¹⁶it is that very Spirit bearing witness^u with our spirit that we are children of God,^* ¹⁷and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.^*

Future Glory

¹⁸I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. ¹⁹For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, ²⁰for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, ²³and 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.^* ²⁴For in^v hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes^w with groanings too deep for words.^* ²⁷And God,^x who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit^y intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.^*

²⁸We know that all things work together^z for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.^* ²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.^a^* ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.^*

Read in Logos

Romans 8:23: And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Footnotes

uOr 15… a spirit of adoption, by which we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit itself bears witness
vOr by
wOther ancient authorities add for us
xGk And the one
yGk he or it
zOther ancient authorities read God makes all things work together or in all things God works
aGk among many brothers

Cross references

*2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13
*Gal 4:7; 2 Tim 2:12; 1 Pet 4:13
*2 Cor 1:22; 5:2, 4; Gal 5:5
*Mt 20:22; Eph 6:18
*Ps 139:1, 2; Lk 16:15; Rev 2:23
*v 32
*Rom 11:2; Eph 1:5, 11; Phil 3:21; Heb 1:6; 1 Pet 1:2, 20
*Rom 9:24; 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 1:5, 11