John Calvin Commentary Romans 8:23

"And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body." — Romans 8:23 (ASV)

And not only so, etc. There are those who think that the Apostle intended here to exalt the dignity of our future blessedness, and by this proof: because all things look for it with ardent desire, not only the irrational parts of creation, but we also, who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God.

This view is indeed capable of being defended, but there seems to me to be a comparison here between the greater and the less. It is as if he said, “The excellence of our glory is of such importance even to the very elements, which lack mind and reason, that they burn with a certain kind of desire for it. How much more it behooves us, who have been illuminated by the Spirit of God, to aspire and strive with firmness of hope and with ardor of desire for the attainment of so great a benefit.”

And he requires that there should be a feeling of two kinds in the faithful: that being burdened with the sense of their present misery, they are to groan; and that nevertheless, they are to wait patiently for their deliverance. For he would have them be raised up with the expectation of their future blessedness, and by an elevation of mind to overcome all their present miseries, while they consider not what they are now, but what they are to be.

Who have the beginnings, etc. Some translate the word as 'first-fruits' (primitias), understanding it to mean a rare and uncommon excellence; but I by no means approve of this view.

To avoid, therefore, any ambiguity, I have translated the word as beginnings (primordia, the elements). For I do not apply the expression, as they do, to the Apostles only, but to all the faithful who in this world are sprinkled with only a few drops by the Spirit. Indeed, even when they make the greatest progress, being endowed with a considerable measure of it, they are still far from perfection.

These, then, in the view of the Apostle, are beginnings or first-fruits, to which the complete ingathering is opposed. For as we are not yet endowed with fullness, it is no wonder that we feel unease.

By repeating ourselves and adding in ourselves, he makes the sentence more emphatic and expresses a more ardent desire; nor does he call it only a desire, but groaning, for in groaning there is a deep feeling of misery.

Waiting for the adoption, etc. Adoption is employed here—improperly indeed, but not without the best reason—to designate the fruition of the inheritance to which we are adopted. For Paul means that the eternal decree of God—by which he has chosen us for himself as sons before the foundation of the world, of which he testifies to us in the gospel, and the assurance of which he seals on our hearts by his Spirit—would be void, unless the promised resurrection, which is its consummation, were certain.

For to what end is God our Father, unless he receives us into his celestial inheritance after we have finished our earthly pilgrimage? To the same purpose is what he immediately adds, the redemption of the body.

For the price of our redemption was paid by Christ in such a way that death nevertheless still holds us tied by its chains; indeed, we carry it within us. It therefore follows that the sacrifice of Christ’s death would be in vain and fruitless, unless its fruit appeared in our heavenly renovation.