Romans 8:23 Meaning and Explanation
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Believers too groan inwardly, having the Spirit's firstfruits, as they await the redemption of their bodies.
What Does Romans 8:23 Mean?
Paul turns from creation to believers, who join in the groaning. We have the firstfruits of the Spirit, a first installment of the harvest to come, yet we still groan within, longing for the fullness of adoption: the redemption of our bodies.
Adoption is both already ours and not yet complete. The Spirit is the firstfruits, a true foretaste guaranteeing more. Our bodies still await their redemption, when they will be raised and glorified. This longing is not faithlessness but hope reaching toward its fulfillment. The redemption of the body affirms that God's salvation embraces the whole person. What we taste now in the Spirit, we will one day possess in full, when even our bodies are made new in Christ.
Romans 8:23 in the Original Language
aparche (ἀπαρχή), 'firstfruits' -- the first portion of a harvest, a pledge that the full crop is coming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 8:23
What does Romans 8:23 mean?
Believers too groan inwardly, having the Spirit's firstfruits, as they await the redemption of their bodies.