26–end. This section enforces the above description of the Christian life, by the evidence of experience that GOD Himself helps man in this endurance of hope, the Holy Spirit Romans 8:26, the Father Romans 8:28, the Son Romans 8:34.

26. ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ κ.τ.λ. As hope is the link of fellowship between man and creation, so the attitude of hope wins the help of the Holy Spirit, it is the link of fellowship in action between GOD and man.

τὸ πνεῦμα. Picks up and expands the hint of Romans 8:16. N. that the Spirit here is definitely represented as in a reciprocal relation to the Father which we can only describe as personal.

συναντιλαμβάνεται. Cf. Luke 10:40; = puts His hand to the work in cooperation with us. The work as shown by Romans 8:16 and the following sentences is prayer as the first expression of the character of sonship.

τῇ�. = with us in our weakness. Weakness associated with hope necessarily falls to prayer. In that action the Spirit helps. ἀσθ. = all in ourselves that makes it hard to endure.

γὰρ. Introduces explanation of our weakness.

τὸ τί προσευξ. Cf. Blass, p. 158. The groaning (of Romans 8:23) finds no adequate or formulated expression: we know we are in want but how to express our need in particular we know not; it utters itself in a cry of appeal (Romans 8:16): and in that cry we are conscious that the Spirit joins in terms inexpressible by us, but intelligible to Him whose Spirit He is. The Father understands the Spirit framing the utterance of the children.

ὑπερεντ. only here; cf. Romans 8:35. στεναγμοῖς, cf. Acts 7:34. ἀλαλήτοις, only here; cf. 2 Corinthians 12:4.

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Old Testament