Romans 8:18-39 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:21

Because the creature itself also ,.... The phrase in hope, which stands in our version, at the end of the preceding verse, should be placed in the beginning of this, and be read in connection with Romans 8:19 being a parenthesis, thus: "the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God, in hope that the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption"; and so it is placed in some copies, and in the Syriac version: that is, "the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:22

For we know that the whole creation groaneth ,.... As a woman with child, ready to bring forth: for it is added, and travaileth in pain together until now ; regeneration is owing to the grace of God, which is compared to "seed", of which men are born again; the means of conveying it is the Gospel, and ministers are the instruments of begetting souls to Christ, and who travail in birth till Christ be formed in them: now the Gospel being carried by the apostles into the Gentile world, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:23

And not only they, but ourselves also ,.... Not only they Gentiles, but we Jews likewise: which have the firstfruits of the Spirit : meaning either the apostles, who were all Jews, and who most of them received the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit on the day of "Pentecost", which was the day of the firstfruits, Numbers 28:26 ; and to which there seems to be an allusion here; or else the Jewish converts in general: to the Jews the promises of the Messiah were made; to them he first... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:24

For we are saved by hope ,.... We who have received the firstfruits, who were in a lost perishing condition, and by nature no better than others, than the Gentiles, are saved by sin and wrath to come by Christ, with a spiritual and everlasting salvation. They were already saved in the preparations and purposes of God; in the covenant of grace; in the arms and hands of Christ, through his purchase; and as considered in him; and with respect to the inchoation and application of salvation, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:25

But if we hope for that we see not ,.... Whether it be the hour of death, or the second coming of Christ, or the resurrection of the dead, and eternal glory; all which are unseen by us, and to be hoped for: then do we with patience wait for it ; as that which is certain and real, as something valuable, which will be satisfying, and be received with the utmost joy. This supposes, that the persons who wait for it believe it, and their interest in it, at least hope they have one; that they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities ,.... The Spirit of God which dwells in us, by whom we are led, who is the spirit of adoption to us, who has witnessed to our spirits, that we are the children of God, whose firstfruits we have received, over and above, and besides what he has done for us, "also helpeth our infirmities"; whilst we are groaning within ourselves, both for ourselves and for others, and are waiting patiently for what we are hoping for. The people of God, all of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:27

And he that searcheth the hearts ,.... This is peculiar to God, and a "periphrasis" of him; angels, neither good nor bad, can search into the hearts of men; one man cannot know the heart of another, nor any man fully know his own; this is the prerogative of God: and he knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit ; not the spirit of men, but of God: that affectionate desire and meaning of the Spirit of God, in the unalterable groans of the saints; he knows the wise meaning there is in them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good,.... There is a temporal good, and a spiritual good, and an eternal one. Temporal good is what the men of the world are seeking after, and generally have the greatest share of, and the saints the least; and yet they have as much as is needful for them, and what they have, they have with a blessing; and even sometimes afflictions work for the temporal good of God's children: spiritual good lies in a lively exercise of grace and a conformity of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow ,.... The foreknowledge of God here, does not intend his prescience of all things future; by which he foreknows and foretells things to come, and which distinguishes him from all other gods; and is so called, not with respect to himself, with whom all things are present, but with respect to us, and which is eternal, universal, certain, and infallible; for in this sense he foreknows all men, and if this was the meaning here, then all men would be predestinated,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:30

Moreover, whom he did predestinate ,.... Not to sufferings, which are not expressed nor designed, but to grace and glory after mentioned. This predestination is of particular persons, who, in consequence of it, are called, justified, and glorified; it is the effect of divine grace, and entirely owing to it; it is the source of all the other blessings of grace, and is therefore placed at the head of them, and secures them all: them he also called ; not to afflictions: many may be called... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:30

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