) the body had become the seat of sin and death (Rom 7:24, Rom 8:11): (2) it is through the body that man is connected with the physical creation. The redemption of the physical organism of man’s life has a far-reaching effect upon all related physical creation; cf. 1Co 15:51-54; Php 3:21.