itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21). Paul’s own eager expectation and hope are caught up into the prospect of that consummation; indeed, Paul knows that his ministry has a special part to play in speeding its arrival. Therefore he hopes and prays that I will in no way be ashamed. Christian hope and being put to shame are mutually exclusive (cf. Rom. 5:5). The only thing that could put Paul to shame would be failure
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