And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body.
Parallel translations
- WEB Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
- KJV And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
- BSB Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
- NKJV Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
- NLT And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
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
Believers, having the Spirit's firstfruits, also groan inwardly as we await adoption and the redemption of our bodies. We long for the completion of our salvation in bodily resurrection.
Overview
Paul turns from creation's groaning to that of believers, who already possess the Spirit as a foretaste. Yet we still await the consummation of our adoption, which is the redemption of our bodies at the resurrection. This 'already and not yet' tension fuels the believer's hope and longing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Phil 3:20–21For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
- 2 Cor 5:2–5For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
- Heb 9:28so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.
- Titus 2:13looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;
- Eph 1:14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
- Eph 4:30Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Rom 7:24What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?
- Gal 5:5For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
- 1 Jn 3:2Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.
- Rom 8:19For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
- Luke 20:36For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
- Phil 1:21–23For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- Rom 8:15–16For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- Rom 8:25–26But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
- Luke 21:28But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
- Gal 5:22–23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
- Eph 5:9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
- 1 Pet 1:7that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ —
- 2 Tim 4:8From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
- Rom 5:5and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
- 2 Cor 7:5For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.
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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 8:23 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
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