18For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is about to be revealed to us. [8:19] For the earnest expectation of the creation strains forward for the revealing of the sons of God. [8:20] For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in hope [8:21] that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [8:22] For we know that all creation travails together and suffers birth-pangs together until now. [8:23] And not only that, but we ourselves also — having the firstfruits of the Spirit — even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for divine adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. [8:24] For in hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is not hope — for why would one hope for what he sees? [8:25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patient endurance. [8:26] And likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness — for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with groanings too deep for words. [8:27] And he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints according to God.
ROM 8:18-27
Future Glory
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman world, suffering was often seen as a test of character, particularly in Stoic philosophy, which emphasized endurance and detachment. However, Paul’s audience in Rome would have understood suffering not merely as a personal trial but as part of a cosmic narrative. The term (earnest expectation) evokes an image of intense anticipation, akin to straining one’s neck forward, suggesting a collective longing for redemption. The creation’s subjection to (futility) reflects the Jewish apocalyptic worldview, where the natural world is caught in a cycle of decay and futility due to sin. The imagery of (travailing together) draws from childbirth, symbolizing both pain and the hope of new life. Paul’s use of (adoption as sons) resonates with Roman legal practices, where adoption conferred full inheritance rights, emphasizing the believer’s secure status in God’s family. This passage would have reassured a diverse Roman audience—Jews and Gentiles alike—that their suffering was part of a larger divine plan leading to ultimate liberation and glory.
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How other translations render this
ROM 8:18
- KJV
- For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
- BSB
- I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
- Koinōnos
- For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is about to be revealed to us.
ROM 8:19
- KJV
- For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
- BSB
- The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.
- Koinōnos
- For the earnest expectation of the creation strains forward for the revealing of the sons of God.
ROM 8:20
- KJV
- For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
- BSB
- For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope
- Koinōnos
- For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in hope
ROM 8:21
- KJV
- Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
- BSB
- that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
- Koinōnos
- that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
ROM 8:22
- KJV
- For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
- BSB
- We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.
- Koinōnos
- For we know that all creation travails together and suffers birth-pangs together until now.
ROM 8:23
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- And not only that, but we ourselves also — having the firstfruits of the Spirit — even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for divine adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
ROM 8:24
- KJV
- For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
- BSB
- For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?
- Koinōnos
- For in hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is not hope — for why would one hope for what he sees?
ROM 8:25
- KJV
- But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
- BSB
- But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
- Koinōnos
- But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patient endurance.
ROM 8:26
- KJV
- Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
- BSB
- In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
- Koinōnos
- And likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness — for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with groanings too deep for words.
ROM 8:27
- KJV
- And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
- BSB
- And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
- Koinōnos
- And he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints according to God.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ROM 8:19
- earnest expectation:The word translated 'earnest expectation' describes a posture of intense, eager anticipation, like craning one's neck forward to see something that is coming into view.
ROM 8:20
- futility:The term used here for 'futility' conveys a sense of emptiness, purposelessness, and vanity, often associated with things that are ultimately meaningless or without lasting value.
ROM 8:22
- it travails together:The phrase 'it travails together' uses a word that specifically refers to the intense pain and struggle of childbirth, emphasizing a shared, agonizing experience leading to new life.
ROM 8:23
- divine adoption as sons:The word translated 'divine adoption as sons' refers to the legal act of formally adopting someone as a son, granting them full rights and inheritance within a family, not merely a spiritual blessing.