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Christian Standard Bible ®

Romans 8:23

And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - First Fruits;   Holy Spirit;   Resurrection;   Suffering;   Scofield Reference Index - Adoption;   Thompson Chain Reference - Holy Spirit;   Spirit;   The Topic Concordance - Redemption;   Suffering;   Waiting;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Adoption;   Redemption;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Creation;   Firstfruits;   Flesh;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   Creation;   Death;   Firstfruits;   Freedom;   Healing;   Hope;   Humanity, humankind;   Image;   Jesus christ;   Mission;   Nature;   Paul;   Providence;   Reconciliation;   Redemption;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Adoption;   Baptize, Baptism;   Body;   Christians, Names of;   Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Create, Creation;   Feasts and Festivals of Israel;   Firstfruits;   Freedom;   Glorification;   Hope;   Image of God;   Old Testament in the New Testament, the;   Paul the Apostle;   Promise;   Redeem, Redemption;   Resurrection;   Salvation;   Spirituality;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - First Fruits;   Love to God;   Mortification;   Sanctification;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   Resurrection of the Dead;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   Beast;   Cherub (1);   Creation;   Earnest;   Firstborn;   Jubilee;   Lamech;   Leviticus;   Noah;   Passover;   Redeemer;   Regeneration;   Thousand Years;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   Body;   Death;   Eschatology;   Fall;   Firstfruits;   Future Hope;   Heavens, New;   Humanity;   Imagery;   Life;   Providence;   Resurrection;   Romans, Book of;   Salvation;   Spirit;   World, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adoption;   Atonement;   Children (Sons) of God;   Evil;   Faith;   Hope;   Joy;   Redeemer, Redemption;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Adoption;   Ascension (2);   Baptism;   Children of God, Sons of God;   Deliverer;   Discipline;   Evil;   Example;   First-Fruit ;   First-Fruits;   Flesh (2);   God;   Good;   Grief ;   Guilt (2);   Heaven;   Holy Spirit;   Hope ;   Liberty;   Love;   Pentecost ;   Redemption;   Redemption (2);   Repentance;   Resurrection;   Romans Epistle to the;   Salvation Save Saviour;   Trust;   Union with God;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   First-Fruits;   Redemption;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - First-fruits;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Adoption,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - First-Fruits;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adoption;   Children of God;   Eschatology of the Old Testament (with Apocryphal and Apocalyptic Writings);   First-Fruits;   Groan;   Hope;   Immortal;   Pauline Theology;   Regeneration;   Resurrection;   Sanctification;   Sin (1);   Sons of God (New Testament);   Spirit;   Wait;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Adoption;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Love;   Saul of Tarsus;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 21;   Every Day Light - Devotion for March 6;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
We who ride for God also suffer in pain as we wait for the future glory that is to come. We wait to be freed from sin and suffering.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Legacy Standard Bible
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Bible in Basic English
And not only so, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we have sorrow in our minds, waiting for the time when we will take our place as sons, that is, the salvation of our bodies.
Darby Translation
And not only [that], but even *we* ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we also ourselves groan in ourselves, awaiting adoption, [that is] the redemption of our body.
World English Bible
Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And not only they, but even we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Weymouth's New Testament
And more than that, we ourselves, though we possess the Spirit as a foretaste and pledge of the glorious future, yet we ourselves inwardly sigh, as we wait and long for open recognition as sons through the deliverance of our bodies.
King James Version (1611)
And not only they, but our selues also which haue the first fruites of the spirit, euen we our selues groane within our selues, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Literal Translation
And not only so , but also we ourselves having the firstfruit of the Spirit, also we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly expecting adoption, the redemption of our body;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Not they only, but we oure selues also, which haue the first frutes of the sprete, grone within in oure selues for the childshippe, and loke for ye delyueraunce of oure bodye.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and not only they, but even those who have the first fruits of the spirit, even we our selves do inwardly groan for the fruit of our adoption, by the deliverance of our body from corruption.
Amplified Bible
And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection].
American Standard Version
And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Revised Standard Version
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Not they only but even we also which have the fyrst frutes of the sprite morne in oureselves and wayte for the (adopcio) and loke for the delivraunce of oure bodyes.
Update Bible Version
And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan inside ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.
Webster's Bible Translation
And not only [they], but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.
Young's Literal Translation
And not only [so], but also we ourselves, having the first-fruit of the Spirit, we also ourselves in ourselves do groan, adoption expecting -- the redemption of our body;
New Century Version
Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God's promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us his own children, which means our bodies will be made free.
New English Translation
Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Berean Standard Bible
Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Contemporary English Version
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free.
Complete Jewish Bible
and not only it, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we continue waiting eagerly to be made sons — that is, to have our whole bodies redeemed and set free.
English Standard Version
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And not onely the creature, but we also which haue the first fruites of the Spirit, euen we doe sigh in our selues, waiting for the adoption, euen the redemption of our body.
George Lamsa Translation
And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our bodies.
Hebrew Names Version
Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
International Standard Version
However, not only creation groans,groans
">[fn] but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan inwardly as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.Luke 20:36; 21:28; 2 Corinthians 5:2,4-5; Ephesians 1:14; 4:30;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and not only they, but we also who have in us the first-fruit of the Spirit, groan within ourselves, and wait for the adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Murdock Translation
And not only they, but we also in whom are the first fruits of the Spirit, we groan within ourselves, and look anxiously for the adoption of sons, the redemption of our bodies.
New King James Version
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
New Living Translation
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
New Life Bible
We also cry inside ourselves, even we who have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the first of God's gifts to us. We are waiting to become His complete sons when our bodies are made free.
English Revised Version
And not only so, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
New Revised Standard
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, not only so, but, we ourselves, also, who have the first-fruit of the Spirit - weeven ourselves, within our own selves do sigh, - sonship ardently awaiting - the redeeming of our body; -
Douay-Rheims Bible
And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.
King James Version
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Lexham English Bible
Not only this, but we ourselves also, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves while we await eagerly our adoption, the redemption of our body.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Not only [they], but we also which haue the first fruites of the spirite, and we our selues mourne in our selues, and wayte for the adoption, euen the deliueraunce of our body.
Easy-to-Read Version
Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God's promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us his own children. I mean we are waiting for our bodies to be made free.
New American Standard Bible
And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body.
Good News Translation
But it is not just creation alone which groans; we who have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts also groan within ourselves as we wait for God to make us his children and set our whole being free.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And not oneli it, but also we vs silf, that han the first fruytis of the spirit, and we vs silf sorewen with ynne vs for the adopcioun of Goddis sonys, abidynge the ayenbiyng of oure bodi.

Contextual Overview

17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God's sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God's children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

which have: Romans 8:15, Romans 8:16, Romans 5:5, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 5:9

even we: Romans 8:26, Romans 7:24, 2 Corinthians 5:2-4, 2 Corinthians 7:5, Philippians 1:21-23, 1 Peter 1:7

waiting: Romans 8:19, Romans 8:25, Luke 20:36, Philippians 3:20, Philippians 3:21, 2 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28, 1 John 3:2

the redemption: Luke 21:28, Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 4:30

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:16 - redeemed Exodus 22:29 - shalt not delay Leviticus 23:17 - the firstfruits Leviticus 25:24 - redemption Deuteronomy 26:2 - That thou shalt Psalms 38:9 - groaning Psalms 119:174 - longed Ecclesiastes 1:8 - full Isaiah 25:9 - Lo Isaiah 64:4 - waiteth 1 Corinthians 1:30 - redemption 1 Corinthians 15:13 - General 2 Corinthians 1:22 - the earnest Galatians 4:5 - that we Ephesians 1:5 - unto 1 Thessalonians 1:10 - wait Titus 3:7 - made Hebrews 11:14 - they seek

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And not only they, but ourselves also,.... Not only they Gentiles, but we Jews likewise:

which have the firstfruits of the Spirit: meaning either the apostles, who were all Jews, and who most of them received the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit on the day of "Pentecost", which was the day of the firstfruits, Numbers 28:26; and to which there seems to be an allusion here; or else the Jewish converts in general: to the Jews the promises of the Messiah were made; to them he first came; the Gospel was first preached unto them, and some of them first believed in Christ; they had the grace of God communicated to them in conversion, which they received as the firstfruits, with respect to an after increase; or in regard to glory, like the firstfruits, grace is of the same kind with glory, and is a pledge and earnest of it; saints judge by grace the firstfruits, what glory is, and therefore long after it; now of these persons thus described it is said,

even we ourselves groan within ourselves; their groans were inward from their hearts, not hypocritical or were among themselves, common to them all; and that not merely on their own account, the corruptions of their hearts, the sufferings they endured for the sake of the Gospel, and in a longing expectation for the heavenly glory, but also for the conversion of the Gentiles, for which they incessantly laboured, and prayed night and day;

waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Adoption is explained by the redemption of the body; and by the one may be known what the other means: by "the redemption of our body" is not meant the redemption of God's elect, body and soul, by the blood and death of Christ, which was already finished; and which the saints, who had received the firstfruits, were partakers of in themselves, and therefore could not be said to be waiting for it: but it designs either the redemption of the natural body, by the resurrection from the dead; when the bodies of the saints will be delivered from that mortality, corruption, weakness, and dishonour, under which they lie in the grave; when they will be refined and spiritualized, and freed from everything which makes them an incumbrance, and an uneasiness to their souls or spirits now; or else the redemption of the mystical body the church, of which the Gentiles make a considerable part, and is to be understood of a deliverance of the church, from the distresses and persecutions it then laboured under; or rather of a making up of the body, the church, by a redemption or deliverance of that part of it, which lay among the Gentiles, from that vanity and bondage of corruption, to which it was subject, into the manifestation and glorious liberty of the sons of God: and then by "adoption" is meant, the special grace of adoption, manifested to the Gentiles in their effectual calling; which the Jews who had received the firstfruits of the Spirit were waiting for, and had good reason to expect, from many prophecies in the writings of the Old Testament; and to which they were the more encouraged, by many appearances of the grace and power of God, attending the ministry of the Gospel among them; and which adoption will be more fully manifested in the resurrection morn; wherefore also the inheritance, which the whole mystical body the church will then enter upon the possession of, may well be called "the adoption", because the saints are adopted to it; adoption gives them the title to it, none but adopted ones will enjoy it; and their enjoyment of it will be the full manifestation and completion of the grace of adoption; this saints are waiting for, both for themselves and others, and it is worth waiting for; for it is "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, which fades not away, reserved in the heavens", 1 Peter 1:4: and there is good ground to wait for it; it is a bequest of their heavenly Father, who has adopted them; it is a gift of his free grace; it is already in the hands of Christ, with whom they are co-heirs; and they have already the Spirit, as the earnest of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And not only they - Not only the creation in general. “But ourselves also.” Christians.

Which have the first-fruits of the Spirit - The word used ἀπαρχὴ aparchē denotes properly the first-fruits of the harvest, the portion that was first collected and consecrated to God as an offering of gratitude, Deuteronomy 26:2; Exodus 23:19; Numbers 18:13. Hence, the word means what is first in order of time. Here it means, as I suppose, that the Christians of whom Paul was speaking had partaken of the first influences of the Spirit, or had been among the first partakers of his influences in converting sinners. The Spirit had been sent down to attend the preaching of the gospel, and they were among the first who had partaken of those influences. Some, however, have understood the word to mean a pledge, or earnest, or foretaste of joys to come. This idea has been attached to the word because the first-fruits of the harvest were a pledge of the harvest, an evidence that it was ripe, etc. But the word does not seem to be used in this sense in the New Testament. The only places where it occurs are the following; Romans 8:23; Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1Co 15:23; 1 Corinthians 16:15; James 1:18; Revelation 14:4.

Groan within ourselves - We sigh for deliverance. The expression denotes strong internal desire; the deep anguish of spirit when the heart is oppressed with anguish, and earnestly wishes for succor.

Waiting for the adoption - Waiting for the full blessings of the adoption. Christians are adopted when they are converted Romans 8:15, but they have not been yet admitted to the full privileges of their adoption into the family of God. Their adoption when they are converted is secret, and may at the time be unknown to the world. The fullness of the adoption, their complete admission to the privileges of the sons of God, shall be in the day of judgment, in the presence of the universe, and amidst the glories of the final consummation of all things. This adoption is not different from the first, but is the completion of the act of grace when a sinner is received into the family of God.

The redemption of the body - The complete recovery of the body from death and corruption. The particular and striking act of the adoption in the day of judgment will be the raising up of the body from the grave, and rendering it immortal and eternally blessed. The particular effects of the adoption in this world are on the soul. The completion of it on the last day will be seen particularly in the body; and thus the entire man shall be admitted into the favor of God, and restored from all his sins and all the evil consequences of the fall. The apostle here speaks the language of every Christian. The Christian has joys which the world does not know; but he has also sorrows; he sighs over his corruption; he is in the midst of calamity; he is going to the grave; and he looks forward to that complete deliverance, and to that elevated state, when, in the presence of an assembled universe, he shall be acknowledged as a child of God. This elevated privilege gives to Christianity its high value; and the hope of being acknowledged in the presence of the universe as the child of God - the hope of the poorest and the humblest believer - is of infinitely mere value than the prospect of the most princely inheritance, or of the brightest crown that a monarch ever wore.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. And not only they, but ourselves also — Neither the Gentiles only, but we Jews also, (however we belong to a nation envious of the heathen,) to whom God hath granted the first fruits of the Spirit; we sigh among ourselves for their sakes, waiting for the adoption; that is, the redemption of our mystical body, whereof the Gentiles make a very great part. Lightfoot's works. vol. ii. p. 359 and 707.

The scope and design of St. Paul in these verses may be thus summed up:-The apostle shows that the whole creation is in a suffering state, into which it has been brought by the disobedience of one man, Adam; therefore, it was made subject to vanity-pain, sickness, and death; not willingly, for mankind had no part in that transgression which "brought death into the world and all our wo;" but God subjected the whole, purposing to afford them a deliverance and infusing into every heart a hope that a more auspicious era should take place; and it is through the influence of this hope, which every man possesses, that the present ills are so patiently borne, because all are expecting better days. The great deliverer is the Messiah, and the Gospel days the auspicious era which God intended to bring forward. They who believe in Christ with a heart unto righteousness are freed from the bondage of their sinful corruption, and brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; and they look forward with joyous expectation, waiting for the general resurrection, when their bodies also shall be redeemed from corruption, and the whole man, body and soul, be adopted into the family of heaven ABOVE, as their souls had been previously adopted into the family of faith BELOW. And although it may be said that the redemption provided by the Gospel can not be an object of hope to those who have never heard of it; yet, as every man has hope, and this hope is inspired by God for this very purpose; that it may be the means of supporting them in the ills of life, and God, in inspiring it, had respect to the glorious state of Christianity, therefore it is this state, in effect, that the whole creation are longing for. So Jesus Christ is said, by the Prophet Haggai, Haggai 2:7, to be the desire of all nations; and yet not one of the nations of the earth had, at that time, heard of him. And thus, as Dr. Whitby has very properly remarked, "desire and expectation are ascribed to creatures, in reference to things they want, and which tend to their advantage; notwithstanding they explicitly know nothing of them."


 
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