Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 8:23

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�. πν. ἀπ. only here in this connexion; cf. ἀρραβών, Ephesians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:5 : and cf. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 for a fuller expression of this thought.

υἱοθεσίαν. Cf. 15; Ephesians 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 (Romans 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�. Cf. on Romans 3:24. This word too indicates a process, not a finished act; cf. Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14. Here and Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 4:30 it is used to name the object for which the Spirit is given. So 1 Corinthians 1:30 Christ is our ἁγιασμὸς καὶ�. The simple verb is used of the beginning of the process, 1 Peter 1:18; cf. Hebrews 9:12. The fundamental texts are Matthew 20:28; |[165] Mark 10:45. N. Ephesians 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 (Romans 7:24; Romans 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. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Philippians 3:21.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 8:23

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