Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 8:19

"For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God." — Romans 8:19 (ASV)

For the earnest expectation (apokaradokia). This word occurs only here and in Philippians 1:20: According to my earnest expectation and my hope, and so on. It properly signifies a state of earnest desire to see an object when the head is thrust forward; an intense anxiety; an ardent wish; and is therefore well used to signify the intense interest with which a Christian looks toward his future inheritance.

Of the creature (tēs ktiseōs). Perhaps no passage in the New Testament has been considered more difficult to interpret than this (Romans 8:19–23), and despite all the efforts critics have devoted to it, still no proposed explanation is perfectly satisfactory, nor do commentators agree on one. The purpose here will be to present what seems to the writer to be the true meaning, without trying to dispute the opinions of other critics. The main design of the passage is to show the sustaining power of the gospel in the midst of trials, by the prospect of the future deliverance and inheritance of the sons of God. This scope of the passage should guide our interpretation. The following are, I believe, the main points in this illustration:

1. The word creature refers to the renewed nature of the Christian, or to the Christian as renewed.

2. He is waiting for his future glory—that is, he desires to obtain the full development of the honors that await him as a child of God (Romans 8:19).

3. He is subjected to a state of trial and futility, offering comparatively little comfort and much unease.

4. This is not in accordance with the desire of his heart—not willingly—but is the wise appointment of God (Romans 8:20).

5. In this state, there is the hope of deliverance into glorious liberty (Romans 8:21).

6. This condition does not exist merely for the Christian but is the common condition of the world. All of it groans and is in trial, just as the Christian is. He, therefore, should not consider his condition uniquely trying. It is the common lot of all things here (Romans 8:22).

7. But Christians alone have the prospect of deliverance. To them is offered the hope of final rescue and an eternal inheritance beyond all these sufferings. They wait, therefore, for the full benefits of adoption: the complete recovery even of the body from the effects of sin, and from the toils and trials of this life. Thus, they are sustained by hope, which is the argument the apostle has in view (Romans 8:23–24).

With this understanding of the general scope of the passage, we can examine the particular phrases.

Of the creature. The word translated here as creature (ktisis) occurs nineteen times in the New Testament and is used in the following senses:

1. Creation; the act of creating (Romans 1:20).

2. The creature; that which is created or formed; the universe (Mark 10:6; Mark 13:19; 2 Peter 3:4; Romans 1:25; Romans 8:39).

3. The rational creation; humanity as rational beings; the world of humankind (Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:23; 1 Peter 2:13).

4. Perhaps the church, the new creation of God, taken collectively (Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14).

5. The Christian, the new creation, regarded individually; the work of the Holy Spirit on the renewed heart; the new man.

After all the attention I can give to this passage, I consider this to be the meaning here, for the following reasons, namely:

1. Because this alone seems to me to suit the connection and make sense in the argument. If the word refers, as different interpreters have supposed, either to angels, human bodies, the material creation, or the rational creation (humanity or humankind), it is difficult to see what connection any of these would have with the argument. The apostle is discussing the benefits of the gospel to Christians in times of trial; and the direction of the argument requires us to understand this illustration concerning them, unless the proper laws of interpreting words compel us otherwise.

2. The word creature is used in a similar sense by the same apostle. For example, in 2 Corinthians 5:17: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (kainē ktisis). Also, Galatians 6:15: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

3. The verb create is used this way. For example, Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.Ephesians 2:15: Having abolished in his flesh the enmity... for to make in himself of twain one new man; Greek: "That he might create (ktisē) the two into one new man."Ephesians 4:24: The new man, which is created in righteousness, and so on.

4. Nothing was more natural than for the sacred writers to speak of a Christian in this way, as a new creation, a new creature. The great power of God involved in a Christian's conversion, and the strong resemblance between the act of creation and the imparting of spiritual life, naturally led to this use of the language.

5. Language similar to this occurs in the Old Testament, and it was natural to transfer it to the New Testament. The Jewish people were represented as made or created by God for His service; and the phrase, therefore, could come to designate those who were thus formed by Him for His service. Deuteronomy 32:6: Hath he not made thee, and established thee?Isaiah 43:7: Every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Isaiah 43:21: This people have I formed for myself. From all these reasons, it seems to me that the expression here is used to denote Christians, renewed men. Its meaning, however, is varied in Romans 8:22.

Waiteth for. This means expects; the creature is not in a state of possession but is looking for it with interest.

The manifestation of the sons of God. This refers to the full development of the benefits for the sons of God; the time when they will be acknowledged and received into the full privileges of sons. Here Christians have some evidence of their adoption. But they are in a world of sin; they are exposed to trials; they are subject to many calamities. And though they have evidence here that they are the sons of God, yet they wait for that period when they will be fully delivered from all these trials and be admitted to the enjoyment of all the privileges of the children of the Most High.

The time when this will take place is at the Day of Judgment, when they will be fully acknowledged as His children in the presence of an assembled universe. All Christians are represented as being in this posture of waiting for the full possession of their privileges as the children of God. 1 Corinthians 1:7: Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Galatians 5:5: For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 1 Thessalonians 1:10.