Romans 8:18

In us] RV 'to usward.' 19, 20, 21. Creature] RV 'creation,' i.e. the irrational creation: cp. Genesis 3:17. St. Paul represents nature poetically, as feeling that dissatisfaction with its pain and failure which exists in man's mind. There was a general expectation among the Jews, based on such passages as Isaiah 65:17. that the Messianic times would usher in a renovation of nature. This expectation is taken up in the NT.: cp. Acts 3:19.; Colossians 1:20; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1. In what way it will be fulfilled is beyond our knowledge.