that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
- 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.
- NKJV because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
- NLT the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Creation itself will be freed from decay into the glorious freedom of God's children. The renewal of believers will extend to all creation.
Overview
Paul spells out the hope of verse 20: creation will share in liberation from corruption. Its freedom is bound up with the glory of the children of God, so that the cosmos is renewed along with the redeemed. This points to the new heavens and new earth secured by Christ's work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Rev 22:3–5There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.
- Acts 3:21whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
- 2 Pet 3:13But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
- Rev 21:1I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
- Rom 8:19For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 8:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.