Romans 8:22-27

Romans 8:22-27

Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- Similitude IV, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
- IV.7, VII.7, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter III, On Monogamy, Tertullian (c. 215)
- I.VII.5, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
- VII.XIII, VII.XV, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
- I.17, I.24, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
- On the Advantage of Patience -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 256)
- From Martin Luther's Bible Commentary (1545).
- From the Geneva Notes.
- How the Spirit Enables Us to Pray, Thomas Boston (Puritan, c 1700)
- From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
- From Wesley's Notes.
- The General Deliverance (Rom 8:19-22). Sermon by John Wesley.
- "Creation's Groans and the Saint's Sighs," Romans 8:22,23, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1868.
  - "The whole creation is fair and beautiful even in its present condition. I have no sort of sympathy with those who cannot enjoy the beauties of nature."
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- "The Holy Spirit's Intercession," Romans 8:26, 27, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1880.
  - "When Paul had alluded to that consoling subject he turned to the next ground of comfort—namely, that we are to be sustained under present trial by hope."
- From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:

Commentary, Romans 8:22-27 (Pentecost), Elisabeth Johnson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.

"As children of God and joint heirs with Christ indwelled by his Spirit, we are one with creation in suffering, longing, and hope."

"Our Deepest Prayer," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Prayer," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2009.

"Pentecost for the World," F. Dean Lueking, The Christian Century, 1997. At Religion Online.

"It is the will of God to put his mighty arm under the fractured, threatened creation -- not just to preserve it from rapacious humans, but to set it free and us with it."

The Spirit and Our Prayers, Light in August: Romans 8:18-39, Sheldon Tostengard, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1987.

"An Awakening," poetry by Patricia Rose Pflaumer, National Catholic Reporter, 1999.

"The Spirit Pleads for Us," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.

"From Groaning to Glory (Romans 8:18-27)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.

"As strange as it may sound, groaning characterizes the life of the Spirit-filled Christian."

"Cosmic Groanings," by Ronald Goetz. At Religion Online.

"The ancient dualist might have had some difficulty with what Paul says about the creation being 'set free.' If matter is evil, how could it be liberated? Paul’s words at this point would seem idiosyncratic to the dualist, although he might also feel that a person who could speak of the 'futility' of the created order must somehow be on the right track. In fact, however, this seeming idiosyncrasy is not a quirk in an otherwise consistent dualism. Rather, it reveals that Paul was, at least in the usual first-century sense, no dualist at all."
Articles & Background:
- "Soteriology and Eschatology in Romans," Robert E Longacre & Wilber B Wallis, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1998.
  - "At all events we approach this epistle not simply as an object of analysis but as a book meant to exercise a regulative and inspirational effect upon us."
- "Romans 5-8 as Pastoral Theology," Stanley N. Olson, Word & World, 1986.
  - "The unity and functions of the exhortation and assurance in Romans 5-8 are clarified when the section is understood as pastoral theology."
- "Listening with the Ear of the Heart," Frank T. Griswold, Cross Currents, 1998-99.
  - "It is our vocation to allow Christ to use our hearts. It is our vocation to come to maturity in Christ who is our Truth. We do so by attending to the Christ present in the truth of one another."
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
- Smith, Geoffrey, "The Function of 'Likewise' (WSAUTWS) in Romans 8:26," Tyndale Bulletin, 1998.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Talbert, Charles H., "Tracing Paul's Train of Thought in Romans 6-8," Review & Expositor, 2003.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Tostengard, Sheldon, "Light in August," Word & World, 1987. (Section on this text begins on p 318)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Wasserman, Emma, "Paul among the Philosophers: the Case of Sin in Romans 6-8," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2008.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Webster, Brian L. and David R. Beach, "The Place of Lament in the Christian Life," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2007.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Wilton, Carlos, "What Cancer Teaches," Journal for Preachers, 2007. (Sermon)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Reviews:
Sermons:
- "Keeping Hope Alive," the Rev. Dr. Lewis Smedes, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1993.
- "Waiting," Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955. At Religion Online.
- "The Right to Hope," Paul Tillich, at Religion OnLine.
- "The Paradox of Prayer," (Romans 8:26-27), Paul Tillich. From The New Being (1955), at Religion OnLine.
- "The Witness of the Spirit to the Spirit," Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955. At Religion Online.
With Children:
Drama:
Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
Hymns and Music:
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Romans 8:22, 27. The Cyber Hymnal.
- "Fight the Good Fight," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, a new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
Study Links and Resources for the Book of Romans

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