New Heaven and New Earth · Creation's groaning and redemption
Romans 8:19-23
Paul · ~57 AD · Status: Future · Confidence: 60%
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,”
King James Version · the opening — all 5 verses are below
Paul's vision of all creation groaning for liberation, tied to the believers' bodily resurrection and the renewal of the cosmos.
Read the whole passage — all 5 verses (KJV)
8:19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
8:20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
8:21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
8:22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
8:23And 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.
Fulfillment References
2 Peter 3:13 Revelation 21:1 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 Isaiah 11:6-9
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe 'redemption of our body' is the apostolic hope; the indwelling Spirit who is the firstfruits (v.23) was given at Acts 2:38, guaranteeing the resurrection.
JewishResonates with Jewish hope of cosmic renewal and the liberation of creation in the age to come.
CatholicAll creation groans toward the glory of the children of God — the renewal of the cosmos and the resurrection of the body.
ProtestantCreation's bondage and coming liberation tie the believer's bodily resurrection to the renewal of all creation.
OrthodoxThe whole cosmos awaits transfiguration and deliverance, consummated in the resurrection and new creation.
DispensationalCreation's restoration accompanies the kingdom; the 'redemption of the body' is the believer's glorification.
AcademicScholars read Paul reworking Genesis 3's curse on creation and Jewish apocalyptic cosmic-renewal hope.
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Audio narration (listen to this prophecy read aloud), cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, a prophetic timeline, network maps, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.