Romans 8:22-27
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Anna Ernst

• 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: NRSV, RSV, 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• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts: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:
  • "The Longing of Creation," Commented Bible Passages from Taize, 2008.
  • Commentary, Romans 8:22-27 (Pentecost B), Arland J. Hultgren, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
    • "It is true for most Christians that they do not know how to pray as they ought. The good news is that, regardless of that, the Spirit is also at prayer within the inner life of God, interceding for them."
  • "Sorry, Presidential Candidates: hope Resides in Groans, Not in Your Rhetoric," Matthew L. Skinner, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2015. Discussion Questions included. Video: 2016 Presidential Election.
    • "Hope Votes"
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Stan Mast, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2015.
  • "The Longing of Creation," Commented Bible Passages from Taizé, 2008.
  • Commentary, Romans 8:22-27 (Pentecost B), Audrey West, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
    • "This seems to be the thrust behind the Spirit interceding for us with sighs too deep for words: a sign that the Spirit is present in our midst, even when no words are exchanged. That presence can make it possible for us to endure."
  • 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.
  • The Spirit and Our Prayers, Light in August: Romans 8:18-39, Sheldon Tostengard, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1987.
  • "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."
  • "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."
• 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. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Bertone, John, "The Experience of Glossolalia and the Spirit's Empathy: Romans 8:26 Revisited," Pneuma, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bolt, John, "The Relation between Creation and Redemption in Romans 8:18-27," Calvin Theological Journal, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Braaten, Laurie J., "The Groaning Creation: The Biblical Background for Romans 8:22," Biblical Research, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dillon, Richard J., "The Spirit as Taskmaster and Troublemaker in Romans 8," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Epperly, Bruce G., "Who Prays? A Process-Relational Reflection on Petitionary Prayer," Encounter, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Johnson, Elisabeth Ann, "Waiting for Adoption: Reflections on Romans 8:12-25," Word & World, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Keesmaat, Sylvia C., "Exodus and the Intertextual Transformation of Tradition in Romans 8:14-30," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lueking, F. Dean, "Pentecost for the World," The Christian Century, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Olson, Stanley N., "Romans 5-8 as Pastoral Theology," Word & World, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Powery, Emerson B., "The Groans of 'Brother Saul': An Exploratory Reading of Romans 8 for 'Survival'," Word & World, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • 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
• Sermons:
  • Proper 9, AKM Adam, Flesh and Bones, 2001. (Download is one long PDF file for book of sermons.)
  • "Waiting," Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955. At Religion Online.
  • "The Right to Hope," Paul Tillich, at Religion OnLine.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Day of Pentecost, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2015. 2012.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," May 24, 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary. 2012.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • 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