Romans 8:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophets often do the same when depicting something sorrowful, saying that the vineyard weeps, and that wine, mountains, and the vaults of temples make a loud sound, so that we again may understand the excess of evils. Imitating the prophets, the Apostle here personifies creation and says that it groans and labors. He does this not because he actually heard the groaning of earth and heaven, but in order to express the abundance of future blessings and the desire for deliverance from present evils.

Expectation means hope, and also waiting and watching for the outcome of events. Creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God, not, of course, as though it itself knows the future. How could this be? Rather, since by the ineffable divine economy all things are directed by God toward the better, creation also will come to such an end. For since the children of God, that is, those who have accomplished a life worthy of approval, are as it were transformed into glory from dishonor and from corruption into incorruption, creation itself will also be restored for the better.

The divine Peter does not allow us to doubt this, saying, 'We await a new heaven and a new earth, according to His promise' (2 Pet 3:13).

So that no one might think the Apostle's words refer to some other creation, he added: 'For creation was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but because of Him Who subjected it in hope' (Rom 8:20). Do you see that creation did not wish to obey and serve Adam after he transgressed the commandment of God, because it saw that he had fallen away from divine glory?

For this reason, before the creation of the world, God predestined man's salvation through the regeneration he was to receive by the incarnate divine economy of Christ. On this basis He subjected creation to man and subjected it to corruption, since man, for whom it had been created, became corruptible. Thus it would provide him each year with corruptible food. He determined that when He renewed man and made him incorruptible, immortal, and spiritual, He would then renew all creation together with him and make it eternal and incorruptible.

This is what the Apostle revealed in the words quoted: 'Creation was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but because of Him Who subjected it in hope.' That is, creation obeyed human beings not by itself, and it did not become corruptible by its own will, giving corruptible fruits and producing thorns and thistles. Rather, it submitted to the command of God, Who appointed this for it in hope that He would renew it again.

To assure us of this more fully, the Apostle finally says: 'Creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God' (Rom 8:21). Do you see that all this creation was incorruptible in the beginning and was created by God in the order of paradise? But afterward it was subjected by God to corruption and submitted to the vanity of men.

Liberation must consist in the restoration to man of his former authority over creation and in the destruction of corruption in creation itself. It has already begun with the Savior's appearance on earth. But because not all people have been regenerated, and not all live according to the spirit, creation's liberation is incomplete and proceeds slowly. Therefore creation waits impatiently for the revelation of the glory of the sons of God, so that with them and in them it may attain its earthly perfection and its higher purpose. Meanwhile it had to be subjected to corruption and destruction.

The prophets often do the same when depicting something sorrowful. Then the vineyard weeps, and wine, mountains, and the vaults of temples howl. By this they express the excess of evils. So the Apostle, imitating the prophets, personifies creation here and says that it groans and labors. He does this not because he actually heard the groans of earth or heaven, but to express the abundance of future blessings and the desire to be freed from present evils.'

The Apostle begins to indicate the participation of all creation in the restoration of fallen man, which is to be revealed in glory in the age to come. The restoration is already acting inwardly. In the age to come it will also appear outwardly. Now it is not revealed in its brightness, because that brightness cannot be contained by the present state of things. But then the present state of creatures will be changed and adapted to the bright condition of restored and renewed human nature.

Creation awaits this revelation in the glory of the renewed and restored children of God, because its own restoration and renewal are joined to this. It does not simply await this revelation in order merely to look upon it, but because it itself will participate in that glory. By this the greatness of future glorification with Christ is also depicted. It is shown to be so great and radiant that all creation strains toward it.

'Do you not see,' says the Apostle, as it were, 'heaven, earth, sea, air, sun, moon, all visible creation, and, beyond this, the invisible creatures, Angels, Archangels, Powers, Authorities, and Dominions? All this awaits our manifestation in perfection and glory' (blessed Theodoret).

The participation of all creation in this glorification is also depicted through its participation in the restoring power of Christ. Oecumenius writes: 'Creation itself waits impatiently for our future glory. Why? Because, having been created incorruptible, it became corruptible because of human sins. For we also became corruptible from being incorruptible. Thus creation desires that men enter again into their incorruption, so that it too may receive its incorruption. For when man, through whom it became corruptible, receives incorruption, then it also will receive together with him the incorruption proper to it.'

At this point the thought comes that, just as the glory of the children of God will be revealed then, though it is being built even now, so also creation will then appear in glory. This glory is being invisibly built in it even now. The future glorious condition of all visible creation is being invisibly built even now by the providential actions of God's almighty power. Then it will be revealed and become visible.