Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Romans: Chapter 8].
reason of him} (\alla dia ton\). Because of God. {In hope that}
(\eph' helpidi hoti\). Note the form \helpidi\ rather than the
usual \elpidi\ and so \eph'\. \Hoti\ can be causal "because"
instead of declarative "that."
8:21 {The creation itself} (\aut• h• ktisis\). It is the hope of
creation, not of the Creator. Nature "possesses in the feeling of
her unmerited suffering a sort of presentiment of her future
deliverance" (Godet).
8:22 {Groaneth and travaileth in pain} (\sunstenazei kai
sun•dinei\). Two more compounds with \sun\. Both rare and both
here alone in N.T. Nature is pictured in the pangs of childbirth.
8:23 {The first fruits} (\t•n aparch•n\). Old and common
metaphor. {Of the Spirit} (\tou pneumatos\). The genitive of
apposition. The Holy Spirit came on the great Pentecost and his
blessings continue as seen in the "gifts" in 1Co 12-14, in the
moral and spiritual gifts of Ga 5:22f. And greater ones are to
come (1Co 15:44ff.). {Even we ourselves} (\kai autoi\). He
repeats for emphasis. We have our "groaning" (\stenazomen\) as
well as nature. {Waiting for} (\apekdechomenoi\). The same verb
used of nature in verse 19. {Our adoption} (\huiothesian\). Our
full "adoption" (see verse 15), "the redemption of our body"
(\t•n apolutr•sin tou s•matos h•m•n\). That is to come also. Then
we shall have complete redemption of both soul and body.
8:24 {For by hope were we saved} (\t•i gar elpidi es•th•men\).
First aorist passive indicative of \s•z•\. The case of \elpidi\
is not certain, the form being the same for locative,
instrumental and dative. Curiously enough either makes good sense
in this context: "We were saved in hope, by hope, for hope" (of
the redemption of the body).
8:25 {With patience} (\di' hupomon•s\). Paul repeats the verb
\apekdechomai\ of verse 23.
8:26 {Helpeth our infirmity} (\sunantilambanetai t•i asthenei•i
h•m•n\). Present middle indicative of \sunantilambanomai\, late
and striking double compound (Diodorus, LXX, Josephus, frequent
in inscriptions, Deissmann, _Light, etc._, p. 87), to lend a hand
together with, at the same time with one. Only twice in N.T.,
here and Lu 10:40 in Martha's plea for Mary's help. Here
beautifully Paul pictures the Holy Spirit taking hold at our side
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/RO8.RWP.html (5 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:09:12 a.m.]