Epiphany · The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Romans 8:18-23
Future Glory
February 1, 2026
Overview & Insights
“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
1. Suffering/glory (8:18) 2. Three groanings (8:19–27) a. Creation groans (hope for the revelation of the children of God) (8:19–22) b. Believers groan (firstfruits of the Spirit / by hope we were saved) (8:23–25) c. The Spirit groans (the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses) (8:26–27) 3. Suffering/glory (8:28–30)1 Each of these points—suffering/glory, the groaning of creation, the groaning of Christians, and the groaning of the Spirit—includes blessings of the age to come and the new covenant that have already dawned for Christians but are not yet complete.
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Commentary
Romans 8 (Enduring Word) Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on present suffering, the groaning of creation, and the hope of glory to be revealed.
Romans 8:18 Classic Commentaries Compared BibleHub
Historic commentators compared on the sufferings of this present time and creation's bondage.
Romans 8:22-23 Commentary Precept Austin
Word study on creation's groaning and the firstfruits of the Spirit at the heart of this reading.
Romans 8:12-25 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary that covers this passage, reading creation's groans as childbirth toward new creation.
Background & Word Study
Romans 8:18 Greek Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for the vocabulary of futility, bondage, and glory in the passage.
Book of Romans Summary (chapters 5-16) BibleProject
Animated overview of the second movement of Romans, including the life of the Spirit in chapter 8.
Heaven and Earth (theme video) BibleProject
Traces the biblical hope that heaven and earth are being joined, which is where creation's groaning is headed.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is creation waiting for?
The whole creation groans in labor pains, and we with it, awaiting the redemption of our bodies; present suffering is nothing beside the glory soon to be revealed.
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