Romans 8:17-18 -- "Suffering and Glory"

[The index for the series is here.]

I am using the Pastor's titles for these posts. The appropriate links are:

• Audio file
• Note sheet

The text:

(NET) Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)²² – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared²³ to the glory that will be revealed to us.

Notes:

²² tn Grk “on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other hand, fellow heirs with Christ.” Some prefer to render v. 17 as follows: “And if children, then heirs – that is, heirs of God. Also fellow heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.” Such a translation suggests two distinct inheritances, one coming to all of God’s children, the other coming only to those who suffer with Christ. The difficulty of this view, however, is that it ignores the correlative conjunctions μέν…δέ (men…de, “on the one hand…on the other hand”): The construction strongly suggests that the inheritances cannot be separated since both explain “then heirs.” For this reason, the preferred translation puts this explanation in parentheses.

²³ tn Grk “are not worthy [to be compared].”

Note Sheet: The note sheet points out the parallelism in the two verses - Christ's suffering and glory in verse 17; and our present suffering and future glory in v 18. These things are tied together.

How should the follower of Christ respond to suffering?

• What we should not do…:
  
  1. We should not be surprised by it.
  2. We should not doubt God.
     
  
  
• What we should do…:
  
  1. We should see suffering as belonging to this present time.
  2. We should humble ourselves and find peace and privilege in sharing the experience of our Master.
  3. We should let suffering convince us of our weakness and need.
  4. We should depend upon God’s Spirit to transform us—as we endure with confidence in His certain love.
  5. We should let suffering move us closer to our brothers and sisters in deeper relationships.
  6. We should let suffering motivate us to long for the full joy of our eternal home—and know it is “not worth comparing with the glory” we shall soon experience.