Romans 8:19

For the earnest expectation, &c. The connexion of thought is: "A glory is to be revealed for us, the children of God; and so real and momentous is that glory, and its revelation, that it is intently expected by -the creature." " "The manifestation of the sons of God:" more lit., and better, (as referring back to the word "revealed," Romans 8:18,) the revelation, &c.

The Expectation of the Creature

The remarkable passage, Romans 8:19-23, demands a few preliminary general remarks. Among the many explanations of its meaning, two are the most representative and important. Of these (A) takes the passage to refer to the vague but deep longings of mankind for a better future; (B) to the longings, in a certain sense, of "creation" as distinguished from man, for a coming glory. According to (A) the doctrine is that humanity, outside the pale of the believing Church, shews in many ways its sense of weariness and aspiration; that this is an unconscious testimony to the fact of a glorious futurity; and that this futurity will be realized at the Consummation, when (not indeed all mankind, but) all from all mankind who shall have believed, will inherit the glory prepared for God's children. According to (B) the doctrine is that the non-intelligent universe has before it a glorious transformation; that this is to take place when the saints "appear with Christ in glory;" and that in some sense there is a longing for this in "mute and material things."

The decision lies in the true meaning here of the word rendered "Creature" and "Creation" the same word in the Greek.

Now certainly in one remarkable text (Mark 16:15,) that word means mankind;so too Colossians 1:23, (where render, "in all the creationunder heaven.") And the peculiar intensity of the language of thought and feeling here ("earnest expectation," "hope," "groaning and travailing,") makes it certainly difficultto apply it, in so dogmatic a passage, to "rocks and stones and trees." The longings, however vague, of human hearts are certainly suggested at the first thought.

But, on the other hand, there are many well-known places (e.g. Psalms 98:7-8; Isaiah 35:1; Hosea 2:21;) where rejoicing, or even prayer, is represented as uttered by inanimate things. The whole tone of Scripture makes it certain that this is purely figurative; a reflection, as it were, of the feelings of conscious beings; for Revelation recognizes no "soul of the world." But the language of such passages is a fact, and throws some light on this passage; though this differs from those in respect of its dogmaticcharacter.

And again, the "Creation" here is said to have been "unwillingly" (Romans 8:20) "subjected to vanity," i.e. to evil. Now the doctrine of sin, so fully expounded in the previous Chapter s, forbids us to refer this to the unrenewed human heart, in which the perverted willis the secret of all transgressions.

On the whole, notwithstanding serious difficulties, it seems necessary to take the word "Creation" here to mean what we popularly call "Nature." Thus the passage reveals that, in some sense, a future of glory, a transfiguration, awaits "Creation;" and the shocks and apparent failures in the present universe are, in a figure, taken to be this (absolutely impersonal) "Creation's" longing and expectancy. We learn also that this transfiguration will not come till the final glorification of the saints; i.e. till the eternal state. Our best comment will be, then, 2 Peter 3; where we find (1) that the "Day of the Lord" (i.e. of resurrection and judgment) will be attended with the fiery dissolution of the present frame of things; and (2) that then, in modes absolutely unknown to us, there will be, as it were, a resurrection of the "heavens and earth;" or, to keep close to Scripture, "new heavens and a new earth."

There is ample Scripture evidence (Psalms 102:26; Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 24:35; &c.) that "all these things must be dissolved." The resurrection of Creation will be indeed as from a tomb. And who shall describe"the body that shall be" of that New Universe? Or who shall reconcile with eternitythe idea of materiality, even when that idea is refined to the utmost? But we believe, in our own case, that "body" as well as "spirit" will live for ever, in a state at present inconceivable. A Universe in some sense materialmay therefore also be to last for ever, by the Divine will.

Note meanwhile that St Paul nowise dilates on this prospect. It is mentioned by the way, to vivify the idea of the greatness of the glory of the saints in their final bliss.

earnest expectation Lit. waiting with outstretched head; a single and forcible word in the Gr. See previous note for remarks on this and like words as in this passage.

creature Better, in modern English, creation; and so through the passage.

waiteth for The Gr. word again is intense; almost q. d., "is absorbed in awaiting."

the manifestation, &c. i.e. the "glorification together with Christ;"

"the revelation of glory upon them," (Romans 8:17-18.) They shall at length be "manifested" to one another, and to the universe, in their true character as the children of the King Eternal.