Romans 8

[John Reece]

Romans 8:15-16

Text: (NA27):

¹⁵¹⁶ αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα συμμαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐσμὲν τέκνα θεοῦ.

Transliteration (Accordance):

¹⁵ ou gar elabete pneuma douleias palin eis phobon alla elabete pneuma huiothesias en ō̧h krazomen; abba ho patēr. ¹⁶ auto to pneuma symmartyrei tō̧ pneumati hēmōn hoti esmen tekna theou.

Translation (NRSV):

¹⁵¹⁶ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ἐλάβετε : aorist of λαμβάνω receive.
δουλεία : servitude, slavery.
εἰς : resulting in.
φόβος : fear.
υἱοθεσία : (< υἱός + τίθημι) adoption (both in the sense of adopting and being adopted).
πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας : the gift which assures us of our status as his own sons by adoption.
ἐν ᾧ : whereby.
κράζω : call out, cry.
ὁ πατήρ : Father, article with nominative for vocative.
αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα : the Spirit himself.
συμμαρτυρέω (τινι) : bear witness with one.
τέκνον : not fundamentally different from υἱός but with a more intimate sound as child compared with "son".

[John Reece]

Romans 8:17

Text: (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

ei de tekna, kai klēronomoi; klēronomoi men theou, sygklēronomoi de Christou, eiper sympaschomen hina kai syndoxasthōmen.

Translation (NRSV):
Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

καί : also.
κληρονόμος : heir.
συγκληρονόμος : fellow heir.
εἴπερ : if indeed.
συμπάσχω : suffer with, share one's suffering.
συνδοξασθῶμεν : aorist passive subjunctive of συνδοξάζω passive be glorified with, share in one's glory.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:18

Text: (NA27):

Λογίζομαι γὰρ ὅτι οὐκ ἄξια τὰ παθήματα τοῦ νῦν καιροῦ πρὸς τὴν μέλλουσαν δόξαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι εἰς ἡμᾶς.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Logizomai gar hoti ouk axia ta pathēmata tou nyn kairou pros tēn mellousan doxan apokalyphthēnai eis hēmas.

Translation (NRSV):

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

λογίζομαι : reckon, consider, think.
ἄξιος : worthy, οὐκ ἄξια (sc. ἐστιν) ... πρός are not comparable to.
πάθημα : suffering.
ὁ νῦν καιρός : the present time.
μέλλουσαν : feminine participle of μέλλω with infinitive be about to.
ἀποκαλυφθῆναι : aorist passive infinitive of ἀποκαλύπτω unveil, reveal, τὴν μέλλουσαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι which is about to be revealed.
εἰς : in its full sense of unto.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:19

Text: (NA27):

ἡ γὰρ ἀποκαραδοκία τῆς κτίσεως τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ θεοῦ ἀπεκδέχεται.

Transliteration (Accordance):

hē gar apokaradokia tēs ktiseōs tēn apokalypsin tōn huiōn tou theou apekdechetai.

Translation (NRSV):

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God;

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ἀποκαραδοκία : (the head (κάρα) out (ἀπό) looking foreword) eager expectation.
κτίσις : creation.
ἀποκάλυψις : revelation.
ἀπεκδέχομαι : await.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:20-21

Text: (NA27):

²⁰ τῇ γὰρ ματαιότητι ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη, οὐχ ἑκοῦσα ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα, ἐφ᾿ ἑλπίδι ²¹ ὅτι καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ κτίσις ἐλευθερωθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας τῆς φθορᾶς εἰς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τῆς δόξης τῶν τέκνων τοῦ θεοῦ.

Transliteration (Accordance):

²⁰²¹ hoti kai autē hē ktisis eleutherōthēsetai apo tēs douleias tēs phthoras eis tēn eleutherian tēs doxēs tōn teknōn tou theou

Translation (NRSV):

²⁰ for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ματαιότης, -ητος, ἡ : emptiness, futility.
ὑπετάγη : aorist passive of ὑποτάσσω subject ; passive be subjected, obedient.
ἑκών, -οῦσα, -όν : willing(ly), οὐχ ἑκών not willingly.
διά : because of.
ὑποτάξαντα : aorist participle (accusative) of ὑποτάσσω either man by his sin or God punishing man's sin.
ἐλπίς, -ίδος, ἡ : hope, ἐφ᾿ ἑλπίδι in the hope.
ὅτι : that ; [[unless the variant punctuation in verse 20 is followed, omitting the comma after ὑποτάξαντα and adding it after ἑλπίδι: in which case ὅτι would mean because]].
ἐλευθερωθήσεται : future passive of ἐλευθερόω free.
δουλεία : servitude, slavery.
φθορά : corruption, decay, (opposite immortality) ... δουλείας τῆς φθορᾶς because what is depraved knows no freedom and is often bound to serve sin.
ἐλευθερία : freedom ἐλευθερίαν τῆς δόξης, just as servitude is related to corruption, glory brings with it liberty which is one of its elements ; alternatively a "Hebrew" genitive, glorious liberty.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:22

Text: (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

oidamen gar hoti pasa hē ktisis systenazei kai synōdinei achri tou nyn;

Translation (NRSV):

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

συστενάζω : groan together.
συνωδίνω : be in travail together.
ἄχρι : till.
τὸ νῦν : noun, now, the present.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:23

Text: (NA27):

οὐ μόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τοῦ πνεύματος ἔχοντες, ἡμεῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς στενάζομεν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπεκδεχόμενοι, τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν.

Transliteration (Accordance):

ou monon de, alla kai autoi tēn aparchēn tou pneumatos echontes, hēmeis kai autoi en heautois stenazomen huiothesian apekdechomenoi, tēn apolytrōsin tou sōmatos hēmōn.

Translation (NRSV):

and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

οὐ μόνον δέ : and not only so.
αὐτοί : ourselves.
ἀπαρχή : first-fruits ; ἀπαρχὴ τοῦ πνεύματος either the first of the Spirit's gifts or (epexegetical genitive) the Spirit himself as the first-fruits of future glory.
ἐν ἑαυτοῖς : for ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς.
στενάζω : groan.
υἱοθεσία : adoption.
ἀπεκδεχόμενοι : participle of ἀπεκδέχομαι await.
ἀπολύτρωσις : (< ἀπό + λυτρόω ransom) redemption.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:24

Text: (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

tȩ̄ gar elpidi esōthēmen; elpis de blepomenē ouk estin elpis; ho gar blepei tis elpizei?

Translation (NRSV):

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ἐλπίς, -ίδος, ἡ : hope, not dative of agent but of manner : in hope of a salvation yet to be realized.
ἐσώθημεν : aorist passive of σῴζω save, rescue.
βλεπομένη : passive participle of βλέπω see.
ἐλπίζω : to look forward to something, with implication of confidence about something coming to pass hope, hope for.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:25

Text: (NA27):

εἰ δὲ ὃ οὐ βλέπομεν ἐλπίζομεν, δι᾿ ὑπομονῆς ἀπεκδεχόμεθα.

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

διά : with genitive of manner, with.
ὑπομονή : patience, steadfastness.
ἀπεκδέχομαι : await.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:26

Text: (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

hŌsautōs de kai to pneuma synantilambanetai tȩ̄ astheneia̧ hēmōn; to gar ti proseuxōmetha katho dei ouk oidamen, alla auto to pneuma hyperentygchanei stenagmois alalētois;

Translation (NRSV):

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ὡσαύτως : likewise.
συναντιλαμβάνομαι (τινι) : help (one).
ἀσθένεια : weakness.
τό : making substantival the following words which form the object of οἴδαμεν: "how we are to pray ... we know not".
προσευξώμεθα : aorist subjunctive deliberative of προσεύχομαι pray.
καθὸ δεῖ : as we ought.
αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα : the Spirit himself.
ὑπερεντυγχάνω : intercede.
στεναγμός : groan.
ἀλάλητος : unutterable or wordlessinexpressible.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:27

Text: (NA27):

ὁ δὲ ἐραυνῶν τὰς καρδίας οἶδεν τί τὸ φρόνημα τοῦ πνεύματος, ὅτι κατὰ θεὸν ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἁγίων.

Transliteration (Accordance):

ho de eraunōn tas kardias oiden ti to phronēma tou pneumatos, hoti kata theon entygchanei hyper hagiōn.

Translation (NRSV):

And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ἐραυνῶν : participle of ἐραυνάω search, examine.
φρόνημα : mentality, outlook.
ὅτι : that, dependent on οἶδεν.
κατὰ θεόν : in God's way, according to God's will.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:28

Text: (NA27):

Οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεὸν πάντα συνεργεῖ εἰς ἀγαθόν, τοῖς κατὰ πρόθεσιν κλητοῖς οὖσιν.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Oidamen de hoti tois agapōsin ton theon panta synergei eis agathon, tois kata prothesin klētois ousin.

Translation (NRSV):

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ἀγαπῶσιν : dative plural participle of ἀγαπάω love.
συνεργέω : cooperate in realizing (something), help to bring about.
τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεὸν πάντα συνεργεῖ εἰς ἀγαθόν everything cooperates with those who love God to achieve what is good or he (God) works in every way (πάντα) with those... [[variant after συνεργεῖ add ὁ θεός God works with those who love God...]] Without the variant the traditional (Vulgate) translation remains possible : All things work together for good to those who love God.
πρόθεσις : (< προτίθημι set before) purpose, κατὰ πρόθεσιν in accordance with his purpose.
κλητός : (< καλέω call) called.
οὖσιν : dative plural participle of εἰμί be.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:29

Text: (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

hoti hous proegnō, kai proōrisen symmorphous tēs eikonos tou huiou autou, eis to einai auton prōtotokon en pollois adelphois;

Translation (ESV):

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ὅτι : for.
προέγνω : aorist of προγινώσκω know beforehand, i.e. before they existed.
προώρισεν : aorist of προορίζω, of God, predestine, having in mind his πρόθεσις plan, purpose.
σύμμορφος : sharing the form, predicate.
εἰκών, -όνος, ἡ : image, likeness ; "sharing the form of the likeness" i.e. formed according to the likeness.
εἰς τό : with infinitive final.
πρωτότοκος : (< πρῶτος first + τίκτω bear) first-born.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:30

Text: (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

hous de proōrisen, touhtous kai ekalesen; kai hous ekalesen, toutous kai edikaiōsen; ous de edikaiōsen, toutous kai edoxasen.

Translation (NRSV):

And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ἐκάλεσεν : aorist of καλέω call.
ἐδικαίωσεν : aorist of δικαιόω justify.
ἐδόξασεν : aorist of δοξάζω bestow glory on one.

[John Reece]

Romans 8:31

Text: (NA27):

Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν πρὸς ταῦτα; εἰ ὁ θεὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, τίς καθ᾿ ἡμῶν;

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG):

ἐροῦμεν : future of λέγω say.